Metaphor for slavery: The Terrans are confined to a designated tract of land. Each household has a T’lic “master” who is clearly the head of the family and in absolute control. Humans are being manipulated into complacency so that the T’lic may ensure their own successful reproduction, just as slave masters often took advantage of female slaves. *Note: Butler herself stated in an interview that the story is not about slavery, but that doesn’t mean this reading is “wrong.” Just something to keep in mind! 

Gender role reversal: Critic Jane Donawerth observes that "[i]n this short story...the conventional adolescent male narrator/hero is punished by rape, incest, reproductive exploitation by the dominant race, and anticipation of a painful caesarean birth—and he is expected to like it, as women in many cultures have been expected to comply with their oppression." Specifically, the narrator takes on the role of black female slaves in the United States, who were "forced to carry the offspring of an alien race." 

Symbiosis and Survival: In “Bloodchild,” the most important thing for the humans is survival, and the humans join in a symbiotic relationship with the T’lic because it is the only way for them to survive, though not unchanged. The ability to change without compromising identity is the central issue for the humans of “Bloodchild.” Gan learns to love T’Gatoi in spite of the strange evolution human existence has undergone.

 

-Christian Estefani

     Disguising some of the most horrific forms of oppression and how the human brain copes with them in a science fiction story ironically demonstrates how easy victims can be manipulated, especially when family and survival are involved.  By having young Gan believe that he is more than just a human “host” to his master, Butler shows how the grooming has worked when Gan argues that he would be more than a “host animal” but at the same time internally questioning this belief- “It’s more than that!” I countered. Was it? His brother answers back, “If it were to happen to me, I’d want to believe it was more, too.” Gan replies, “It is more (Butler 1261)!” Sounds like Stockholm syndrome to me! 

     Gan’s uncontrollable rage released on his older brother when he asks him if he has been “implanted” yet reads like a sign of sexual abuse. Gan’s confusion regarding what he knows will happen to him, comes across as anger and instead of confiding in his older brother, who will be safe from implantation, he strikes out against him. Gan is slowly starting to realize that what is happening to him is not consensual, he boldly asserts to her- “No one ever asks us” …” You never asked me” (1262). 

     The theme of grooming is explored once again with manipulation at the finale of the story. Gan threatens to take his own life in front of his master, but she smoothly talks him out of it by reminding him that her children’s lives depend on him being alive. By trying to install a false sense of family love she has manipulated him to consent to be implanted with her larvae and be a host. Even though he has witnessed the horror of bearing these aliens he agrees to do it, mostly to keep his family safe. 
-Jessica Stoetzle

One thing that should be understood in the story is that even though in our eyes, the tlic seemed to fit the definition of what we call aliens, but we humans could have been the aliens because the story never said we were on earth. How did the aliens get to be in the same place with us. The story does say however that before our ancestors arrived, the animals which were there previously did not do a good job at ensuring their survival, so the humans could have come to the tlic’s planet and become their property. Humans may have also been trying to ensure their survival with the other organisms by making children with the Tlics because T’Gatoi says that “you use us. We wait long years for you and teach you and join our families to yours” (Butler 1263). Therefore, we can come to an agreement that both humans and Tlics were trying to ensure their survival, but the Tlics had the upper hand because of their genetic makeup to overpower the humans. The protecting of humans from themselves and feeding them eggs not only ensured Tlic’s own survival but also healed the humans. 

-written by Dudley Stanislas

               Gan was discussing in the beginning of the story about the Terran’s saying that T’Gatoi had “parceled [them] out to the desperate and sold [them] to the rich and powerful for their political support. Thus, [they] were necessities, status symbols” (Butler 1254). This quote automatically made me think “slavery.” Gan was talking about being sold despite being a human which is a part of slavery. Furthermore, Gan talks abouts being a status symbol, slaves were status symbol in the antebellum south, being only an institution for rich white plantation owners. 

