One would think that in a dystopian future where laws are meaningless and the police are more harmful than helpful, people would have bigger things to worry about than what color someone’s skin is or what reproductive organs that they have. That is not the case for The Parable of the Sower, as the community that the beginning of the story takes place in still has gender roles, among other traditions from the past that do not have a place in such a brutal present.
Fortunately, the readers have Lauren Olamina, the teenage protagonist, to try and add some reason to the mix instead of sticking her head in the sand like how every other member of her community seems to prefer doing. The author, Octavia Butler, further utilizes Lauren by using her to critique how a society is more likely to stick with familiar customs rather than adapt to what currently affects them, because people are typically resistant of change. …show more content…
Hyperempathy is a syndrome that causes for the afflicted to feel the pain or pleasure of others to the extreme, and can even cause physical reactions. The syndrome makes Lauren stand out as a stark contrast to the hypermasculine society focused on power and violence around her. Also, by having a character so vulnerable to emotions, which is typically seen as a weakness, and making it into a strength, Butler added a whole new way to view the world. Usually, being emotional or too empathetic is something that is mostly applied to women. Considering Laurens condition, it is impossible for her not to be empathetic, but she refused to let the perceived weakness cripple her. She stated once that she wished everyone had hyperempathy, then with everyone sharing pain they would be less likely to harm