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Book 3, 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
Tate spends three days sleeping and eating heavily. Eventually, she and Tate talk, and Lilith mentions studying anthropology. Tate wonders if Lilith wanted to “snoop” through other people’s cultures. Lilith admits that she was looking for other ways of life because it seemed like her own culture was headed for disaster.
As much as Lilith thinks that the Oankali underestimate the value of human culture, she is also aware of the culture’s flaws. Her studying of anthropology represents her hope that there is a way for humanity to have a better future without simply getting rid of humanity, which is what the Oankali want to do through their breeding.
Themes
Lilith wants to Awaken two women next, Leah Bede and Celene Ivers. Tate thinks that Lilith is afraid of men after what happened with Paul, which Lilith told Tate about. Tate wants to Awaken Curt, a strong man, next, but Lilith insists on Leah and Celene first, then Joseph and Curt. Lilith doesn’t believe they can count on the Oankali for help if any of the newly Awakened humans turn rebellious.
Lilith’s decision to Awaken women before men shows her awareness of the roles gender and sex play in human societies. Tate wants Curt because he’s strong, but Lilith insists on finding allies before she Awakens anyone who could potentially rebel against her. The fact that Tate places more trust and hope in Curt (a police officer) reflects how as a White woman, Tate is more used to trusting traditional authority figures, whereas Lilith regards them with more skepticism due to her experiences as a Black woman on Earth.
Themes
Lilith allows Tate to watch as she goes to the plant to Awaken Celene. She begins to work more quickly and starts next on Leah before Celene is fully Awake. When both women are awake, Lilith talks to them and tries to answer their questions. To her surprise, Leah rushes forward and starts to strangle Lilith. Lilith fights her off, being careful not to injure her. Leah and Celene both become more agreeable after eating real food, although Leah still isn’t convinced that Lilith is telling the truth about the Oankali. Lilith tells them that they will be forming a new community together back on Earth. Celene asks about men, and Lilith says she’ll Awaken them in a day or two after she’s prepared rooms for them. Lilith explains that if any of the humans try to kill each other, the Oankali will likely intervene—since now, humans are an endangered species.
Lilith thought that Leah would be a quiet religious woman, but instead, Leah charges right at Lilith to attack. This reflects both how quantifiable data can only provide so much information about a person, as well as how extreme circumstances can make people’s behavior more unpredictable. The beginnings of Lilith’s society raise the question of how humanity would be different if it was only women. While Lilith manages to create harmony after calming Leah down, Celene’s impatience about adding men to their group suggests that Lilith’s current arrangement may not be sustainable.
Themes
