Climate Change in Parable of the Sower and in Marrow Thieves

Name
Course
Instructor
Date
Climate Change in Parable of the Sower and in Marrow Thieves
Climate change has been a growing threat to society for decades but has recently been brought to the forefront of global conversations due to its increasingly destructive effects. This occurrence is particularly true in the novels "Parable of the Sower" by Octavia Butler and "Marrow Thieves" by Cherie Dimaline, which offer a stark look at climate change's social and environmental consequences. Both stories depict a world in which climate change drastically alters the environment, leading to the disintegration of social structures, increased violence, and the need for individuals to be resourceful and resilient to survive. Through their narratives, Butler and Dimaline effectively highlight the fragility of human society and the importance of resourcefulness and resilience in a world of climate change.
In “Parable of the Sower,” Butler paints a vivid picture of a future where climate change has led to chaos and violence. The novel follows the story of Lauren Olamina, a young girl living in a small walled community in California in 2024. In this world, the environment has been drastically altered due to climate change. Droughts, floods, and extreme temperatures have caused massive food shortages and broken law and order. In this world, Lauren must rely on her resourcefulness and resilience to survive. She developed a religion called Earthseed, which emphasizes the importance of cultivating the land and adapting to the changing environment. She states, “All that you touch…You Change…All that you Change… Changes you…The only lasting truth… Is Change...God is Change…” (Butler 3). By relying on her resourcefulness, new religion, and resilience, Lauren can survive in a world where climate change drastically alters the land.
When it comes to the other novel, “Marrow Thieves,” the theme of climate change is depicted in a broader sense. Like Butler, Dimaline also explores the effects of climate change in her novel, “Marrow Thieves.” The novel is set in a future where climate change has resulted in a world of violence and oppression. The characters of “Marrow Thieves” live in a society where the Indigenous population has been forced to flee their traditional lands due to the effects of climate change. They are hunted by “recruiters” who harvest their bone marrow, which contains a serum that gives its users the ability to dream. The characters are forced to rely on their resourcefulness and resilience to survive in this world where climate change drastically alters the land. Through her characters, Dimaline highlights the importance of resourcefulness and resilience in the face of climate change.
In both “Parable of the Sower” and “Marrow Thieves,” climate change is presented as a major force that has the power to disrupt and destroy human society. In Butler’s novel, the protagonist, Lauren, lives in a world drastically changed by climate change. The land is no longer fertile in her world, and the water is scarce. This change results from a combination of drought, deforestation, overpopulation, and th...