The Evening and the Morning and the Night Summary
Octavia E. Butler

The Evening and the Morning and the Night Overview

Octavia E. Butler's short story "The Evening and the Morning and the Night" is a work of science fiction. First person narrator, Lynn, is born with a rare condition known as Duryea-Gode disease, or DGD. People with the condition have a proclivity towards suicide, murder, or self-mutilation. Terrified of how her condition will manifest, Lynn lives a life dictated by anxiety and depression. When she meets Alan in college, however, Lynn's understanding of herself and her future begins to evolve. The short story explores themes including alienation, fear, and control.