Briefly Thinking Ahead to Essay #4

Please list the following in your comment:

• The titles and authors of the new sources you are integrating into your research (If none yet, topic or possible journal name).

• Sections of your paper from essay #2 that you may want to develop more, or even build on with your new research sources.

• Aspects of #2 you are most concerned with improving and how you will go about making that happen.

• A recommendation for the issue your #2 is on besides the ol' "further research needs to be done," one that describes specific advice, specific action; perhaps an anecdote could cement this for you?

Now, answer the following questions.

• If you move to take a certain side on an issue in essay #4, what supports of the counter-argument do you think will be the best to refute? How can you contrast the strengths of your argument with the weaknesses of the counter-argument while remaining diplomatic?

• Is there anything Else you want to free write about regarding your essay #4?
• 

Part III Ch. 13 and 14, Part IV Ch. 1-4

PART III
CHAPTERS 13 AND 14:

The short chapter 13 depicts Joseph and Nikanj arguing about the morality of drugging the Awakened humans as "imprinting, chemical and social" (Butler 191). Joseph is appalled with the idea that the humans will be in an altered state of consciousness while being modified chemically as well to be more tolerant and relaxed around one another, and with the Oankali. The potent drugs given to the humans works well, but as they are being weaned from the ooloi chemicals, Peter strikes out, ultimately resulting in his accidental death. The ooloi responsible for this is injured which summons his family and prompts the first interaction with the male and female Oankali. While Peter's mate, Jean, is relieved to have her family near, she praises Peter for dying human, as most likely none of them will do.

RESPONSE:
Jean expresses to Lilith and Joseph her disdain towards the Oankali plan to change the humans for the better. Jean speculates as to what humans will have become by the time this group dies. She says that they will be, "Not human. Not anymore" (Butler 196). Would you rather die as Peter has, fully human and fervently opposed to Oankali ways, or do you think you could possibly accept the changes the Oankali are planning to give you in order to survive on Earth on your own? Why?




PART IV-- THE TRAINING FLOOR
CHAPTER 1:

The novel skips ahead in time slightly to the point at which Lilith and her students, the Awakened humans, are placed on the training floor to begin preparing themselves for their return to Earth. The floor is so convincingly similar to the earth's forests that the humans are deceived and plot to escape by boat on the wide river that flows near the campsite. Though Lilith reminds them that they are not on Earth, Nikanj tells her to, "let them row their boats to the walls and back," to fully convince them of their situation (Butler 200).

RESPONSE:
Put yourself in the shoes of the Awakened humans. Up to this point, would you have believed Lilith's story of what had happened, where you are, and what is expected of you? If the training floor were almost identical to the woods of the earth, do you think you would try to escape in stead of work together with the other humans and learn how to survive?



CHAPTER 2

As tools such as axes, tarps, cooking items, and machetes are distributed amongst the humans, Lilith speaks to those she finds dangerous to one another in hopes of preventing violence. Curt, only recently taken off the drugs, poses a major threat to the unity of the group. The others hypothesize that Curt will be looking for some revenge because, "someone else is pushing all his buttons" (Butler 203). Gender stereotypes are certainly enforced here as people begin to consider Curt weak and womanlike because he had been drugged and under complete control of the ooloi for so long.

RESPONSE:
Curt is predicted by the others to be a danger to their newly created society. How do you think this will affect Lilith's ability to effectively teach and possibly maintain control over the humans? Do you feel that Curt poses a significant threat to the group in the process of making up for his recent listlessness at the hands of the ooloi?



CHAPTER 3:

Lilith finally begins teaching the group basic principles of building shelter and gathering food from the vegetation of the training floor. They begin harvesting crops as, "the Oankali...begin to see what they would harvest in their human crop" (Butler 205). The humans begin dividing amongst themselves on the island as a result of rising distrust in the idea that this world was constructed on a space ship. Even Lilith finds herself questioning whether she was right in believing the Oankali. Tate approaches Lilith in order to tell her than she and Gabriel were planning on leaving camp and extends the invitation to her and Joseph. With some prodding, Joseph convinces Lilith to join Tate and the others in escaping regular camp.

