Kindred by Octavia E. Butler is a remarkable examination of the depths of human pain and the lengths people will go to survive. Butler uses the primary character Dana as an example of the strength of the phenomenon known as Stockholm Syndrome, in which hostages start to identify with their captors. A brutal owner of a pre-Civil War plantation sends Dana, a contemporary African American lady, back in time to a plantation during the peak of slavery. Through the perspective of an observer, the story partially examines slavery. A coping strategy for a captivity or abusive setting is Stockholm syndrome. Over time, people come to feel good about their captors or abusers. Through Dana’s encounters with enslavement, humiliation, and mental manipulation, she fosters a profound connection to her detainers, notwithstanding her attention to the evil of their activities. In Octavia E. Butler’s Kindred, the protagonist, Dana, demonstrates the phenomenon of Stockholm Syndrome through her journey, as she develops a profound connection with her oppressors despite the evil of their actions. In this essay, I will discuss three ways Dana exhibits Stockholm Syndrome in Butler’s book.
First, Dana exhibits Stockholm Syndrome by developing a relationship of loyalty with Rufus’s mother, who is her captive. Dana is threatened and detained at gunpoint, but she cares for Rufus’s mother and stands up for her when Kevin interrogates her (Butler 15). The fact that Dana felt a strong connection to her kidnapper despite being in a dangerous circumstance is a classic indicator of Stockholm Syndrome. Dana exhibits Stockholm Syndrome in her relationship with Rufus, whom she saved from drowning by jumping into the water since she frequently jeopardizes her own safety to protect him. She also seems drawn to him because she is open and truthful in responding to his inquiries. “You needed help,” I told him. “I came to help you. Twice. Does that make me someone to be afraid of?”(Butler 24) Dana understands that Rufus has been afraid of her after he says that he recalls her from the day she saved him from drowning, which makes her sympathetic to him(Butler 22). She starts to be friendly and empathetic toward him, even standing up for him in front of his parents. Dana queried. “And Daddy’s gun,” I said bitterly. “Your father nearly killed me” (Butler 23). Dana’s determination to stick by Rufus and assist him despite her own dread of his father’s pistol reveals a great sense of loyalty on her part. The text’s language, organization, and style all contribute to demonstrating how Stockholm Syndrome relates to the main idea. The reader can sense Dana’s deep commitment to Rufus and her willingness to stand by him despite vulnerability and fear, thanks to her inner thoughts and dialogue. The intense feelings Dana experiences, as she expresses her fear, admiration, and loyalty to Rufus are also captured by the text’s style. Dana is determined to keep him alive despite his violent and repulsive behavior until he conceives Hagar with Alice Greenwood, who will start Dana’s family line (Butler, X). Dana’s devotion to Weylin despite the risk to his life blatantly illustrates Stockholm Syndrome.
Secondly, Dana is the survivor of Weylin’s power in this circumstance, as he is demanding replies from her and, surprisingly, venturing to such an extreme as to reprimand her. In spite of this, Dana does not carry on fear or antagonism yet instead attempts to placate Weylin by redirecting the conversation and even ventures to recommend that she has saved his child’s life (Butler 130). This is an obvious indicator of Stockholm Syndrome, as Dana attempts to construct a positive relationship with her captor, notwithstanding how he is verbally disrespectful. She additionally guards Weylin when he is faced with her rescue of Rufus, and she is sorry for her wet dress, which he sees as indecent (Butler 199). “You damned black bitch!” He shook his cane at me like an extended forefinger. “If you think you can get away with making threats . . . giving orders… He ran out of breath and began gasping again. I watched without sympathy, wondering whether he was already sick. “Get out!” he gasped. “Go to Rufus. Take care of him. If anything happens to him, I’ll flay you alive!” (Butler 202) The use of the words “damned” and “flay” to emphasize the animosity in the scenario shows how highly passionate and aggressive the language in the text is. The text’s severe and scary tone emphasizes the characters’ disparate levels of power and effectively conveys Dana’s feelings of fear and helplessness. The text’s organization is crucial, as the repeated use of the line “If you think you can get away with” enables the reader to identify with Dana and see the gravity of her predicament. The author can build a sense of suspense and tension through literary devices like repetition, which helps to vividly depict the psychological repercussions of Stockholm Syndrome and the emotional pain it causes.
Thirdly, Dana’s response to Rufus’ threats against Alice exemplifies Stockholm syndrome. Dana first rejects his idea, but in the end, she agrees to help him persuade Alice to share a bed with him. She uses Rufus’ “low cunning” and his threat to beat Alice if she rejects his approaches to justify her choice(Butler, XXII). Dana is trying to save Alice from the torture she would otherwise endure, a typical instance of Stockholm syndrome where the victim starts to feel sorry for their attacker. Dana’s sentiments of humiliation and internal tension between her own ideals and the more general feminist principle of sisterhood serve as additional examples of this. These signs suggest that Dana has chosen the same coping strategy as other abused individuals: she is attempting to safeguard Alice from additional damage by forgoing her morals and principles. In addition, Dana exhibits Stockholm syndrome to Alice by being compassionate and understanding of her despite Alice not being a blood relative. Then, she continues, “Rufe, what has become of Alice?”(Butler 88). Dana exhibits compassion and understanding rather than expressing anger or resentment at the selling off of Alice’s father.
“I told Mama who you were. I mean that you were the one who saved me from the river. She said it wasn’t true, but I think she really believed me. I told her because I thought it might make her like you better.” (Butler 89). Rufe’s trust in Dana is a sign of his naivety and his hope for something better. I got up again. “I have to go, Rufe. I’ll see you again whenever I can.” The author uses precise and direct diction to describe Dana’s emotions, such as her ‘sigh’ when she finds out Alice’s father has been sold into slavery. Furthermore, the repetition of the phrase ‘I got up to go—then sat down again’ emphasizes Dana’s reluctance to leave and her understanding of Rufe’s situation. Dana’s behavior suggests that she has bonded with Alice and Rufus, which might be interpreted as Stockholm syndrome.
To sum up, Kindred by Octavia Butler is a remarkable investigation into the depths of human suffering and what lengths people will go to to stay alive. Butler paints a vivid picture of Stockholm Syndrome, a condition in which captives begin to sympathize with their captors through Dana’s experiences of slavery, humiliation, and mental manipulation. Dana exemplifies Stockholm Syndrome in the book by forming a devoted bond with Rufus’ mother, guarding him despite her anxiety, and standing up for Weylin and Alice despite the dangers she faces. The symptoms of Stockholm Syndrome are also seen in Dana’s reaction to Rufus’ threats against Alice and her kind treatment of Alice. Butler explores the emergence of Dana’s Stockholm Syndrome to show the resilience of the human spirit in the face of hardship.
Work Cited
Butler, Octavia E. Kindred. Beacon Press, 2004.
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