               Another piece of evidence that suggests this story is about slavery is when T’Gatoi cut open Lomas and the Terran doctor arrives. During a brief conversation someone says to Gan, “You’re not her. You’re just her property” (Butler 1260). This was a common idea slave holders had about their slaves. They did not see them as people but simply as property. 

               Lastly, I do not have exact proof of this final point as it is a feeling I had during reading and for me, furthered the idea of this story being about slavery. While all the literature that we have read recounts peoples experiences in slavery and illustrates a clear picture of the horrors I believe the feelings gets lost in translation over time. The language is over 150 years old and is not easily relatable as something written 20 years ago. Which is why I found “Bloodchild” to be the best representation of how slaves might have felt so far. Butler uses modern language and a common topic in contemporary literature, dystopian societies. 

               One instance that carried the horrors of slavery was when T’Gatoi cut open Lamas. It was quick, and senseless despite Lamas’ cries to not be cut. While this scene also shows the complete inhumanity of slavery it also illustrates that the topic of men carrying the children is not roll reversal in this case but rather another metaphor for slavery. Having the larvae eating the insides of the men is a macabre metaphor for the complete strip of dignity, emasculating and dehumanizing life slaves were forced to live. The larvae are forced into your body, they grow and eventually eat you from the inside out and once they are done, you are left to die, similar to the life of a slave. 

 

The Tilc T’Gatoi was desperate for political support and wanted Gan to be a status symbol. It was discussed that, “she parceled us out to the desperate and sold us to the rich and powerful for their political support. Thus, we were necessities, status symbols, and an independent people” (Butler 1254). The quote heavily resembled slavery. T’ Gatoi used Terrans to benefit for herself. She didn’t consider the well-being of the Terrans. 

 

The Terrans often felt they were forced to do something that they didn’t want to participate in. In particular the scene of Gan’s mother was very eye opening. Gan’s mother did not want to drink the egg but felt forced to do so. She was left with no option. If she decided not to drink the egg she would be punished by being stung. It was noted, “T’Gatoi meant to cage my mother. Once she had, she moved her tail slightly, then spoke. “Not enough egg, lien. You should have taken it when It was passed to you. You need it badly now””(Butler 1254). Gan’s mother was forced and did not have options to deny these actions. She was hurt if she neglected the egg and felt caged. 

 

When the Terrans were given ‘the egg” it essentially was larva that invaded the body. This larva was very harmful and could cause death in some cases. They were often manipulated by the Tilcs. They felt as if they had no option when it came to being implanted with the eggs. It felt as if it was being pushed on them and left Gan feeling enraged and horrified. In the final scene Gan tried to take his life. T’gatoi manipulated Gan into not taking his like. Gan said, ””I don’t want to be a host animal.” I said. “Not even yours”” (Butler 1263). She continues by telling Gan that his ancestors would have been enslaved or killed without the protection from the Tilcs’. She wanted to manipulate Gan into believing that they were protecting them. Meanwhile, they were getting used and mistreated all along from the Tilc’s. 

 

The scenes throughout this text closely represent slavery. Gan was used and manipulated. He was treated poorly and was seen as an accessory to show off. The Tilc’s used him for a status symbol and we're only looking to benefit for themselves. 

-Hailey Lassale

only three minutes after my birth. A few days later, I was given my first taste of

egg. I tell Terrans that when they ask whether I was ever afraid of her. And I tell it

to Tlic when T’Gatoi suggests a young Terran child for them and they, anxious

and ignorant, demand an adolescent” (Butler 1255). After this quote, Gan continues to point out other skepticism from family members surrounding this decision. This quote is written in a way that implies there was little room for choice on the human side, and the decision itself feels predatory and forced. Another quote that suggests that the humans are “enslaved” so to speak also comes in the opening pages, “T’Gatoi was hounded on the outside. Her people wanted more of us made available. Only she and her political faction stood between us and the hordes

who did not understand why there was a Preserve—why any Terran could not be

courted, paid, drafted, in some way made available to them” (Butler 254). While Butler did come out and state that this text is not about slavery, I am not exactly sure how much I agree with that. I don’t necessarily disagree with the idea that the entire thing is about slavery, though much of what drives the story forwards I think ties into slavery in some way. I do see how the ideas of gender role reversal and survival/symbiosis are at play as well, which is what is leading to me to agreeing slightly that the whole story is not about slavery.

