Dawn Octavia Butler Summary

Amber Clontz
LTP 4 Dawn
Jubal Tiner
Views of Dawn The novel Dawn, by Octavia Butler, possess many good qualities. Unlike many novels, Butler provides a clear and conceivable explanations for the biological events that take place in the story. Her main character demonstrates moral and ethical dilemmas that can relate to a person's normal life. These dilemmas can also compare to problems of slavery among African Americans in the past. Butler's African American heritage may have brought her to write such interesting literature. The story begins with the protagonist, Lilith awakening from a type of REM sleep that has lasted for some time. She finds herself on a space ship full of aliens. She remembers that there was a nuclear war, on earth (humanicide) , and she was one of the few survivors left. The few remaining survivors were captured by the Oankali. These were aliens like species that travel throughout the universe to find other species to breed with in order to construct new genes. Lilith is ultimately brought to this new place to help humans adapt to this new "culture". However, she fears these creatures but forces herself to overcome her repulsion and to learn about the Oankalie and the plans they have for the remaining humans. The Oankali are very genetically engineered creatures that can adapt or evolve their
own genes to the environment. But they have done this process to much, and now need to breed with other species the allow for new genetic processes. Therefore, Lilith faces a dilemma that manipulates her decision between accepting the medical augmentations and the sexual advances of her "new family", while trying to help other humans. In this defenseless position, she is forced to adapt to a culture not of her own, if she does not do this, she will die. With these biological inferences, along with the mind altering dilemmas, Butler works in the idea of slavery, making the story that much more interesting. I believe this proposal may be what works overall for the story. However, many people may have overlook this concept. When Lilith wakes up she is naked. Being naked ultimately makes a human uncomfortable, it changes the normal standards of humans, and being different is looked upon as a negative. This tactic was used to dehumanize slaves. When Lilth realizes she is naked, she has to beg for clothes. She is also denied reading material. The Oankali do not want her to read or be aware of her own culture and history, because they want to alter her mind, and this makes her fear of becoming less of a human. This is somewhat similar to slave owners not allowing their slaves to learn how to read or write. Even though this story is not about African American slavery, it relate to the idea, by using racism against humans. I like this because, for once, humans as a whole are looked at as one race, and can be segregated together, and not amongst each other. Finally, another dilemma that Lilith has to deal with is that of pregnancy.
She becomes pregnant and must decide to have a half alien baby, or to commit suicide. The deicision of having a child can relate to today's society. Should interracial babies be a problem among families. This again leads us to the racism issue. Should single moms be able to raise a child own their own. Should teenagers be allowed to have children. This is a question and dilemma that many pregnant women have to face everyday. Lilith decides to have her child, because it is a precious life that she wants to save. Overall this baby is apart of
her. Overall, Dawn, is a wonderful novel that engages in biological aspects, moral dilemmas, and a use of past slavery. All of these proposals allow for an achievement of success. This was my favorite book that we have read in the class. It was a more simple read, that has made more sense then any of the other novels. It also allows people to connect to it by relating the novel to everyday society.