Dawn Characters

Tate Marah is a wealthy White woman who becomes the first human that Lilith Awakens as part of the Oankali plan to resettle Earth. Tate becomes Lilith’s main advisor and is a more impulsive counterpart to Lilith, often encouraging her to act more quickly than Lilith would otherwise.

Jean is one of the first Awakened humans to challenge Lilith’s authority, attempting to fight her. Jean eventually allies with Peter and continues to rebel against Lilith. Ultimately, after she witnesses Peter’s death, she has to be put back into suspended animation.

Peter is an Awakened human who, along with Jean, becomes one of Lilith’s harshest critics. He reacts very negatively after going through a sex-like ritual with one of the ooloi Oankali, and in the ensuing conflict, the ooloi accidentally kills Peter by stinging him.

Derrick is one of the first Awakened humans to challenge Lilith’s leadership. He demands to see the Oankali, which he is allowed to do, but he never comes back, which causes some humans to suspect that something bad has happened to him—and that it’s Lilith’s fault.

Gabriel is a former actor who becomes one of Lilith’s major allies after he Awakens and mates with Tate. He confuses the aliens at first by playing characters when he answers their questions.

Celene is a woman that Lilith Awakens who becomes the mate of Curt. For a time, Celene fulfills Lilith’s goal of keeping Curt’s rebellious instincts in check by giving him someone to protect.

Leah Bede is a human woman who appears to be quiet and religious but who attacks Lilith as soon as she Awakens. Eventually, however, she forms a relationship with Wray Ordway and becomes one of Lilith’s most loyal followers.

Victor is a Hungarian man whose profile is one of the first that Lilith looks at when considering whom to Awaken to help her resettle earth. When Lilith touches Victor’s hand, it’s the first time she feels attraction after the death of Joseph.

Allison is a woman that Greg and Peter attempt to abduct and force to be Greg’s mate, as a show of power for their side. Lilith intervenes to stop them, and Allison goes on to become a loyal follower of Lilith.

Wray Ordway is a man that Lilith puts Leah in charge of caring for after he first Awakens. He and Leah become mates and eventually make up part of Lilith’s core group of supporters.

Ayre was Lilith’s son who died in a car crash. His memory stays with her throughout the novel, and other characters like Sharad remind her of him.

Sam was Lilith’s husband and Ayre’s father. He died in a car crash before the nuclear war that destroyed most of the Earth.

Fukumoto is a Japanese human man that Lilith learns was living on the Oankali ship. When she looks for him, however, she learns that he’s already dead.

Gregory is a follower of Peter who attempts to abduct Allison with him, forcing Lilith to intervene.

Tediin is the female mate of Jdahya and parent of Nikanj.

Ahajas is the female mate of Nikanj.

Dichaan is the male mate of Nikanj.

Beatrice is a woman that Lilith Awakens who is known for modesty and will only talk to the Oankali while fully clothed.