RESPONSE:
Lilith sees no point in trying to explore the island because she knows the truth about the training floor. However, she agrees to go along because it is important to Joseph to see for himself. Has there ever been a time in your life when you were absolutely certain about something or idea, but have gone against it your feelings for someone you care about?



CHAPTER 4:

Lilith and Joseph prepare to venture away from camp. As the group sets off, they realize the hardships they must face without ooloi help and protection. The others are oddly quiet around Lilith, as if they suspect her of plotting to contact the Oankali. They express their stagnant fear of the still very alien species and explain to Lilith that she must bear the burden of such fear as she is most like their captors. She articulates to the others that this training floor is their final test before being sent back to Earth but it is a "live-die course," they must survive (Butler 216).

RESPONSE:
Since Lilith has been modified by the Oankali the most, and holds more alien traits than the others, she is the scapegoat for much of the frustration produced by the Awakened humans. Why do you think Lilith is able to handle all of the stress put on her by the group? What makes Lilith a desirable leader in this situation?

Part III Ch. 2-7

Ch. 2

Lilith awakens the first of the forty people, Tate Marah. Her Awakening begins with hostility, telling Lilith to get away from her. She then succumbs to the reaction, which involves going into the fetal position and gasping for air. Lilith introduces herself and says that, like her, she is also a prisoner. Tate tells her how she had been in solitary for two or three months, to which Lilith replies that she had been in solitary for two years. Tate asks if the person who had kept them in solitary were Russians, and Lilith replies that they aren't even human. Strangely, Tate's responds rather calmly, though expressing disbelief. They then get ready to awaken two more.


Question 1

Lilith chose Tate because she was least likely to become violent, least likely to break down, very calm and level-headed, and very likely to be helpful in Awakening others. Yet when she first speaks to Tate, telling her she is a prisoner also, Tate responds by saying that Lilith is more like a trustee, inferring that she believes that Lilith is in league with them. Though thought to be a safe choice, do you think Tate seems like a person to be trusted as Lilith's ally? Do you think she views Lilith as being on the human side?



Ch. 3

Tate and Lilith talk about Lilith's study in anthropology. Tate says that humans are more alike than different. Lilith says that Tate thinks like the Ounkali do, something that visibly disturbs Tate. At this point, they are ready to awaken two more people, Celene Iver and Leah Bede. She expresses reluctance at Awakening a man as they could disrupt things and be potentially dangerous. She says that after they awake the two women she'll awaken Joseph Shing and Curt Loehr. Tate soon realizes that they are being watched, yet the Ounkali will not take action unless someone is killed or in danger of being killed, so they are completely on their own. Lilith shows Tate how the plants work, as one tries to pull Tate in, before letting the two women out. As Lilith pushes the plants back, Leah jumps up and tries to strangle her. This is one of the first instances of Lilith disguising the changes that have been made to her by the Ounkali, as she tries to make herself seem not as strong as she really is. She makes it seems like getting Leah off her is a struggle and pretends to gasp for air, even though she was not even close to losing consciousness. She calms both down and then tells them that they are on a ship beyond the moon's orbit, to which Leah believes that she is either crazy or a liar. In the end, Lilith tells them that, whether they believe it or not, they much act as though they believe they are on a ship, endure the time there, and get the world back. They cannot get out because only the Ounkali can open the walls. She then explains how the ship is alive and digests their garbage. The chapter closes with Lilith saying that humans are an endangered species and so precautions are made to protect themselves from eachother.

Question 2

One thing that is discussed in the chapter is Lilith's past. The one subject that comes up is her college studies. Her son is also mentioned, as well as the incident with Paul Tidas. At one point Tate says that Lilith doesn't really like to talk about her past, to which Lilith says that it is pointless and that she had two years to think about her past life, that it doesn't make sense to think about it now. Do you agree with this or not and why?




