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Parable Response: Mini Close Reading
In Octavia Butler’s “Parable of the Sower,” the protagonist, Lauren suffers from
hyperempathy syndrome due to her mother’s drug use during pregnancy. The condition allows
her to feel the suffering and pleasure of individuals around her and thus, makes her intensely
aware of the suffering and desperation in her society. Lauren’s condition sets her apart from her
family and neighbors who are largely desensitized to the violence and suffering in the
community (Butler 12). Due to this condition, she can see and feel the world from a different
perspective compared to those around her, thus offering her a diverse point of view on the
community she lives in. While her neighbors and family members appear to be blind to their
circumstances, Lauren's conditions enable her to identify the social injustices and insecurities
surrounding her and inspire her to make a change.
As evident in the text, class and racial distinctions are increasingly divisive, with the
wealthy individuals living in gated homes while the poor are left struggling to survive in
decaying urban cities (Butler 132). Through her condition, Laureen gets to understand the pain
and suffering witnessed by both groups. By doing so, she is able to communicate with
individuals from diverse backgrounds and establish alliances in the struggle for survival and
change.
Generally, Lauren’s hyperempathy can be perceived both as a strength and a weakness.
On one hand, she is able to connect with individuals in a deep and meaningful manner, seeing
the world through their eyes and feeling their pain and suffering. She says, “I get a lot of grief
that doesn’t belong to me…” (Butler 12). As a result, she becomes a compassionate and caring
individual who works to make the world a better place. On the other hand, her condition is a
weakness that leaves her vulnerable to the pain and suffering of other individuals (Butler 12).
The vulnerability could be exploited by individuals who are willing to harm her. Moreover, it
could lead to emotional exhaustion and burnout.
Work Cited
Butler, Octavia E. Parable of the Sower. New York, Seven Stories Press, 2000.