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Book 2, Chapter 1
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Dawn, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Humanity, Evolution, and Genetics
Motherhood and Leadership
Consent and Autonomy
Sexuality and Gender
Summary
Analysis
Kahguyaht takes Lilith to see Sharad. Kahguyaht’s form still disturbs Lilith—she learns that Kahguyaht’s two tentacles are its sensory arms, but Kahguyaht will say no more. Kahguyaht leads Lilith to a green oblong thing that appears to be a plant. One end opens, and Lilith can see Sharad’s head. Kahguyaht says Sharad’s next Awakening won’t come for a while. Currently, he is inside a plant that used to trap humans in stasis to slowly digest them but has now been modified to sustain them.
The name “Kahguyaht” likely comes from the character “Kaguya” from The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, a work of Japanese folklore. Kaguya is a princess who gets discovered inside the stalk of a bamboo plant. This origin story for Kaguya resembles the situation of the humans in suspended animation in this passage, who are also “birthed” from plants when they Awaken. Butler draws inspiration from stories around the world to create a fuller picture of humanity.
Themes
Lilith touches Sharad’s plant, and it starts to pull her in, but Kahguyaht stops it. Lilith realizes she herself must have been in a similar plant. Lilith says that while it’s one thing to modify carnivorous plants, the Oankali’s plans to cross-breed humans and Oankali are more dangerous and could result in children that are “sterile monsters.” Kahguyaht assures her that so far, Oankali have only tried to preserve humans.
In this passage, Lilith and Kahguyaht have a fundamental disagreement about what it would mean to preserve a future for humanity. To Kahguyaht, combining human genes with Oankali genes would be a way for humanity to survive and perhaps even improve itself. To Lilith, however, who better understands humanity, such a combination would risk getting rid of what makes humans human—and possibly eradicate humanity in the process.
Themes
Kahguyaht takes Lilith back to Jdahya’s place and leaves her with Nikanj. Nikanj doesn’t know much English but wants Lilith to teach it. Nikanj is eager to learn and wants to go outside so that it can show Lilith to the other Oankali.
While Kahguyaht and Jdahya have clearly been in positions of authority compared to Lilith, Nikanj is younger and has a lower status, offering the possibility of becoming more like a peer to Lilith.
Themes
