Unveiling the Unseen Realities: Octavia Butler’s Exploration of Disability and Society in “The Evening and the Morning and the Night” (1987)

Abstract

Disability studies is a comparatively new field within literary studies, focusing on the portrayal of disabilities in literature and the complex connotations, perceptions, and systems of oppression associated with it. This article examines Octavia Butler’s short story “The Evening and the Morning and the Night,” which revolves around the fictional hereditary Duryea-Gode-Disease (DGD) and reveals the pervasive structural oppression experienced by affected characters. The discussion covers the concepts of ableism, empowerment, and intersectionality. Butler’s narrative presents a path towards liberation from discrimination, while underscoring the varying impact of this discrimination based on the individual’s intersectional identity. Ultimately, the examination highlights the significance of communal support as a vital tool in resisting discrimination. It also illustrates how the disease intersects with other social categories to shape unique experiences of oppression.