Yet still the question remains: if Bloodchild was written in part to comment on traditionally female issues, why are all the classic gender roles reversed? After all, not only are the men the ones being impregnated, but the dominant gender of the Tlic are the females who hold all the societal and political power, with their own males only being used to inseminate the females. I believe this is twofold; firstly, the reversal helps to sell the sci-fi world better as alien and ‘strange’, but it also works to highlight these specific issues by placing it in a new and unique light. The plight of the Terrans draws readers’ attention and leaves them horrified at the conditions they are forced into and may leave an audience thinking how cruel and horrific the Tlic are for enslaving the Terrans in such a way. But the real kicker is that under the veneer of alien strangeness and an exaggerated setting, such situations are all too common for women around the world.

‘Blood child’ by Octavia Butler, emphasize on the alliance form between aliens and humans to coexist and survive. After reading this story and seeing all different perspectives, I was convinced that the theme of this story had to be symbiosis and survival. Although, there were some strong indications that slavery do exist in this story. There were also indications that this story was about survival of the alien’s race. However, the writer left the reader to think twice about the theme of this story. While some people might argue that this story was about slavery, there was enough evidence to conclude that the main theme is symbiosis and survival.

Aliens were known as the Tlic which oversaw the existence of humans. According to butler, “they say women have more body fat to protect the grubs. But they usually take men to leave the women free to bear their own young. To provide the next generation of host animals” (Butler 1261). These aliens were strategic thinkers who had to survive by any means necessary. Clearly, Humans were their farm animal which they fed using sterile eggs to keep them younger and fatter. Furthermore, animals that they once used for host normally killed their eggs after implantation, which mean humans were their last hope of survival. These aliens would only allow humans to live because of their selfish benefits and desires. They would impregnate the males and left the females behind to multiply the family, so they will have more hosts to use for the next generation. 

At the beginning of the story, the aliens were seen as the invaders, but after reading the last two pages, the writer explained that the human beings were actually the invaders. Butler states, “Because your people arrived, we are relearning what it means to be a healthy, thriving people. And your ancestors, fleeing from their home world, from their own kind who would have killed or enslaved them serve when they still tried to kill us as worms” (Butler 1263). The humans’ lives were at risk by their own kind, and they had to seek refuge on this alien’s planet. The Aliens helped them to survive but in return they started a fight between the Tlics and lost. The Tlics spared their lives and used them as disposal waste.

This story showed and explained the different coping mechanism of both races. On one hand, the human survived by helping the Tlics with the reproduction of the grubs. On the other hand, the Tlic survived by keeping humans alive to reproduce more Tlics. Even though, these aliens seemed like the villainess of the story, they help the humans at one point to survive. Nevertheless, the Tlics benefited more from the agreement between Tlics and the humans. Tlics were only ensuring the survival of their races, something any one can understand. However, humans happened to be collateral, at the wrong place, at the wrong time. 

