Mirrors can have different reflections. In Octavia’s Kindred (1979), Dana Franklin finds her long-lost ancestor Alice Greenwood. The story follows Dana, an African-American woman in her 70s, and Kevin, a young author from white, as they travel between the 1800’s antebellum South and back. Dana, Kevin and their luggage are moved into Dana’s 26th birthday home. Dana wakes up in the Weylin plantation and falls asleep. Dana and Kevin quickly realize that Dana is traveling to preserve Rufus Weylin’s legacy. Dana makes six trips to the Weylin plantation, each trip becoming more difficult and dangerous. Dana soon meets Rufus and finds out that Alice is her other half. With these bits of information, Dana is able to go to great lengths to ensure Alice and Rufus are alive every time she visits the past. Alice, as Dana’s ancestor, is an integral part of Kindred. She is a representation of Dana’s past self, which makes her a foil to Dana. Octavia has made Alice Greenwood a central character, mirroring Dana Franklin. She is well worth the effort.
Although Dana was not born in the 1800’s, her adaptability to the times and customs of the period is remarkable. The antebellum South provides a glimpse into Dana’s past and Alice, Dana’s distant relative slowly becomes a representation of what Dana might have experienced if she was born in this period. Dana, Alice and their shared heritage and ethnicity are common. Rufus stumbles into Alice’s house drunk. He looked at us all. “You are really only one woman. Did you realize that? ‘” (Butler 228). Alice explains to Rufus, after he has left, that Rufus meant, “[h]e prefers me in bed than you out of bed, so you and I are similar if …. people believe.” That means that we’re both the ….” halves of one woman (Butler 228). Rufus views the two of them in the same light. This is why Dana was born at the same time as Alice and might have been in the exact same position. The same can be said for Alice and Dana. Alice is a mirror image of Dana. She is less educated, but she comes from a more open-minded background. This allows Dana to draw on Alice’s character and make important points about race and gender within Kindred. This concept is clearly illustrated by Dana’s comment, “Alice Greenwood.” What would it take to marry this boy? Or would that be marriage? “And why didn’t someone mention that Rufus Weylin had been white?” (Butler 28). In questioning her family’s history and how it came about, Dana focuses solely on Alice/Rufus’ mixed relationship. He feels …. that way. He wants to me marry someone like himself – someone who is similar to him. A black man.” (Butler 111). Another scene from “The Fight”, features Dana, Alice and Rufus talking about Kevin. Alice said that Kevin is exactly like Rufus simply because their skin is the same (Butler 168). This creates a new parallel between Dana’s life and Alice’s relationship with white men. Octavia Octavia reveals the heartbreaking story of how racism travels in the south through time. Butler portrays Alice’s foil as Dana to contrast this stark similarity. Although Kindred has many foils, Alice is the foil that Dana needs to be defeated. Discussing Dana’s disfigured heritage and real history of slavery opens up the possibility of Alice sharing her firsthand knowledge of slavery. Alice is an authentic African American slave. Alice remarks that Dana, however, will care. I’ll be there for you. And you will help me.
Alice tells Dana the above to convince her of Alice’s desire to escape Weylin with her two remaining children. It’s also possible to compare Alice and Dana through their respective languages. Dana is constantly confronted by young Rufus’s speech. He tells Dana that he doesn’t speak right and Nigel tells Dana that he thinks Dana talks funny (Butler 30, 60). Alice’s speech style is normal. The most significant difference between Alice, Dana and Nigel is their point of views. Dana represents an open-minded, more modern society. She believes that she would rather survive and fight for her freedom than live in slavery and condemnation. Alice was brought up in a society that allowed racism and slavery. Alice, however, took her own life. This was a sign that the existence she was living was less kind than death. Butler presents Alice as the warped, opposite to Dana in order for the story to address important topics.
These characters represent the struggle between the past and present throughout the novel. This is evident in their strained relationships. Dana learns more about her ancestors through the past and attempts to connect with the plantation residents. Alice was almost confused by Dana’s story and eventually came to terms with her. These relationships and ties are used by Butler to encourage the reader to reflect on what they see.
Kindred tackles vital topics such as racism and outside agents. Alice Greenwood and Dana Franklin have created fascinating dynamics that help to define the past and the present. They also establish heartbreaking relationships between all the characters. Alice is Dana’s mirror, and a reflection of Dana as a slave. Alice is, however, a warped version of Dana. She represents the opposite of Dana to demonstrate the difference between empathy and sympathy. Dana, despite being a slave herself, cannot fully understand the lives of slaves. Alice is sent back in her time to be a witness to slavery. Alice is able to empathize with these situations. Through her intriguing relationships between her characters and the time they live in, particularly between Alice & Dana, Octavia is able to create a truly literary masterpiece. Kindred is a classic piece of fiction that requires readers to look in the mirror, see themselves through it, and then reevaluate themselves.