Student Zone

Butler states in the afterword that “Bloodchild” is “a love story between two very different beings…it’s a coming-of-age story…my pregnant man story.”

The story takes place on an alien planet humans found after leaving their homeland. Gan, an adolescent human male, is the narrator. He is visiting his family with T’Gatoi (a Tlic-
who is a female alien), a childhood friend of his mother. She has brought two eggs for the visit. One egg is given to Gan. His family is to share the other. During the visit, there is a call for help. Bram Lomas, N’Tlic, a pregnant male, is ready to give birth, T’Gatoi sends Qui, Gan’s older brother, to bring the Terran (the human doctor), and T’Khotgif, Bram’s Tlic. She instructs Gan to obtain a dead animal. Gan shoots an achti from his mother’s cages. He then brings the dead animal to T’Gatoi. The birth process begins. T’Gatoi slits Lomas open, She searches his body cavity for the grubs, the alien’s offspring. As the grubs are found, they are placed in the dead animal. The grubs are then able to continue eating out of their casings. If the grubs are not given something to eat, they eat the host. While Gan understood the birth process, he had never witness it. He becomes ill and leaves the house to vomit in the backyard.

Outside, Qui confronts his younger brother inquiring about Lomas’ well being and expressing distaste for the Tlics. Qui states he has seen a man who was N’Tlic eaten by the grubs. The man’s Tlic would not open him as she had no food for the grubs. Gan assures his brother, “She wouldn’t take you, Qui. You don’t have to worry. She would…if anything happened to you.”

Gan returns to the house. T’Gatoi finds him in the kitchen cleaning the gun. “That was bad, she said softly. You should not have seen it. It need not be that way.”
A confrontation occurs, Gan questions her, “What are you?...”What are we to you?”
Gan states “I don’t want to be a host animal…Not even yours.” T’Gatoi accepts his decision, and states she will speak to Xuan Hoa, his sister. Gan realizes that he does not want to use his sister as his shield. He agrees to be implanted with an egg, but does not agree to give up the gun. Guns are illegal in the Reserve. “Leave it for the family. One of them might use it to save my life someday…If we’re not your animals, if these are adult things, accept the risk. There is risk, Gatoi, in dealing with a partner.” In conclusion, Gan realizes while he had chosen her, to save his sister, he also wants T’Gatoi for himself.

In “Bloodchild” there is a gender role reversal. The human male is used as a host for childbearing. The male is totally depended upon the female alien’s skill to protect his life during the birth process. The male is rewarded for his service. He is given sterile eggs that increase his longevity, the Reserve, a secure place for him to inhabit and to safely raise his human family. The female alien is the power figure. She implants the fertile egg, manages the Reserve, and negotiates conditions between humans and aliens. While the humans and aliens forged a mutual dependency existence, the humans are essentially living in a cage.

Question posed: Why did Lien, Gan’s mother, stop eating her share of the eggs?

Acker’s “Empire of the Senseless” is a tough read. In the “Rape by the Father” section the narrator is Abhor who has been described as part robot and part human (female). She begins speaking of her grandmother’s youth. “Her parents put her out on the streets to pasture. To make them money.” While on the streets, she meets a young boy, they became friends. In a vice bust, the young friend was mistaken for a pimp and jailed. Losing his case in court, was then jailed again. The prison time radicalized him to point, that upon release “tried to kill every Vice-Squad…He managed to kill four of them.” He was condemned to death. The grandmother wanting to succeed married a rich man.

In the next section Abhor describes her relationship with her father. “I realized that my father hated and loved me because he had to. This mixture of total attraction and disgust calmed my natural fears and drew me more and more toward him. I was his mirror. I was his knight. I was strong daring loyal questioning. I would do anything to be loved as long as love or adoration didn’t involve closeness.” Upon discovering his daughter had been “fucking” a young boy. He stated “I’m the only man who’ll ever take care of you properly.’’ He proceeds to rape his daughter. To save his daughter for himself, he attempt to shut her up, claiming she was a cripple. “He was saving me from marriage because marriage is the worst life any woman can have.”

