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.

"Bloodchild" Journal Entry

"Bloodchild" by Octavia E. Butler is one of the most outrageous stories I have ever read. It is a science fiction story that takes place in an outside universe. There are two species of creatures that lived there: Tarans and Tlics. The Tarans are humans while the Tlics are the insect, alien-like creatures that dominate the society. The Tlics way of reproducing is by implanting their eggs into a male Taran. The Tlics can not reproduce their own children because their bodies will poison the offspring. They have discovered a new way of having children, (a new "technology" per say) and have adopted it into their society. It became a social norm for a Tlic to adopt a Taran family and build strong relationships with them so one day a male can carry her eggs. This reminded me of the new phenomenon called "designer babies" where doctors are almost able manipulate an unborn child's genes due to the research the Human Genome Project has made. They will use this new technology instead of reproducing naturally. The Tlics way of reproducing symbolizes this idea of altering nature for ones benefit. It is not natural to manipulate the way reproduction was intended to be and in both real life and in "Bloodchild" this is done. The reproduction process in the short story "Bloodchild" is terrorizing and painful. In order to get the eggs out the Tlic must cut open the Taran's body through a bloody procedure. Gan, the main Taran character, witnesses the another Taran having "birth" and is forever scarred by this event. He was previously unaware that the process was so disgusting because his entire life he was taught that bearing Tlics' children was the beautiful way of life. Similarly, "designer babies" seem like a fantastic invention. To be able to pick your child's genes and determine what they will look like so they can live successful, healthy, and easy lives seems like a miracle to some people. However, analyzing the idea it becomes obvious that this phenomenon is completely unethical. To change the way a child looks in order to make it look better is a superficial and selfish act. This selfishness that many are discovering is parallel to the horror and pain Gan encounters when he finds out more about the reproduction process in his world. Although science can be a beautiful thing, it is important to keep in mind that humans were put here for a reason. We need to make sure that any new technology benefits the common good and not just individuals looking for an easy way out.

Butler, Octavia E. "Bloodchild." The Years Best Science Fiction. Ed. Gardner Dozois. New York, 1985. 64-81. Print.