Jonathan Doron Blog

Jonathan Doron
Seminar in Composition
Dr. Adam Johns
November 5, 2008

A species is “regarded as the basic category of biological classification, composed of related individuals that resemble one another, are able to breed among themselves, but are not able to breed with members of another species.” (www.dictionary.com) Though Akin may only have minute differences, and at first glance even resemble a human, he is barely closer to being a member of the human species than apes are. Akin is not fully human. Genetics, the “blueprint” for the structure and differences of living things separate Akin from physically being human. Interestingly enough, there are several psychological and emotional characteristics that make Akin (internally) quite human. Unfortunately, the answer to “is Akin human?” is not quite as simple as it sounds. There’s no doubt that he’s part human; he has human parents. But, he also has Oankali parents. Technically, Akin is a hybrid, “the offspring of two animals or plants of different breeds.” (www.dictionary.com) rendering him partially human, but not entirely.
Akin cannot be regarded as a human, because genetically he is not human. Though at his young age he may greatly resemble a human, the book hints that he will eventually undergo a metamorphosis that will make look much more like an Oankali than a human. The fact that Akin is going to undergo a metamorphosis at all is an obvious example of his inhumanity. Regardless of his appearance, we know that the Oankali have genetically modified him, themselves, and his parents, thus morphing many of the genes that would have previously characterized him as a human. One thing that we don’t know for certain by the end of the second book, is whether or not constructs would be able to interbreed among fertile humans (though resisters wish they knew). Therefore, it is impossible to determine whether or not Akin satisfied that part of the definition of being the same species as a human.
However genetically different Akin is than humans, he seems to possess many of the psychological and emotional qualities of a human. For example, his never-satisfied curiosity is extremely characteristic of humans, as well as his ability to feel fear, happiness, and loneliness. Akin even has the ability to entertain and make people laugh. When we read about Akin, it doesn’t even seem as though Butler is trying to portray as inhuman. If it wasn’t such a theme in the book, it might even be easy to forget that he’s a product of nonhuman parents.
The main point is, while Akin may be somewhat “human” he cannot match the scientific definition of being a Homo Sapien (the scientific name for humans, meaning wise human). Though he may possess several attributes that may characterize him as a human, the genetic differences that set him apart from “true humans” keep him from being truly “human.” Though I haven’t yet finished the book, Butler’s hint at a future metamorphosis indicates that he will appear much less like a human. Though he may fit the description of a sapien, we cannot classify him as being human.


I know this is a really weak paper right... i've been studying for an exam for Friday... the revision will be much better