Time Travel in Kindred

Themes of Time Travel in Kindred

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Kindred takes an interesting yet not unheard of pretense of looking at the racially motivated culture in the southern united states during the early 19^th century through the eyes of a modern day character of colour. What truly distinguishes it from other works along this theme is the author, Octavia Butler, uses the idea of time travel as a plot device to physically transport the primary characters, who happen to be a mixed raced couple, to this period of time. The idea of time travel comes into play in several key ways in the telling of the story. Most outwardly, looking at the entirety of the text as a cohesive work, the periods of time travel establish natural distinctions between sections of the book, stages in the lives of the individuals, and separate realms of reality between past and present. Most importantly, is established the difference between “reality” and “a distant time and place.” Interestingly enough, whether or not California of the 1970s or Maryland of the 1800s represented the most real “reality” to the main characters actually changed thorough the story. This is perhaps one of the most powerful effects of the use of time travel in the story.

Time travel likewise is not an uncommon theme in fiction, however rather than taking a science fiction like take on an occurrence that is definitely of that realm, Butler completely or nearly completely ignores the practical or scientific examination as to how the event occurs. It is almost as if Dana just accepts it from the very beginning of the work. This is an idea that is further reinforced by the fact that the reader is introduced to the plot at its end, and then brought back ‘round to the start of the duo’s time traveling ways. The ability for the characters to easily come to grips with the idea of time travel is paralleled by the same ease in their ability to integrate themselves into their assigned racial roles of the 1800s, and by doing so accepting the injustices of slavery. Thus, the reader is clearly clued in to just how quickly a modern socially and racially accustomed individual can become jaded by the racial conditions into which they are thrown. Further, the fact that the characters’ time travel cannot be readily controlled parallels their own inability to change or exist outside of the racial barriers established in this period of time.