Acker’s writing has a Burroughs’ flavor such as the Legal Aid comment, “But since the Legal Aid never showed up in Court, or for that matter never anywhere else” a political
statement that is dropped into the narrative. The man’s comment on marriage, “For the woman becomes lobotomized and the man acts like a bad actor acting the part of President Reagan.” Acker can be somewhat entertaining.

In this section there is not the role reversal that is exhibited in Butler’s story. The half female, half robot does not impact this section. On another level, is Acker saying society has raped women turning d them into robots.

Summary
Octavia Butler’s short story “bloodchild” is told by Gan, who is a young male that lives with his family in a Preserve. In the short story, terrans (who are humans) and Tlics (who are extraterrestrials that have power over humans), live together inside the preserve, and are dependent on each other to survive and generate new offspring.
T’Gatoi, who is the “Tlic government official” always remains very close to the family and provides them with sterile eggs which will help them to prolong their life. One night, while T’Gatoi was getting warm by “pushing” her body against one of the terrans at Gan’s house, the noise of a suffering N’Tlic can be heard. An N’Tlic is a human who have been chosen to carry Tlic’s fertilized eggs. That same night, Gan has to presence the horrible birth of new Tlics. The act of birth takes place in the kitchen of the house and l blood is involved. After seeing this, Gan is terrified and doesn’t want to become N’Tlic anymore. He decides to offer his sister Xuan Hoa instead, but he is afraid of her suffering. Finally, Gan makes an important decision and let T’Gatoi to implant fertilized eggs inside him.

Response...
There is a relation between the science fiction that we find in “Bloodchild” and the advanced technology that people live with today. In her section “Positive Obsession,” Octavia Butler says that science fiction examines the possible effects of science and technology, social organization as well as political direction (135). In my opinion Bloodchild is a clear example of this. In Butler’s short story we see Terrants eating “sterile eggs” to prolong their life. Similarly to this scientists are currently trying to clone human beings in order to eliminate diseases and prolong life. Also, in Bloodchild a male terran named Gan gets pregnant when a female Tlic transferred her fertilized eggs to him. Today, with the technology and advanced science that society possesses, it is possible for a man to go through surgery to become a woman. I wonder how much truth we find in science fiction. I wonder how much prediction of the different changes that will occur in the future because of technology is hidden behind science fiction. Reading the short story made me ask myself if one day a man will not only be able to become a woman, but also to become pregnant. Again, I think there is a strong relation between science fiction, technology, and future reality.
Another interesting aspect of Bloodchild is the fact that in the story power is related to depending survival. The Tlic specie (who has the power over terrans in the preserve) needs terrans’s warm bodies to keep themselves warm, and terrants need Tlics for protection. I make a relation between the subordination of terrans in the story and our government system. For example, government and institutions help citizens to organize themselves, but at the same time without citizens government wouldn’t exist. People as dependent individuals are part of a system where there is a necessity of “the other” to survive, to socialize and crate new life.
Octavia Butler said “It amazes me that some people have seen ‘bloodchild’ as a story of slavery” (30). In my opinion, it was pretty easy for the readers to relate this story with slavery. I actually did so for a moment. In bloodchild we see how terrans had to be “respectful and always obedient” to T’Gatoi. Also, in page12 of the story we read “She knocked me across the room. Her tail was an efficient weapon whether she exposed the sting or not.” When slavery first took place, slaves were supposed to be respectful and obedient, and power was being held over them by white people. Slaves wanted to escape and stop suffering maltreatment. I compare this with the desire of Gan’s brother to escape from the preserve. I think Butler’s story could be interpreted in many different ways.
Now if we look at it from a different point, I really think people in general made a relation between, Octavia Butler (“African American woman”) and bloodchild (a “science fiction” story). Some readers couldn’t appreciate the short story without thinking about the gender and the race of the author. They weren’t able to see the story as a good science fiction piece that talks about love, fear, and establish a relation between subordination and survival. They just simply had to relate the race and the gender of the author with the piece. I think that Octavia Butler is amazed of the fact that people related the story with slavery for the only reason that the author of it is “a black woman.” People still don’t understand that Literature (In where I will include science fiction) can be written as well as appreciated by not only white people, but also Black female people.
Last, I want to say that “bloodchild” is the first science fiction story I ever read. I found it not only interesting, but also totally amazing. I used my imagination a lot while I was reading it, and I couldn’t stop making a connection between science fiction and future reality.
Question: were the Terran really humans?
why there is not scape of the preserve?

