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STUDY GUIDE FOR KINDRED BY OCTAVIA E. BUTLER
OTHER ELEMENTS
IRONY
Another element that is important to note is irony - when something
happens, or is seen, or is heard that we may know, but the characters
do not, or that appears opposite of what is expected. Some examples of
irony include:
1. Kevin makes an ironic comment that there are so many other fascinating times they could have gone back to visit. The irony comes from the idea that they had a choice. Actually, they were forced back by Rufus.
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2. Dana warns Nigel about bringing the books out of hiding in the kitchen
where anyone can walk in and catch them.
She gives Nigel a test and he spells every word correctly; as she’s
praising Nigel and feeling proud of his accomplishments, she carefully
burns the test paper in the fireplace. Suddenly, the door opens again
and Tom Weylin enters very unexpectedly. After all the precautions she
takes, Dana is still caught teaching Nigel to read.
3. Ironically, Dana’s cousin, who sees her after she returns home from
being beaten by Tom Weylin, believes that Kevin has beaten her, and the
cousin is very disappointed that Dana allowed it.
4. Dana tells Alice that she can’t give her an answer about whether
to sleep with Rufus as he demands, because it’s Alice’s body, not hers.
Alice just weeps that it’s not her body at all, but Rufus’, because he
has paid for it.
5. Dana asks Rufus why his father had written to Kevin. Rufus tells
her that his father did it, because Rufus had given his word. His father
is a man who cares as much about giving his word to a black man as he
does to a white. Ironically, he wouldn’t hesitate to beat, sell, or kill
this same black man.
6. Ironically, Dana is called back for the last time on the Fourth of
July.
7. Dana’s arm is embedded into the plaster at the exact spot where Rufus’ fingers had grasped. Ironically, he keeps at least a part of her with him forever.
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