Bloodchild

by

Octavia E. Butler

The Preserve Term Analysis

A Tlic-governed and protected territory where Terrans are able to live safely amidst a particular Tlic political faction without being preyed upon by the greater Tlic population.

The Preserve Quotes in Bloodchild

The Bloodchild quotes below are all either spoken by The Preserve or refer to The Preserve. For each quote, you can also see the other terms and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Coming of Age Theme Icon
).
Bloodchild Quotes

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. Or they did understand, but in their desperation, they did not care. 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.

Related Characters: Gan (speaker), T’Gatoi
Page Number: 5
Explanation and Analysis:

Years passed. T’Gatoi traveled and increased her influence. The Preserve was hers by the time she came back to my mother to collect what she probably saw as her just reward for her hard work.

Related Characters: Gan (speaker), T’Gatoi, Lien
Page Number: 8
Explanation and Analysis:
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Bloodchild PDF

The Preserve Term Timeline in Bloodchild

The timeline below shows where the term The Preserve appears in Bloodchild. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Bloodchild
Coming of Age Theme Icon
Gender and Power Theme Icon
Interdependence Theme Icon
Gan reflects on T’Gatoi’s struggle to keep the Terrans in the Preserve safe. The masses of Tlic outside all want access to the Terrans and do not... (full context)
Coming of Age Theme Icon
Interdependence Theme Icon
Passive Resistance, Suffering, and Oppression Theme Icon
...to her husband. T’Gatoi left, however, to become a politician, eventually taking control of the Preserve. Lien, knowing that she would have to give one child to a Tlic no matter... (full context)
Coming of Age Theme Icon
Interdependence Theme Icon
...started trying to run away, before realizing that there is nowhere to run to; the Preserve is like a cage. Gan tries to reassure Qui that T’Gatoi would never touch him,... (full context)