By- Hugh Ricahrds

Tlic are clearly the dominant race in “Bloodchild.” they appear to run the household. Even Gan’s mother gives into T’Gatoi’s demands such as when his mother does not want some sterile egg but gives into T’Gatoi’s demands for her to. The domination is further exemplified through the fact that the humans live on an alien planet where the Tlic help them survive and in return have their population thrive by using the humans as breeders. This supports Donawerth’s claim of reproductive exploitation especially since Gan accentuates on the fact that humans are chosen for the breeding role not asked. Also, Tlic are shown to have a sense of control over humans using the sterile eggs which act as a sedative with drug-like euphoric effects and has the ability to keep them young and healthy. Continuing, Donawerth’s claims the narrator is punished through the anticipation of a painful cesarean birth and is expected to like it just like many women are expected to comply with their oppression. She believes the narrator is treated like black female US slaves who were forced to carry the offspring of an alien race. These claims are easy to agree with. Gan Is being forced and manipulated by the Tlic to continue to breed their offspring. The Tlic Oppress the humans by making them believe they cannot survive without them and that they are an honor to have. It is clear this is untrue because on page one when Gan’s mother said this, he knew it was a lie and it is obvious through Qui’s distaste for the aliens and his need to have that constant euphoric high from the eggs that the species is not well liked. Gan Has been groomed to know his role and believes he likes it. It seems his role gave him a false sense of love for T’Gatoi and ignorance as to what his role actually requires of him. When he sees his future through Lomas, he is scared and shows his unpreparedness, yet on the same night gets pregnant. He was expected to be OK with the birth and it is clear the Tlic try to keep the male humans ignorant to what their future holds by keeping them away from the births or claiming a less painful experience for their N’Tlic. Gan is a victim of rape, incest, reproductive exploitation, and anticipation of a painful C-section. Jane Donawerth’s Claims are heavily supported by details within the short story, clearly highlighting the oppression of humans by the Tlic in both ways of life and reproductively.

reproductive exploitation is a quite obvious when T’Gatoi lied about wanting to wait to discuss implantation with Xuan Hoa.  T’Gatoi later admitted that she would have implanted her eggs in Xuan Hoa that night (). Although T’Gatoi cared for Gan, having children was too important to her for her to care about who carried her eggs. She knew that she had to lay her eggs that night but did not ask Gan until she was forced to do so.  T’Gatoi exploiting her relationship with Gan and his family to get what she wanted. She did not tell Gan about the dangers of carrying her eggs. She would have led him blindly into the process without a second thought.  Had Gan’s brother not informed him of the possibility that the T’Gatoi hatched worms could eat him as he had witnessed it (1261).  T’Gatoi later admitted that Gan should not have witnessed a Terran giving birth and followed up by saying that “I have never known a Terran to see a birth and take it well (). She went on to say that “Terrans should be protected from seeing” (1265).  This is another instance where T'Gatoi was being manipulative.  She is not trying to protect the Terrans by not allowing them to witness the birth of the Tlic’s offspring, she is trying to prevent the Terrans from seeing the danger that they will be in, how gruesome the birth would be and the possible death that they would face.   

Another example of reproductive exploitation is the selection of males to be implanted instead of females. The Tlic people knew the possibility of death during birth was high and that they would need another generation of Terrans to implant their eggs into, so they use men instead of women. The female Terrans are needed to carry the next generation of Terrans that the Tlic would need as host. The ensure a continued reproductive exploitation, the Terrans had to give up one of their children to the Tlic to be host (1255). 

I must say that is one of the strangest stories that I have ever read.  Most men cannot handle the flu, can you imagine if they had to repeatedly endure a caesarean birth? 

Although it states that this is all happening because of an “agreement” between the Terrans and Tlics, when the whole time the Terrans were getting the short end of the stick the whole time. They were forced to give up their male species, and the males were forced to help the Tlic reproduce. People are taken from their families, and in the end Tlics were looked at as superior while Terrans had been practically property. 

-Tyler Chita

    The central conflict in the short story comes to fruition when Gan must witness the bloody and violent extraction of grubs from Bram Lomas at the hands of T'Gatoi. After getting a glimpse at the horrible fate that will soon also be his, Gan starts to question T'Gatoi and what his existence means to her for the very first time in his life. 

 The world in which "Bloodchild '' takes place consists of two races, Terran and Tlic, the latter being the insect-esq race that reigns supreme over the humans. In this world the Terrans are alien to the Tlic planet and thus are exploited and used as a means for Tlic breeding and status. It was never explicitly touched upon as to why humans had to come to a foreign planet seeking refuge, however it is understood that in order to survive in a new world among its bug-like natives, the Terrans were forced to give up certain liberties. Prior to the understanding between the two peoples Gan recounts that the Tlic initially thought the Terran were "not much more than convenient, big, warm-bloodied animals," (Butler, 1255). In order for Tlic to procreate they need a host to act as an incubator and food source for grubs, and humans turned out to be an upgrade from the other warm-blooded animals on the planet, since Tlic born from Terran bodies are larger and more numerous. This makes humans valuable to Tlic and in return, humans depend on Tlic to feed and protect them. All humans live in the Preserve since living on the outside is dangerous without a Tlic to accompany them. “She oversaw the joining of families, putting an end to the final remnants of the earlier system of breaking up Terran families to suit impatient Tlic…I had seen the desperate eagerness in the way some people looked at me.” (Butler, 1254) This quote is in reference to why Terrans, like Gan and his family, must live on the Preserve and nods to the symbiosis dynamic between Terrans and Tlec. Tlec depend on Terrans to bear their young and continue their bloodlines, while Terrans require Tlecs to protect and in many ways provide for them. Even though Qui despises T’Gatoi and living on the Preservation, he knows there’s nowhere else he can go. T’Gatoi pleads to Gan to host her children since she knows he’s necessary to bring them into the world. Both are codependent as a means of survival. 

Over generations, the partnerships between humans and the T’Lic became personal and intimate, further solidifying the theory of solidary between the two. This is demonstrated in the affectionate and intense interactions between T’Gatoi and Gan. At first, readers are led to believe that Gan is simply only the property of T’Gatoi, valued only for their use as hosts for eggs.  Instead, “Bloodchild” ends with a confirming statement of T’Gatoi’s devotion to Gan: “’ I’m healthy and young,’ ‘I won’t leave you as Lomas was left – alone, N’Tlic. I’ll take care of you.’ she said.” (1266) 

African American woman were raped and sexually exploited by white masters to expand not only the influence of the white race, an alien race to African Americans, but to also produce more slaves to work upon their plantations. Brainwashed to believe the white race was dominant as the terrans were brainwashed to believe they needed to Tlics to survive. To control the terrans they were given euphoric eggs to be effortlessly groomed.  “They say women have more body fat to protect the grubs. Butt hey usually take men to leave the women free to bear their own young. To provide the next generation of host animals 1261” In order to sufficiently benefit from impregnating the terrans, the Tlics had to leave the woman alone in order to get more prey in the future as men would have to go through excruciating c sections to deliver the alien’s eggs. 

The Tlic’s manipulation of the terrans intelligence is driven on the terrans desire for survival knowing if they resist eating the eggs they will be stung. In the beginning of the story Gan’s mother is forced to eat the eggs that increase her vitality and longevity but with so much suffering she had been refusing as she just wished for the pain to be over. This is a symbol of how African American woman felt during rape. They were forced into submission by white masters and bred, meanwhile all they wished for was to die. ““you should take more,” T Gatori said. “Why are you in such a hurry to be old?”1253 says to Gan’s mother. She is not amused of living further with their conditions and by refusing the eggs, she will approach freedom faster through death. 
In many of the stories we have covered in this class, African Americans touch on spirituality and how the lord will come to save them from this hell on earth. Although some fought for their rights, many felt it would always be a losing battle. They didn’t believe they could survive without their masters and support. Many couldn’t, growing up in the conditions and level of education they did.
Through impregnating the men, the terrans were not only emasculated but had their dignity stripped. This is symbolisis of not only the women who were rape survivors during the antebellum period but also represents how African American men were emasculated, unable to do anything while their women were raped and beat as it depended on their survival. All the odds were stacked against both the terrans and African Americans in the antebellum period in fighting for not only survival but for freedom.
-Calista Bailey

