Draft (also in BETA)

Gabriel Hudson

3/10/15/////3/11/15

In Octavia E. Butler’s short story, “Bloodchild”, the author includes multiple scenes in the book that can easily be described as gruesome and mature. It is usually thought that whenever an author includes such scenes it’s for the sole purpose of having her readers cringe at the horror behind her words. Books such as the Goosebumps series or by the “King of Horror”, Stephen King, do their best to create a circumstance that sends the reader cowering under their bed sheets for safety.

And yet the horror within “Bloodchild” has an almost alternative effect. Despite its disturbing nature there is much depth found in the plot and the development of its characters. The complicated relationships between these characters is what makes this short story interpretable in multiple ways as well as easily relatable.  What about this novel allows such connections to be made with the characters?

The answer to this is found in the sickening sequences of the story. With both the reader and the main character sharing the same feelings of disgust and confusion the reader can easily relate to the character and can understand the reasoning behind his decisions.

Transitions:

1. Off the bat the reader is told about the close relationship he has with his sister, mother, and alien as well as the distant relationship he has with his older brother and the Terran relationship with the Tlic.

• This shows that this will be of importance
• Creates a backstory to look upon and view how these relationships may be changed

     2.  The inclusion of the Blood and Gore effects the relationship of the characters

• Changes the relationship between Gan and T’Gatoi(TG)
• Changes the relationship between Gan and Qui
• Changes the maturity of Gan (considers suicide)
• Creates a dire situation between Gan and Han
• Creates a relationship between Gan and the reader as both are in disgust with the pregnancy of Lomas

     

     3. The decision making is based upon the cruelty of the Blood and Gore

• The difficult decision of either accepting the pregnancy or passing it to Han (the reader can relate)
• Questioning of the intension of his decision. (To save Han? Or for the prideful reasons of not being like Qui?)

4. …………..

Conclusion: As we can see here the mature scenes of the books intensifies the plot and creates a new understanding of the main character on another level. While some may argue that relatability and character relationships don’t define the level of depth a book has ………………………