Bloodchild takes place in a world where humans (or Terrans, as they are called in the book) coexist with multi-limbed, sloth-like creatures called Tlic. The two species rely on each other to survive. Tlic use the Terrans as host bodies for their young to grow inside, and the Tlic provide the Terrans with eggs which provide longer life. The story is about a boy named Gan who has been chosen to carry the Tlic inside of him. Gan’s is very close with T’Gatoi, the Tlic in charge of The Preserve, an area where the Tlic and Terrans coexist peacefully. On the day when Gan is supposed to receive T’Gatoi’s eggs, a N’Tlic named Lomas shows up at their door. An N’Tlic, from what I understand, is a Terran with eggs inside of him that has been abandoned by his Tlic. T’Gatoi needs to remove the small Tlic before they start eating the inside of Lomas. His body is slit open and T’Gatoi removes the small Tlic while Gan watches. He is very disturbed by what he sees, and starts to question his roll in carrying the T’Gatoi’s eggs. Gan’s brother Qui makes matters worse by telling Gan that he saw the small Tlic once eat a man from inside out. Later, when T’Gatoi asks Gan’s sister Xuan Hoa if she wants to carry the eggs because she can tell that Gan looks pensive. But then, she realizes that she doesn’t want to turn out like her brother, someone that does not trust the Tlic and refuses to coexist with them. After T’Gatoi inserts the eggs into Gan’s body she assures her that she will never leave her like Lomas was left.

The most obvious use of gender blurring in Bloodchild is the male bearing the child. It was explained in the story that male Terrans are almost always used as host bodies for the Tlic because the female Terrans should be available to give birth to more Terran. Qui suggests to Gan that the only reason the Tlic care about Terran reproduction is “to provide the next generation of host animals.” Gan defends the Tlic but thinks to herself that this might be true. This is where power reversal comes into play. Humans, by nature, have a fear of death, and will do anything to prolong life. Since Tlic eggs have a significant effect on the Terranian life span, the Terrans inside the Preserve submit to the Tlic and agree to carry their young, even if it means risks being eaten from the inside out in doing so. Because of this, Tlic claim the role as the dominating species. Power reversal is used to explore the human fear of death. Is there a reason why Gan’s mother does not eat Tlic eggs as much anymore? Could it be because she has come to terms with the fact that the Tlic only use the Terran to continue to survive? The gender blurring in this story, is itself a power reversal. In a traditional human relationship involving a pregnancy, the male obviously has the upper hand. They choose whether or not to help the female raise the child. In this scenario, the Terran are vulnerable even more because both female and male can bear young.

If there are more Terrans in the Preserve that share Qui’s opinions about the Tlic, then why hasn’t there been any resistance to the Tlic since “the joining of the families”?

What is outside the Preserve?

In Octavia Butler's story “Bloodchild,” humans (terrans) and Tlics (extraterrestrials) are placed in a futuristic world where both species are dependent on each other in order to prolong their species' existence. The terrans depend on the Tlics for safety when they go out. The Tlics are dependent on humans for bearing their young and also for providing heat.
In “Bloodchild” T'Gatoi has to perform a birth on Lomas in front of Gan cutting the terran open to retrieve the grubs. This leaves Gan terrified, and makes him go outside to puke. This makes him question whether he could do that himself, since one of his mother's kids will eventually have to bear young for T'Gatoi. When he comes back inside he picks up his father's rifle as T'Gatoi approaches him. T'Gatoi asks him if he means to use the rifle to shoot her, but instead Gan puts the rifle under his own chin prepared to shoot himself unless T'Gatoi asks him to bear her young. And argument ensues and Gan questions the view of the Tlics towards the terrans, and eventually says he doesn't want to be N'Tlic for T'Gatoi. He tells her to use his sister instead. As T'Gatoi begins walking up the stairs Gan stops her and says to do it to him instead, as he would not want his sister to go through with being N'Tlic. T'Gatoi thinks it over and then tries taking the rifle from Gan, but he refuses on grounds that one of his family members might have to use it one day to save his life; he case he is left N'Tlic as Lomas was earlier that night. T'Gatoi takes Gan up to his room to make him N'Tlic where Gan admits he would never shoot her, And T'Gatoi tells Gan that she will always take care of him.

