Analytic Entry on Literary

“Bloodchild,” by Octavia E Butler, is a science fiction short story that deals with the ethical implications of the topic of Science and Technology. The story takes place in an alter-universe where two species coincide. The Tlics are alien-like creatures that dominate society, while the Terrans are the humans who live among the Tlics. Their relationship is necessary because the Tlics cannot reproduce naturally. There is a specific hormone inside the alien-like bodies that poison their offspring if they chose to give birth. Therefore, the Tlics build strong relationships with male Terrans so that one day she can implant her eggs into the male Terran's body. The process of removing the eggs once they are ready to come out is excruciating. It is painful and bloody and it can result in death. However, the Terrans are unaware of the potentially horrific consequences of giving birth for their entire lives. They grow up believing it is their duty to reproduce for the Tlics, even though it is just some sort of tradition their society has adopted. When the main character, Gan, a Terran, witnesses a fellow Terran having birth for the first time he is forever scarred. Gan had never seen the procedure before in his life, for he grew up believing it was done differently. At the end of the story, he speaks with his Tlic and states regarding the young Terrans and the birth process, “not protected, shown. Shown when we’re young kids, and shown more than once” (80). This demonstrates how Gan believes it is immoral that the truth is hidden from the Terrans. The process of birth that the Tlics inflict upon the Terrans was a scientific invention that their ancestors discovered. However, the ethical implications behind it were never discussed for years and years. When Gan says this, he is bringing up the question of this process’s morality. Although the Tlics greatly benefit from the procedure, an entire other species is left to suffer. Technology in today’s world has become great in many aspects, but it continually has ethical implications to be considered. Even today, new scientific advances have almost made it possible to alter the natural birth process through manipulating genes and such. For parents to be able to choose their child’s appearance, intelligence, and athletic ability is almost like they have the power to make their child live a happy and successful life. It may seem perfect, but the morality of this is easily questioned. The parents would be playing the role of God, which many would argue is unethical. God put everyone here for a reason and humans should not be messing with nature. In the same sense, the Tlics alter nature by having the male Terrans carry their children. It becomes immoral when the Terrans are dying and becoming injured for the benefit of the Tlic race. The Terrans should have a right to not be involved with this procedure if they choose to. They should know at a young age what will happen to them if they partake in the process and then make the decision based on those facts. Similarly, citizens today should know about all the consequences of the technology they use. Technology seems so simple and beneficial, but it truthfully has a lot of ethical implications behind it. The Tlics use the Terrans for their own benefit despite the immorality behind it. The parents who choose to manipulate their children’s genes are doing something for their own benefit and ignoring the ethics that go along with it. This story is a wonderful example of how technology can produce incredible things; it can bring about new lives. At the same time, before technology is used it must always be morally evaluated.