Kindred

Kevin's five-year stay in the past in Octavia Butler's Kindred is due to his and Dana's inability to control their time travel. He is trapped in the 19th century after Dana returns to the present...

Dana's time travel in Kindred strains her relationship with Kevin by exposing stark racial and experiential differences. They must assume master-slave roles to survive in the past, leading to...

Tom Weylin sends Kevin a letter in response to Rufus's failure to mail Dana's letters, which Rufus had promised to do. Tom believes in honoring one's word, regardless of race, and is disappointed by...

In "Kindred," communication across time is complex and challenging due to the characters' differing experiences with time travel. Initially, Dana's husband, Kevin, struggles to believe her account of...

Dana's aunt approves her wish to marry Kevin because she prefers light-skinned blacks, and believes Dana and Kevin will have light-skinned children. Despite general familial disapproval, her aunt's...

Margaret initially harbors jealousy and criticism towards Dana due to Dana's relationships with Kevin and Rufus. She is more judgmental of Dana than Kevin, whom she views as nonconforming to expected...

In Kindred, Dana struggles with her role in the past, finding it morally repugnant to support Rufus, a white racist and rapist, despite knowing her heritage might depend on such a relationship. She...