In “Bloodchild” power reversals and gender blurring are dramatized. In “Bloodchild” the reversal of power is that humans are not in control and are dependent on another species for their own safety. This is significant because in today's society humans view themselves at the apex of society above the rest of nature's species. In “Bloodchild” the blurring of gender comes from a man or boy becoming pregnant from the Tlics, and having to bear their young. This is a very interesting twists and in the after word Butler says that this is one of the reasons she wanted to write this story. The significance of this is that it shows something which is impossible for men to do, which is carry young. These two aspects of reversal/blurring is what makes this story unique, and are probably the reason why people classify this story as “science-fiction.”

Question: Why does Gan change his mind and agree to be N'Tlic for T'Gatoi in "Bloodchild"?

In her story “Bloodchild”, Octavia Butler describes the life of extraterrestrials, Tlics, and the remaining humans - Terrans in the colony called the Preserve. The story begins with the description of a typical evening when T’Gatoi- the Tlic government official in charge of the Preserve- visits Gan’s family and brings them beneficial sterile Tlic eggs which prolong life. Overall, the family seems to enjoy T’Gatoi’s company, for Gan’s mother Lien taught her children to appreciate T’Gatoi’s visits, be obedient and grateful for the protection T’Gatoi gives to Terrans.

The noise of a suffering N’Tlic- a Terran male chosen to carry Tlics’ fertilized eggs- interrupts the pleasant evening. T’Gatoi performs a grotesque birth over the N’Tlic in order to save his life. However, the act of birth, which consists of opening the Terran and removing wormlike creatures from his stomach, terrifies Gan. He questions the Tlics’ good intentions toward Terrans and, disgusted with the horrible suffering he- as a future N’Tlic- would have to go through, no longer wants to bear T’Gatoi’s children.

After witnessing the stomach-turning birth, Gan understands his older brother’s antagonism towards the extraterrestrials. That evening’s disturbing events leave Gan in a dilemma whether to accept his role of a child bearer or transfer this frightening duty to his sister Xuan Hoa. In the end, Gan allows T’Gatoi to implant fertilized eggs inside of him and, with that, ensures T’Gatoi’s protection.

As Butler says, “Bloodchild” is a complex story addressing issues such as: love between different beings, decision making in difficult surroundings, gender role reversal, and possible dependency of humans on other forms of life (30). The author depicts a futuristic world, in which humans are both dependent on their conquerors and crucial to their survival. This reversal of power is shown when Tlics’ need humans to warm their bodies and carry their embryos. At the same time humans depend on Tlics for “youth” eggs and protection since they are not allowed cars and firearms.

Another interesting aspect of the story is the idea of love between two distinct species. Even though the difference between T’Gatoi and Gan can be inferred even from the Tlics’ descriptions (they have multiple limbs and “fluid” movement), Gan and T’Gatoi form a deep relationship from which they both benefit. T’Gatoi will protect her N’Tlic, and in return, have an opportunity to reproduce and have offspring. However, it remains unclear whether a Terran such as Gan can ever be equal to a Tlic. “She looked down at me” (29), nicely exemplifies this matter.

Kathy Acker also addresses gender and race blurring as she introduces Abhor, a part-robot, part-human black female and Thivai, a white male pirate- both on a quest against normality and societal conformity. Furthermore, her novel “Empire of the Senseless” is full of juxtapositions. Everything that is sacred is brought down while the emphasis is placed on the abnormal.

