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Book 3, Chapter 10
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
The Oankali don’t respond to Lilith’s requests for them, and they don’t return Derrick, whom Peter has tried to turn into a martyr to rally his supporters. Lilith awakens 10 more people, only involving her loyal people in the process, leaving out Peter and his followers. To impress his restless followers, Peter and his follower Gregory try to kidnap Allison Zeigler, one of Lilith’s followers, to be Gregory’s new mate.
Paul warned Lilith that things would be back to the Stone Age for any new society of humans, and this passage seems to prove that, with Peter and Gregory attempting to take Allison by force in a caveman-like show of dominance. This passage further emphasizes the capacity for human men to turn violent as well as the danger of sexual violence for many human women.
Themes
Using her increased strength, Lilith stops Peter and Gregory from abducting Allison and injures several on their side, including hurting Peter’s arm. Even Lilith’s own side looks afraid of how strong she is. Lilith declares that there will be no rape or other caveman behavior. Afterwards, Joseph says to Lilith that, although Peter and the others don’t deserve it, they may need help from the Oankali for their injuries, including Peter’s broken arm.
Lilith’s intervention in what seemed to be an attempted rape shows how she tries to bring order and civilization to her new society. Joseph’s suggestion for the Oankali to help Peter with his injuries further shows how they attempt to civilize and bring order to the society, relying on concepts like forgiveness and mercy instead of revenge.
Themes
Lilith speaks to the Oankali and recognizes the voice of Ahajas. Ahajas assures Lilith that the only human who needs treatment is Peter. She asks if Lilith wants Peter back after the treatment, and Lilith regretfully says yes, to avoid turning Peter into a martyr like Derrick.
Lilith continues to think pragmatically as a leader, realizing that the short-term benefit of getting rid of Peter might lead to the long-term problem of people viewing her as tyrannical and too closely associated with the Oankali.
Themes
When Lilith goes to check on Allison, she’s grateful but also asks if Lilith is really a human. Lilith is getting tired of this question. She says that she cares about Allison because she’s human and that sometimes she wishes she wasn’t human so that she didn’t have to care.
Even Allison, who has many reasons to be grateful to Lilith, questions whether Lilith is fully human. Lilith’s reply that she cares because she’s human is partly a criticism of the Oankali and how they don’t seem to care about humans in the way that fellow humans do.
Themes
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