Earthseed Planted: Ecofeminist Teachings in Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower

Authors

Delia Shahnavaz, University of Central Florida

Mentor

Farrah Cato

Abstract

Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower is set in a world where patriarchal supremacy has stifled not only womankind, but also the natural environment of the Earth. By exploring the innate connection between the desecrated Earth and the strangled matriarchy, this paper draws direct links to Butler's world and ecofeminist theory by Vandana Shiva and others, ultimately concluding that Butler's "Earthseed" serves as a representation of a world in which ecofeminism reigns supreme.

About the Author

Delia Shahnavaz graduated from the University of Central Florida in May of 2017, with a B.A. in English. Her primary research interests are ecofeminism, intersectionality, Middle Eastern literature, and speculative fiction by women of color.

Recommended Citation

Shahnavaz, Delia (2017) "Earthseed Planted: Ecofeminist Teachings in Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower," The Pegasus Review: UCF Undergraduate Research Journal: Vol. 9: Iss. 2, Article 4.
Available at: https://stars.library.ucf.edu/urj/vol9/iss2/4