In the “Empire of the Senseless” family is depicted in a twisted, sickening manner. Immorality is passed along from generation to generation. Just as Nana, Abhor’s grandmother, worshiped her son failing to teach him morals, Abhor’s father repeated the same mistakes as he had sexual relations with his daughter. The AMA is referred to as the medical mafia (41); Rats, interestingly, appreciate art (40); Pirates treat themselves with Nestle and Mars chocolates after raping a girl (21). These are all examples of the emphasis put on the irregularity and abnormality in the society.

Questions:

How did Abhor’s grandparents kill themselves at the same time under the pretext that they couldn’t live without each other? (Acker 8)

“This mother who was fake no longer existed. I existed“(Acker 10). Does this mean that Abhor was glad her father saw her as a woman and was possibly attracted to her?

In Octavia Butler’s story Bloodchild we are taken to different world of Terrans and Tlic. The Terrans live in the preserve and are protected from the “others” by the Tlic. This story shows how different life forms use one another to survive.

Gan is a Terran who lives with mother, Lien and his other brother and sisters. (I imagine Terrans have a human like appearance.) T’Gatoi is the Tlic who lives with them. She is described as follows “She had bones-ribs, a long spine, a skull, four set of limb bones per segment.” T’Gatoi is a government official who is in charge of the preserve.

T’Gatoi had brought over some unfertilized eggs which she gave to the family. These eggs lead to an altered state of consciousness and prolong life. During this time T’Gatoi heard something outside and went to investigate. She came in carrying Bram Lomas who was N’Tlic. This means he was carrying Tlic eggs in his body and they were beginning to eat their way out. T’Gatoi asked the others to leave and Gan was left to help. Gan saw what no Terran had, as he watched T’Gatoi slit Lomas open with her claw and retrieve the grubs. When it was through Gan had to go out and vomit. He pondered the relationship between Terrans and Tlic. Terrans were used by the Tlic to carry their eggs and the Tlic protected the Terrans from the “others”.

Lien and T’Gatoi had been friends for a long time “for a while they developed at the same rate and had no better friends than each other.” T’Gatoi had even introduced Lien to her future husband. For these reasons Lien promised one of her children to T’Gatoi for if she had to give up one of her children to be implanted with eggs “she preferred T’Gatoi to some stranger.”

After seeing the horror of what had happened to Lomas Gan did not want to have the eggs implanted in him and offered his sister instead. But Gan changes his mind and allows T’Gatoi to impregnate him. Gan had realized that he loved T’Gatoi “to keep you for myself” and T’Gatoi loved him “I won’t leave you…I’ll take care of you.”

I can understand how people could read Bloodchild as a story of slavery. For example “Unwillingly obedient, my mother took it from me and put it into her mouth.” This sentence refers to Lien putting an egg in her mouth even though she doesn’t want to. She does it to please T’Gatoi. Slaves would smile at their masters and act polite to prevent from being whipped. In another example Lien is lying next to T’Gatoi and “the whole left row of T’Gatoi’s limbs closed around her…” This implies being held and not able to move freely yet another sign of being enslaved. Terrans were kept in the preserve to protect them. It was fenced as Qui states “Running in a cage.” No chance of escape and no chance of freedom; this story is filled with these images of enslavement.

Butler argues her story is not about enslavement but about other themes such as; a love story about two very different creatures or of a coming of age story about a boy that must make “a decision that will affect the rest of his life.” Butler felt she also wanted to explore a pregnant man story. She wanted to see if she could write a story about a “man becoming pregnant as an act of love…” I have previously addressed Gan and T’Gatori mutual love and the impregnation of Gan which cover this.

There is also the story of the botfly. Butler was traveling to Peru and had heard the stories of the botfly that lay their eggs in you. If you tried to remove these eggs and did it incorrectly you would get an infection. If you left it alone when the fly matured it would fly off on its own. By writing about this she felt it would enable her to deal with these facts.

Therefore, I see this story can be taken in a variety of different meaning. How you take the context of the story is up to you the reader. I feel Ms. Butler should take no offense in how others interpret her story as we all have a right to our interpretation.

Question: Why did the Tlic need Terrans to keep them warm?