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Anthropomorphism
Foil
Explanation and Analysis—The Other Brother:
In the following passage, Gan describes how he and his brother were raised to hold different opinions about the Tlic. While Gan was introduced to T'Gatoi extremely early in his life, his brother, Qui, was not. Gan believes this is the cause of their different attitudes, and thus, the two brothers can be considered foils for one another.
I'm told I was first caged within T'Gatoi's many limbs 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. Even my brother who had somehow grown up to fear and distrust the Tlic could probably have gone smoothly into one of their families if he had been adopted early enough. Sometimes, I think for his sake he should have been.
Qui acts as a foil to Gan. While Gan was adopted by T'Gatoi immediately after his birth, Qui was not. Gan believes this is why Qui distrusts and is disgusted by the Tlic while Gan is very comfortable around T'Gatoi.
Gan takes some amount of pride in making the sacrifice to be T'Gatoi's mate, as it allows him to protect his family. Qui, on the other hand, relies on Gan's accepting such a fate so that he himself does not have to face a similar future. He protects Gan for the sake of his own life, rather than considering his family or loved ones more broadly. The difference in the two brothers' attitudes toward the Tlic represents different attitudes the Terrans hold regarding their coexistence with the Tlic.
Through these foils, Butler questions the reality of individual choice and the strength of outside influence. Gan's comfortability with the Tlic obviously has much to do with his early relationship with T'Gatoi, as children are far more susceptible to accepting new ideas if they are exposed to them early on. The reader can note this contrast and question how much individuality Gan can truly exhibit within the Preserve, as well as the overall oppression Terrans face in this alien world.
Related Themes:
