Kindred

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This gives the "fish out of water" quality of life. To this, the majority of us can sympathize. Most have been in a situation where things around are unfamiliar, thus forcing an adjustment in behavior. The adjustment that the main character Dana makes, though, is one that is very extreme. Clearly the time spent in the past made Dana much harder than she had been, she says, "If I�d had my knife, I would surely
have killed someone. As it was, I managed to leave scratches and bruises on Rufus, his father, and Edwards who was called over to help." (Butler, 176)
As far as how it works in the actual story of the novel, firstly, and most importantly, it puts a strong, independent, black, 20th century black woman in the antebellum south. This provides a strong contrast in living conditions, as well as psychological patterns with those of the 19th century Dana sees and conveys the world of slavery around her with the background of the 20th century, "our ...

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a limited period of time to shed her 20th century mentality on him. And, Rufus� change is not gradual relative to Dana, because every time she returns, she finds Rufus years older, and acting that much more like his father.

This poses one of the general themes that go along with time travel in science fiction. Every protagonist has visions of grandeur of making the future a "better" place. So they go back in time and try to influence the past in order to rearrange the future. But, in each case each character fails.

But, the fact that Dana goes backward in time lets her to prepare for the worst. It is evident throughout the book that Dana is quite well educated, ...

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