Further, there are many instances of T’Gatoi being abusive towards the narrator or other men, and forcing him to do things that he’s uncomfortable with, such as killing animals. While the killing animals aspect might be synonymous with farmers and traditional male dominated activities like hunting, the way the thing is presented it like psychological torture, with Gan uncomfortable with the idea, showing traditionally effeminate traits. The encounter reminded me of Charlotte’s Web, when Fern wasn’t okay with her father killing Wilbur, yet Fern’s father wasn’t doing it for his amusement, whereas I feel T’Gatoi was making Gan participate for her own amusement. 

The biggest example of the gender reversal came during the forced caesarian birth, which was uncomfortable to read. While the man, Lomas, is sick from the growing entity inside him, T’Gatoi performs a forced C-section, tearing into his abdomen without any remorse, while the narrator is ready to throw up. Further evidence of the author’s views towards men came when T’Gatoi realized that a man had been born and Gan thought “He would be dead before I would. He would be through his metamorphosis and screwing everything that would hold still before his sisters even had limbs” (Butler). This exchange highlighted the lower viewpoint of this enslaved man, which could be seen as a reversal of how slave women had traditionally been seen. Thinking back to the movie 12 Years a Slave, the movie focused on how Solomon Northup was treated, and the majority of the film showed the men and women separated, with the men often receiving the worst beatings, which could be seen in one way as women not being worth the time in the eyes of the slave owner’s, nor worth the same amount to the overall operation of the plantation. In the case of Gan, he, too, has a diminished value, both in the eyes of T’Gatoi, with the way she treats him, and in the eyes of his mother, in the way she optioned him off.

Butler, Octavia E. Bloodchild. Seven Stories Press, 2005.
Northup, Solomon. Twelve Years a Slave. William Collins, 2014.

An example of a symbiotic relationship can also be seen through Lomas and his T’lic, T’Khotgif. “The Tlic driver surged out of her, reared up half her length before me….”Lomas?” she said harshly. I liked her for the question and the concern in her voice when she asked it…. She surged away to the house without another word” (Octavia Butler 1260). The concern this T’lic has for her mate seems more than just a one-sided relationship as worriedness can be seen through the T’lics questions. Lomas’s T’lic came to check on him even though she was very sick and dies later on in the story due to an illness, once again showing that this was not only a one-sided symbiotic relationship as Lomas also asks for her once he is found by T’Gatoi. Instead, it is shown that both of the species have learned to care for each other while also benefiting one another, a true symbiotic relationship.

After reading Blood Child to be quite honest, I felt a bit unsettled and unsure how to interpret it. On one hand I could see how the story could be about slavery. However, I believe and agree with symbiosis, and the gender role reversal thought process and that the most important thing for humans is survival. It’s interesting to see how Butler uses men in a gender role reversal when she chooses to write the story based on the men being impregnated instead of women. In my opinion, it was the characters in the story acting out of desperation to keep their lineage alive. Butler writes “The animals we once used began killing most our eggs after implantation long before your ancestors arrived. You know these things Gan. Because your people arrived, we are relearning what it means to be a healthy, thriving people.” (1263) We can see how Tilc community was just looking for a safe place to keep their off springs since those who were there before the Terrans only took advantage of them. They saw the Terrans as a better fit to survive. The Tilc needed the Terrans because if not their species would just die out. I do have some questions such as because does this mean that the Terrans held all the power then? If so, why not find ways to protect themselves and fight back? Also, what about the Terrans species, were they supposed to surrender and be slaves to the Tilc people? 

In addition to being in survival mode I thought at first that in the case of Gan and T-Gatoi, that maybe she did force him, and she only saw him as a host. But I think she cared about him by allowing him to choose whether he wants to keep the eggs or not. He agrees to keep it only because he was trying to protect his sister. Aside from that she promises him that she won’ leave him and that she will take care of him.