Octavia Butler played around with a lot social aspects by altering them from the norms that we as readers are typically use to. She is able to accomplish this by creating a new race of vampires, and using their lifestyle in comparison to humans to show the differences. The relationships that take place between Ina and their symbionts really seems to challenge what us as humans consider to be "normal". Butler uses the struggle that Wright seems to have with his relationship with Shori to demonstrates societal assumptions. Society as a whole likes to think a relationship should carry the traits of heterosexual, monogamous, and even includes gender roles within such relationships.
Not only was Wright in a relationship with a vampire rather than a human, he was also unable to follow through with the relationship the way that he would like to. Wright would typically be in a monogamous relationship with one other female, and throughout this relationship he would like to take the role of a man by protecting and taking care of his significant other while feeling more in control of these decisions. However instead, Wright has been subdued into a polygamist bi-sexual relationship that in reality he does not have much control over, it completely contradicts the social norms of a relationship he would be in otherwise. Though there are some relationship instances of throughout our society that line up with some of the relationship rituals that the Ina participate in, these are not typically what our society is use to. There are many people who only believe that what Wright considers to be normal, the only way a relationship should work or take place, and Butler seems to use this struggle of society views to be represented by Wright and his personal struggle to adjust to his new symbiotic relationship experience.
This was sort of like the topic I wrote my paper 2 on! I also wrote about how Butler changed societal norms with the Ina, but I focused more on the use of sexuality to change these norms instead of what was really different.
ReplyDeleteAnyways, I agree that the relationships the Ina formed with their symbionts were not what the reader is used to. This makes us somewhat sympathetic and understanding to Wright when the relationship is not monogamous. For example, like you said, usually the male is seen (which can be argued/is changing over time) to have more control in the relationship but in the novel Shori has complete physical and mental control over Wright. He would not survive without her bite, and he is also very emotionally attached to her (which is why he doesn’t like the idea of sharing her especially with other male symbionts). Even when she tries to give him a chance to escape, he doesn’t take it. Also, Shori has multiple symbionts. I think Butler may be doing this to symbolize that a different approach to relationships would not be wrong, and it may even be beneficial. Just because it is the societal norm for most cultures and for most of history, does not mean other options would be destructive. I may not agree with that idea, but I definitely think Butler shows her point well through the Ina relationships in this novel.
Butler definitely breaks many social norms in her writing, but by doing so, she demonstrates that a relationship can break the boundaries often imposed by society and still succeed. Her relationships in Fledgling are interracial, polygamous, heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, and the partners are often years apart in age. The relationships she explores throughout the novel are not necessarily what society would view as normal, but she prompts us to ask "who says society's idea of normal is right?" I don't think there can really even be a "normal" anymore because not everyone can be expected to share in the same opinions.
ReplyDeleteIt is clear that Wright struggles with accepting and adjusting to this new relationship, but he manages to do so because of his love for Shori. I'm not sure that he ever actually accepts the relationship, but he finds a way to deal with it. The relationship challenges everything he has ever believed, but perhaps the supernatural elements of the relationship make the changes easier to cope with. Despite Wright's reluctance, I wonder if this would be his ideal relationship if the roles were reversed. I think the relationship requires more adjustment from a man than a woman because he is a man and is essentially relinquishing some of his power to a woman, which would not be considered acceptable by some people in society.
I think that all of these relationships are important and play an important roll. I really like how Allison explored, " Despite Wright's reluctance, I wonder if this would be his ideal relationship if the roles were reversed?" I think that this is a great question to explore and look at in an analytical sense. How would the dynamics have changed? In what ways would this impact the effects/ outcomes of the novel? How would this change yours/ viewers perspective on the relationship?
ReplyDeleteI love what Allison said: "Her relationships in Fledgling are interracial, polygamous, heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, and the partners are often years apart in age. The relationships she explores throughout the novel are not necessarily what society would view as normal, but she prompts us to ask "who says society's idea of normal is right?" It makes so much sense and really wraps up what Butler is trying to convey about relationships. For me personally it really pushed the boundaries on what is "normal," but it also poses that question about relationships as they are based in religion. What is appropriate to some faiths cannot be justified in others, and I felt it was interesting that spirituality never played a role in this.
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