Ch. 4

Lilith pulls Joseph Shing and Curt Loehr out of suspended animation next. Curt demands to know where they are and who's in charge. Lilith says she'll explain everything while they eat, yet both men demand to know who she's working for. Curt specifically demands to know which side she's on. Lilith explains that they have been captured by something not human and it is her job to Awaken people. Joseph wants evidence that they are on a spaceship. Lilith explains that changes have been to her body chemistry that allows her to grow rooms, while they try unsuccessfully to move the walls. She explains that the walls are living matter. Joseph tries to get all the information he can about the ship and acknowledges at the very least that it is necessary that they behave as though they are on a ship. She tells them about the plan to reseed the earth and more importantly about the gene trade. While most of them think that it is ridiculous, Joseph says how they did the say thing before the war, and that they must find out all they can about these aliens before escaping, something that is later referred to as the "learn and run" philosophy.

Question 3

The chapter once again refers to the idea that that they must act like they believe they are on a ship. Lilith makes it clear to the other residents that they are in a ship, they are being watched, and that, being on a ship, they have no chance of escape as they are in the middle of space. We are also first introduced to the learn-and-run philosophy, learn all they can about their captors and make their escape. Think of a situation that you have been in that you found you were unable to talk your way out of it. What did you learn from the situation and how has it helped you in the future?



Ch. 5

The next to be awakened are Gabriel Rinaldi and Beatrice Dwyer. At this point Tate believes that they should double their numbers to get things done faster. Tate accepts that they're not on Earth and people are also beginning to accept the learn-and-run philosophy. Lilith's strength from genetic tampering is first made apparent at this point when she pulls two fighting men apart and Curt suggests that she would have made a good cop. Yet people begin to look at her differences negatively when she gets into a fight with a woman named Jean Pelerin, who attacked her when she denied her demands for meat. Lilith knocked her out with a few quick jabs, receiving only a few bruises. This bothers her, as she know longer knows her own strength. She then talks with Joseph, who tells her what the people have been saying about her, suggesting that she let out a bunch of people at once so that everybody is occupied and more likely to take their minds off her. Since there are fourteen, they should awaken ten. Lilith says that when they're ready the Ounkali will take them to an area of the ship that is made into a fragment of Earth. They'll be trained there. Lilith herself spent a year there, using the information that she had learned and applying it in a way that satisfied the Ounkali. Joseph tells Lilith that seeing the Ounkali might bring them together, but it will likely turn them against her. Lilith plans to put each person with an Awakened person and the ones she can't trust will be paired with Joseph, Leah, Tate, and herself. She notes that Leah is trustworthy and loyal, although she is very moody and stubborn.

Question 4

It had been established in previous chapters that Lilith was different from the rest of the group in her ability to open the plants and the food containers, but it is in this chapter that it really becomes an issue. After knocking out Jean, many people turn on her. Jean says that she is probably a man and, more disturbingly, the new guy Van Weerden claims that she is not even human. Though Joseph says that nobody really believes that, their positions are clear. Yet the abilities that the Ounkali gave are thought by them to be necessary for their survival and for their transition to Earth. Do you think that Lilith's genetic tampering by the Ounkali is more of a benefit or a detriment? How would the situation be different if they all had it done?








Ch. 6

Nikanj comes into the room and is seen by Joseph. This is the first time that an Ounkali is caught in a lie as Nikanj says that they will not interfere and will not show themselves until there are forty of them and they are ready. Nikanj informs Lilith that several people want her dead and that two men have been trying to turn others against Joseph. Lilith asks that Joseph get strengthened just as she did, but Nikanj refuses. Joe discusses how the Ounkali clone humans, create them from artificial wombs, and even recreate people from gene maps. Nikanj finally says that he will only modify Joseph to heal faster, to be less susceptible to damage and to withstand injuries that would kill an ordinary person. He says that the side effects are only psychological. Joseph touches Nikanj's sensory arm and starts to scream, but Nikanj drugs him in order to put him to sleep. Nikanj explains to Lilith that the changes to her body are not hereditary and that the increased strength is due to her unlocked potential, and that there is an increased strength in Joe too.

