Wild Seed (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Octavia Butler
- First Published: 1980
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Fantasy
- Time of Work: 1690-1840
- Setting: West Africa, New England, and Louisiana
- Genres: Long fiction, Fantasy
- Subjects: Africa or Africans, Folkloric or magical people, Power, personal or social, Murder or homicide, South or Southerners, Immortality, Nineteenth century, Slavery or slaves, New England, Eighteenth century, Seventeenth century, Cruelty, Science fiction, Vampires
- Locales: Africa, Louisiana, New England
Characters Discussed
Anyanwu, an immortal shape-shifter and healer, the novel’s protagonist. By manipulating her physical form, An-yanwu can change her gender, race, and species. She begins the novel in Africa in the guise of an elderly woman living alone, the mother of many children. She leaves her home when she encounters Doro, who promises her a safer existence in a new world (America) and children who will never die. To the powerful and immortal Doro, Anyanwu is “wild seed,” a freak of nature whose powers he wishes to use in building an immortal culture of people he...
[The entire page is 833 words long]
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