Previous
Book 4, 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
Now living in the training room, Lilith and the other humans receive tools, including axes, shovels, machetes, and materials to pitch a camp. Lilith warns certain humans, including Curt, to be careful not to use any of their tools in violence. She complains to Nikanj that it’s not a good idea to give everyone potential weapons, but Curt’s ooloi has assured Nikanj that things will be OK and that Curt and Celene will be too focused on protecting each other to rebel.
As things progress in the training room, Lilith begins to wonder whether the Oankali have made mistakes in their assessment of humans (such as the possibility that Curt will become violent) or whether they are deliberately setting up the humans for some sort of test or experiment. The tendency of the Oankali to hold back information leaves Lilith unsure whether to trust their motives.
Themes
Gabriel brings his concerns about Curt to Lilith and seems at times to even side with Curt. Although Lilith has similar concerns, she warns Gabriel not to become like Curt or Peter. Jean has recently been put back in suspended animation, and Lilith warns that if anything happens to Gabriel, the same might happen to Tate.
After potentially losing Joseph’s trust at the end of the last book, even Lilith’s close followers like Gabriel start to doubt her. She begins to use more aggressive leadership tactics, weaponizing Gabriel’s fear that he or Tate might get returned to suspended animation.
Themes
