Capitalism and Corruption: The Solution of Change Through Awareness

    Corporate America’s negligence to public welfare, which we see in our widening class gap and increase in rate of homelessness, is showcased by Octavia Butler’s dystopian novel, Parable of the Sower. This novel is set in a post-apocalyptic society that is unsafe with its unpredictability and volatility. This society is failing under climate change, addiction, a crumbling education system and distrust in a corrupt government system. This novel was written in 1993 but is set in the year 2024 with eerie foreshadowing of our political climate at present. Parable of the Sower comments on the dangers of capitalist culture and greediness leading to the devastation of American civilization, yet Butler also offers a solution to the warning through the character Lauren and her religious testament to change.

    However Lauren’s message of change and preparedness allowed her to survive despite the civic unrest occurring around her. In the storyline Lauren wants to share with her friend Joanne Garfield about her learning necessary tools for survival and creating an emergency escape plan. Lauren tells her, “I'm trying to learn whatever I can that might help me survive out there. I think we should all study books like these. I think we should bury money and other necessities in the ground where thieves won't find them. I think we should make emergency packs-grab and run packs—in case we have to get out of here in a hurry” (Butler 41). Joanne admits she has had similar thoughts, but rather than taking action she tells her parents what Lauren told her. Lauren consequently gets in trouble and her friendship is marred. Joanne and her family represent later in the story willing blindness to their surroundings when they willingly choose to leave for a company town, which has no true promise of freedom. The Garfields are willing to take that risk for the promise of food, water and safety. “In not very much time, I think the new hires would be in debt to the company. That’s an old company-town trick—get people into debt, hang on to them, and work them harder. Debt slavery. That might work in Christopher Donner’s America. Labor laws, state and federal, are not what they once were” (Butler 78). The focus on lack of preparation is also demonstrated in the novel by her neighbors raising rabbits in their yard, putting a target on their house with no thought to additional security or safety precautions. Moss, the rabbits owner, has been selling meat and furs to the community, but refuses to let others buy rabbits from him. It is clear his greed is clouding his judgment and money is prioritized over safety. “But now, stubborn, arrogant, and greedy, he had decided he could earn more if he peddled his merchandise outside. So, now the word is out on the street about the damned rabbits, and last night someone came to get them” (Butler 50). Between distrust with Joanne, the ignorance of her family, and the greediness of Richard Moss, capitalism is flourishing because of the manipulation of citizens' mindsets. It seems citizens are willing to buy whatever false premise of safety is being sold to them and fail to think independently for themselves. Lauren’s ability to perceive her environment accurately allows her to plan appropriately and ultimately keeps her alive. Lauren isn’t fueled by greed or fooled by empty promises, which allows her to be realistic in how to survive in these fatal elements. Understanding and planning are essential elements to lasting and effective change.

    Next Lauren’s development of her personal philosophy of change is solidified by her use of education and observation, two attributes that serve as a danger to capitalism. Lauren is seen as an advocate for education early in the novel with Amy Dunn. Even though Amy is not of age to start school, Lauren takes it upon herself to look after the child. “I think, though, that if someone doesn’t help Amy now, someday she’ll do something a lot worse than burning down her family’s garage” (Butler 27). Lauren is a child herself but recognizes that education and routine are crucial for the development of children, or our future generation. This theme continues throughout the novel as Lauren’s brother Keith explains that the only way he was able to survive outside the wall was because he could read while most people were illiterate. Keith elaborates ton how something he was so opposed to learning was actually the only thing ensuring his success outside the wall. Another character that expounds on the evolving through education theme is Zahra as she asks Lauren to teach her to read. As Zahra demonstrates her open mindedness Lauren is challenged by her other companion, Harry. Harry shares his distrust of Lauren writing religiously in her journal, but not sharing the content. This prompts Lauren to share the first public excerpt of Earthseed. “All that you touch/ You Change./ All that you Change/ Changes you/ The only lasting truth/ Is Change./ God/ Is Change” (Butler 122). This continuous commentary on education appears intentional from Butler as she was watching the education system fail thousands of children while writing this novel. Education is a necessity, not a luxury to the health and success of an individual throughout their life. Through Lauren offering education to deepen connections and help her peers prosper we see this theme in action. Capitalism prospers off ignorance of both consumers and workers and to combat this, citizens need to be educated about the offers they accept and the companies they endorse.

