Apocalyptic Becoming: Virus, Borders and Symbiosis in Butler’s Clay’s Ark

Abstract

In Octavia E. Butler’s 1984 novel Clay’s Ark, an extraterrestrial microorganism causes transformative effects on human bodies and societies. Set against the backdrop of an impending large-scale infection, the novel deconstructs societal hierarchies faced by marginalized people. By employing Deleuze and Guattari’s generative thoughts, this paper examines different communities like enclaves, car family, and ranch to highlight how viral outbreaks catalyze significant changes. The Clayark virus functions as a vector of escape, breaking away from conventional norms and structures, and fostering the emergence of more rhizomatic communities. Haraway’s concept of “companion species” is employed to investigate the symbiotic relationship between humans and viruses, envisioning a brighter posthuman society. Butler’s writings challenge conventional science fiction clichés, examining how individuals on the margins navigate and resist systemic oppression, and presenting a symbiotic solution to transcend barriers in the apocalyptic setting.