Title: Wild Seed Series: Patternmaster #1
Author: Octavia E. Butler
Published: April 1, 1980
Genre(s): Science Fiction
Page Count: 306
Rating:
Summary from Goodreads:Doro is an entity who changes bodies like clothes, killing his hosts by reflex or design. He fears no one until he meets Anyanwu. Anyanwu is a shapeshifter who can absorb bullets and heal with a kiss and savage anyone who threatens her. She fears no one until she meets Doro. Together they weave a pattern of destiny (from Africa to the New World) unimaginable to mortals.
At its core, Wild Seed seems to be a novel about a patriarchal society’s eugenics program. It is also a story about a woman and her conflict with an amoral mass-murderer. It’s a wearisome, and often hopeless, text. It’s hard to discuss and even harder to digest. Butler is, of course, a magnificent author and it’s only to her credit that she’s written such a complex, ambiguous narrative. For herself, Octavia E. Butler has gone on record to reject applying labels to her work, and after reading Wild Seed, this seems only right. This is a novel in a class all its own.
As stated above, eugenics and patriarchy are central themes in the book; I’m going to discuss them in relation to the experiences of Anyanwu, the female protagonist. Stripped of the portrayal of psionic abilities (which are interesting, but not relevant to my discussion), Wild Seed features on one side Doro, a narcissistic godlike figure who gathers hand-picked individuals into colonies in order to breed and/or murder them for personal gain and entertainment. Anyanwu is pitted against this man (or rather, being), but as the text proves time and time against, against his institutionalized power she can do little, for he has reserved all privileges in his favor. Clearly, then, rebellion/struggle against patriarchal dominance is explored in Anyanwu’s story (though this perhaps oversimplifies a centuries’ long relationship). Yet from my perspective, this power struggle is not ultimately explored in a hopeful manner, as Butler reinforces again and again that the only true choices Anyanwu has are to submit to Doro or to committ suicide and thus escape him. To regain control over her life and her body, she must destroy herself.
The control over and exploitation of Anyanwu’s body in Wild Seed was relentless and destructive. Under Doro’s rule, people are like livestock used to bring out the best bloodlines and abilities. They do not question, but mate with whomever they’re told, even siblings or parents. Anywanwu herself is given to several men, and so is her legal husband, Isaac. The subject is relevant and worthwhile (especially in conjunction with the abuses black women faced under slavery), but in the novel it’s especially difficult to stomach, considering the lack of positive resolution from Butler. The conclusion of the novel leaves Anyanwu perhaps slightly better off that she was, but she is still under the dominion of Doro and has little to no agency. Granted, this is the first installment of a multi-volume series, but Anyanwu’s character arc does not fill me with optimism. (And considering reviews I’ve read of the sequels books, I don’t think Butler’s message is particularly inspiring as to the state of humanity.)
Another gender-related issue that Butler touches on is the contrast between the “feminine” and the “masculine” that’s symbolized and enacted by Anyanwu and Doro. This is referenced even in the back-cover copy of my edition, where each character is described as “all that is female/male”. It’s interesting, and potentially troubling, that Wild Seed reinforces the existence of inherent differences between men and women, though Butler is by no means unique in portraying this viewpoint. In any case, the novel definitely makes the case that Anyanwu’s matriarchal community is superior to the fear-based exhibition of Doro’s power. Rather than controlling through coercion and displays of violence, Anyanwu leads through an example of self-sacrifice and freedom of choice. Yet though this society is presented as the preferable and more functional model, Butler does not allow it to thrive for long. In the end the dominance of Doro’s totalitarian regime is reestablished. And once this happens, Anyanwu’s community falls apart. This does serve to reinforce the idea that the patriarchy is a failing system and that something must change. Yet the final image we see of Anyanwu is one where she is once again under Doro’s thumb.
Bringing feminist discourse to Wild Seed (and I’ve only brushed on some potential topics) is challenging. I wouldn’t say that Octavia E. Butler is blatantly pushing an obvious message of any sort; it seems that she portrays what is problematic, and the reader is the one who is supposed to object. Because of this hands-off, no soapbox approach, the novel is ripe for discussion. What I’ve personally taken away from the text is the demonstrated inefficiency and inhumanity of male-dominated, fear-based power. Though she exercises no control over her body for the majority of the text, Anyanwu’s narrative asserts that if given agency, women will establish restorative communities to counteract male subjugation. In conclusion, Wild Seed is heavy and tough to swallow and not pleasant to read, but it speaks to important themes in a way that provokes thought, discussion, and, hopefully, a drive for change.