    Lauren shows awareness of climate change and the destruction to her country and serves to take control of this through using the earth in an organic, noninvasive way. Lauren references the natural disasters that have rampaged the country when she was having her escape plan early in the novel. “Tornadoes are smashing hell out of Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, and two or three other states. Three hundred people dead so far. And there’s a blizzard freezing the northern midwest, killing even more people” (Butler 39). Later in the novel when Lauren is leading a group of disciples, her most educated disciple Banhole, comments on the widening gap in classes continuing to grow as the desire for more comes from the upper class.

    I have watched education become more a privilege of the rich than the     

    basic necessity that it must be if civilized society is to survive. I have     

    watched as convenience, profit, and inertia excused greater and more 

    dangerous environmental degradation. I have watched poverty, hunger, 

    and disease become inevitable for more and more people. (Butler 220)

Both greed and negligence are two aspects of capitalism that pose a threat to the country and the environment as a whole. Creating lasting change through preservation of resources is not aligned with a capitalist mindset but it offers longevity to civilized human survival. Lauren serves as an example of climate change through her ability to orchestrate a commune that is self-sustaining with her followers by the end of the novel.

    People across the country’s fear of the unknown accompanies their commitment to denial of change in an ever evolving society. This fear paralyzes them, holding them still to become prey to murders and arsonists. The residents residing in Laurens town are too focused on trying to survive in a society where they have to pay bills in an economy failing with no prospects of making a livable income. Their focus on surviving in a system where there’s murder, anarchy, lawlessness beyond the walls of her community. However, Earthseed provides healing to those that have survived atrocities if they are able to surrender to change. Lauren is creating a belief and hope when the country desperately needs something to motivate them to create change. This damage from the painted faces is depicted many times in the novel. During Laurens travel on the highway her and her group saw cops going towards the community that was burnt down “Perhaps they would scavenge a little themselves. Or perhaps they would just have a look and

drive away. What had cops done for my community when it was burning? Nothing” (Butler 147). Despite the fear Lauren faces from these atrocities she wills herself to move and be analytical about survival. In the midst of this wreckage Lauren appears to be able to offer what normalcy her group can experience by giving some sense of safety. This security Lauren and her religion provide may be one reason why Harry, her traveling companion, became a follower of her religious philosophy. Other people in her group with hesitations still ultimately decided to live harmoniously within her community of ideas because the change she was evoking was offering a solution to their problems. One reason Lauren may have gotten through to others was because of her hyper empathy towards others emotional needs. Through her personal acceptance of the state of the country and a commitment to bettering the personal life she can control, Lauren provides a new hope to the people around her.

    Lauren’s use of acceptance to symbolize liberation from the shackles of corruption is demonstrated by the large group of her companions and their diversity. This group represents overcoming racist prejudice through a system of change, as some of her companions were enslaved or indentured before joining Earthseed. Her philiosphy on this can be summarized by teachers surrounding you constantly if you have the awareness to see what the people around you have to offer. She believes God is the ultimate teacher though and will give you lessons that

force awareness into your life by difficult decisions that make you rethink what you thought you knew. Lauren recognizes early on that to survive she can learn from everyone in her environment, not just people of a certain social class or racial background. Accepting followers based on their need for change, rather than their advantage to the group's survival, emphasizes Lauren’s message of change being required of everyone, no matter what differences are present. “Embrace diversity./ Unite/ Or be divided,/ robbed,/ ruled,/ killed/ By those who see you as prey./ Embrace diversity/ Or be destroyed” (Butler 123). Lauren’s disciples included 3 different races and their ages spanned the lifespan. These two excerpts from Earthseed signify the importance of inclusion in her life’s mission for embracing change. Collaboration is therefore another vital pillar to long term change and continued independence.

    Parable of the Sower and its prophetic message of devastation to American democracy through ignorance and greed in the capitalist nation is offered a solution through Lauren and her ability to acknowledge the permanence and necessity of change. To avoid modern day slavery while the public works hard to maintain or higher their socioeconomic status, it is important to be an advocate for promoting change. Change and activism can occur in holding authorities to be accountable for unjust actions, taking measures to protect and mitigate climate change, becoming educated on social issues around us and fostering the inclusive environment that helps civilizations evolve. Lauren’s religion of change parallels themes of preparation, education, environmentalism, hope, and acceptance. Butler’s social commentary on capitalism, ignorance, and greed can only be overcome by a true message of radical change. Butler offers a personal analysis as summation of their theme of change at the end of the novel. “Lauren Olamina says that since change is the one inescapable truth, change is the basic clay of our lives. In order to

live constructive lives, we must learn to shape change when we can and yield to it when we must” (Butler 211).

Works Cited:

Butler, Octavia E. Parable of the Sower. New York :Four Walls Eight Windows, 1993.