The Feminist Perspective of Wild Seed and Mind of My Mind

Octavia Butler’s Wild Seed and Mind of My Mind examined through the lens of the feminist perspective gives an equal representation of Doro and Mary. Arguably, Doro and Mary are masters to those around them. Doro breeds only the strongest. Mary brings in latents to help them transition.

In class, we spoke of Doro’s death as a sympathetic event within the text.

Through the feminist perspective, Doro and Mary display the same dominant characteristics accompanied by their power. Repeatedly, Doro imposes his dominance upon Anyanwu. She expresses her discomfort with Doro’s decisions like who is chosen for her to breed with and his infatuation with taking over the bodies of others. However, Doro submits to Anyanwu, once she decides to live alongside Doro (252). Doro’s imposition of power over Mary developed hostility between the two. Karl introduced the concept of Mary and Doro as competitors. Mary in Mind of My Mind challenges the inequality established in Wild Seed. Similar to Doro, Mary’s actions are dominant. Jan observes Mary’s dominance commands Jan to get her things and bring them to her (410). The commands of Mary are similar to those of Doro’s. However, Doro realizes that Mary is equal to him and sees her as a competitor. The sympathetic value to the aspirations of both characters changes the perspective of the ending of Mind of My Mind. Doro’s aspiration to gain a family increases his sympathetic value. Mary’s increasing aspiration to help latents through transition decreases her sympathetic value. Although, the two characters have equal characteristics, they are perceived differently for various reasons. Butler develops strong female lead characters that are not marginalized by their gender. Therefore, Mary and Doro are equal in the sense of being dominant and powerful spirit.

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