Question 5

Out of fear for Joe's life, Lilith has him changed just as she was changed. Has Lilith saved Joe or doomed him as an outsider? How would the other humans view these newfound abilities? Do you think there was a better solution to the problem?




Ch. 7

Lilith then lies with Nikanj and Joe and goes into a hallucinatory sleep. She experiences of a mixture of both hers and Joe's experiences, something that he also experiences. She talks with Nikanj about Joseph. He says that Ahajas and Dichaan thought she would choose one of the big dark men because they are like her but Nikanj thought she would choose Joe because he was like her. She says he won't want anything to do with her after what happened, and Nikanj doubts it, saying he knows him quite well since he studied him and was going to have him lead a group but found him to be a good match for Lilith.

Question 6

Lilith becomes angry at Nikanj for basically "hooking her up" with Joe through this compatibility study, seeing that they were very alike in their responses. While this could be seen by many as wrong, Nikanj is exhibiting a very human behavior. How is something like this relevant to today's world? In what instances is something like this seen as acceptable?

Part III chapters 8-12

Chapter 8

It is dinnertime among the captives and some of the people that have been Awakened are expressing their disdain for Lilith. Peter Van Weerden and Jean Peler in have openly criticized Lilith.  At dinner, Lilith tells the group she will be Awakening 10 more people the next day and that everyone will be helping. Peter makes a comment about how the walls are designed to separate everyone so their captors can keep them from revolting. Lilith responds by warning them of the repercussions of a revolt, saying “that would mean all of you put back into suspended animation so that you can be separated and put through all this again with other people” (Butler 166).  She then joins Tate, Gabriel, and Leah, where Lilith reaffirms the truth of the situation by telling them what she knows.

RESPONSE:

Some of the Awakened have been very critical of Lilith, accusing her of not being a man and making other crude comments. What would you have done in Lilith’s situation? What would you have done to regain control?

Chapter 9 

Lilith goes back to the room where Joseph is. He expresses his opinions about the experience with Nikanj. Lilith says she liked the neural stimulation while Joseph says, “that thing will never touch me again if I have anything to say about it” (Butler 170).  Joseph didn’t wanted to accept Nikanj as male and this reminded Lilith of Paul Titus. They argue before she leaves the room.

RESPONSE:

Have you ever been in a situation where you didn’t want to accept the truth? Why didn’t you want to believe and how did that make you feel and how did you overcome your disbelief to finally accept what happened?

 

Chapter 10

 A small group of people led by Peter, Jean, and Curt hold Lilith captive while Derek climbs into the cabinets to see who is actually refilling them. Derek disappears and the group gets angry with Lilith, asking what has happened to him.  She doesn’t know Derek’s fate but knows the Oankali will not harm him. The group does not trust or believe anything she says. She returns to her room and Joe, Tate, and Gabriel follow. They explain to her that she is losing the battle against the others and she needs the Oankali help to make them cooperate. Lilith likens the situation to Earth by saying, “Let’s play Americans against the Russians. Again” (Butler 175). Gabriel, Tate, and Joe tell her she needs allies and she can start by asking the Oankali.

RESPONSE:

Are the actions of the humans that have been Awakened what you expected? How did you expect them to act toward Lilith? What do you think can happen that will change their attitudes toward her?

Chapter 11

Peter and a man named Gregory Sebastes grabbed Allison Zeigler with the intention of pair her up with Gregory to have a physical relationship. Allison has not chosen a mate and the men feel she needs to choose. Allison says, “maybe you want to give whoever’s holding us prisoner a human baby to fool around with but I don’t!” (Butler 177). She cries for Lilith’s help and she come to observe a stand off between Peter’s followers and her own. Gregory and Peter start beating Allison and Lilith decides to take action. She fights with Peter, Gregory, and Curt and ends up breaking Peters arm. After everything has settled down she for the Oankali to help the injured and they agree. Allison asks if Lilith is really human after her display of strength. Lilith responds by asking Allison that if she weren’t human, why would she have cared if she were about to get raped?

