Earthseed In Octavia Butler's Parable Of The Sower

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In Parable of the Sower, Octavia Butler creates an apocalyptic world resulting from the current issues of our time, such as environmental degradation and economic crises caused by excessive hypercapitalism. In a society of gated communities that are closed off from the lawlessness of the outside world, Lauren Olamina realizes the fate that is quickly approaching and prepares for it. Through Lauren's journey, Butler expresses the importance of establishing community and human understanding to survive in a world that is harsh and unforgiving. The most obvious example of community is Earthseed, the religion that Lauren creates. As Lauren explains, Earthseed is founded on certain common principles, and the ultimate destiny of its people is "to take root among the stars" (77). In order to fulfill this destiny, Lauren seeks a group of people willing to protect each other. During a discussion, when Travis asserts that the God of Earthseed is uncaring, Lauren responds with "[all] the more reason to care about myself and others" (221). The central message of Earthseed (and this book in general) is that working together and caring for one another is the key to survival. Working human relationships are essential to a …show more content…
In the aftermath of losing her sister, Allie is angry and devastated, but Lauren's response to Allie's reticence is not one of frustration. Instead, she walks up to Allie and embraces her. This simple act of comfort conveys a message that resonates with everyone—that "you aren't alone. You still have people who care about you and want you to be all right. You still have family" (303). By reacting in this manner, Lauren demonstrates the importance of knowing how to approach a person in just the right way. This incident strengthens the bond between the group members and contributes to the ultimate establishment of