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Book 2, Chapter 2
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
None of Nikanj’s friends speak English, and they all excitedly touch Lilith with their tentacles. Lilith is amused at first but then gets angry that they seem to see her as a pet. She leaves abruptly, and Nikanj is confused about why she’s angry. He offers her a room alone back at Jdahya’s where she can sleep.
The way that even the young Oankali see Lilith as like a pet shows how it is not just the older Oankali who have condescending opinions toward humans. Lilith likes to feel in control of her life, but the Oankali constantly control or infantilize her.
Themes
