"A Cage of Butterflies" Brian Caswell - Socio-Cultural Assumptions and Values presented in the book

In the novel “A Cage of Butterflies”, author Brian Caswell raises a number of socio-cultural values and assumptions. He does this through his characters’ thoughts and dialogue as he guides the reader through the story of seven adolescents, two young adults and the ‘Babies’ that they all love. This group of people live or work at ‘the farm’ – a place for young people with high IQ’s. Greg, Mikki and the other children are having an O.K. life at the farm, where they can all fit in despite their differences. But what about the five younger ‘Babies’? With the help of Susan and Erik, two employees at the farm, the mystery soon unfolds to reveal a presentation of human cruelty.

This essay will address three of the socio-cultural values and assumptions that Caswell raises in the novel. These will be:The assumption that sameness is encouraged and differences are discouraged in today’s society, whether they are disabilities or extraordinary abilities.

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English: Caswell Beach: A boy and his dog A wonder...

The Allen Clark Research Centre at Caswell

The ethics of human experimentation,And the powerlessness of children.

The first socio-cultural assumption to be addressed in this essay is that differences are discouraged in our society, and that sameness is encouraged. Caswell’s beliefs about this point show through in the novel when Greg and Mikki are discussing how difficult the super-intelligent Babies’ lives must have been.

“…we only had to deal with people’s ordinary, everyday prejudices. ‘Don’t be too clever.’ … ‘Don’t walk around on crutches dragging your legs behind you and making me feel uncomfortable.’ ‘Be normal. Be the same as me.’” (pg 117) Caswell seems to believe that people in today’s society are not accustomed to differences and would prefer everyone to be the same in order for themselves to be ‘comfortable’.

However, when Greg says this, he is not actually quoting people, more so their...