RESPONSE:

Peter has been causing a lot of trouble lately. What do you think motivates his actions? What is his mindset? Why is he so determined to rebel against Lilith and not actually take in his surroundings to better understand the situation?

Chapter 12

The ooloi had drugged the humans and came into their dinner area. Some people were frightened and others accepted their presence. Joe was not frightened at the presence of the ooloi and he questioned his reaction. Nikani responsed by saying, “different is threatening to most species” (Butler 186). Then Nikanj took Joseph and Lilith into her room to experience the neural stimulation and as Lilith put it, seduce someone. First Nikanj lay with Joe and then Lilith joined.

RESPONSE:

Do you think the ooloi made a smart decision in drugging the humans before the revealed themselves? If not, what should they have done?

Part II and Part III

Part II: Chapters 10 -12

Part II: Chapter 1

Chapter 10

Chapter 10 begins with Lilith waking up from a sleep induced by Nikanj. Lilith awakens pain free but with an odd smell that can’t be wash away. Along with the smell, Lilith discovers she now has the ability to open the walls to her room. Nikanj explains that Lilith now has access to food and the outside world. After explaining Lilith’s new freedom Nikanj begins to tremble, an indication of the beginning of his metamorphosis. Although Lilith initially leaves Nikanj claiming she doesn’t care about his trembling, she almost immediately returns to it. Lilith feeds Nikanj and Nikanj tells Lilith the process doesn’t hurt and it actually feels “sexually aroused.” The chapter ends with Nikanj giving Lilith instructions to help in his journey to Lo.

Question 1

When Nikanj begins his metamorphosis Lilith can’t seem to leave it. In fact she admits that “she had not been able to leave Nikanj trembling in its bed while she enjoyed her greater freedom” (108). What does this say about the relationship Nikanj and Lilith share? How has their relationship progressed from their initial meetings?

Chapter 11

Lilith makes the journey to Lo along with Ahajas, Dichaan, and an unconscious Nikanj in Chapter 11. In Lo Lilith says her goodbyes to Tediin and Jdahya and learns she will be living with Ahajas and Dichaan. Lilith also learns her training will begin when Nikanj’s metamorphosis ends. Chapter 11 lets Readers learn al also learn a little about the Oankali. Mates are usually brother and sister although; Tediin and Jdahya are cousins and an “unusual” exception. In addition Lilith learns that ooloi are usually strangers. The combination of the related Oankali and stranger ooloi are good in situations when people are bred for work.

Question 2

In Chapter 11 Lilith tells Tediin that she would rather stay in Kaal than be amongst strangers. Tediin replies by saying “Nikanj must go. You would not like to be separated from it” (111). Lilith admits to herself that she would rather stay with Nikanj than “be sent to teach a lot of frightened, suspicious humans” and “go with strangers” (111). Lilith also admits others had succeeded in pushing her and Nikanj together. Do you believe that Lilith wants to stay with Nikanj because its’ the lesser of two evils or because she has seriously developed a relationship with it.

Chapter 12

In chapter 12 Kahguyaht comes to visit Lilith and brings her books, paper and “recreated” pens. Kahguyaht teaches Lilith about the ooloi body and even shows her his sensory hand. Kahguyaht’s sensory hand had eight tentacle fingers that surrounded a palm with deep orifices. The hand was encased in a hard semitransparent material. Lilith compares the hand to a starfish. When Lilith abruptly draws back from the hand Kahguyaht’s justification is that Lilith has bonded to an ooloi, Nikanj. Kahguyaht also tells Lilith that she will want to avoid deep contact with other ooloi and may want to avoid most people after Nikanj matures. During his visit Kahguyaht revels that he didn’t initially want Lilith to take care of Nikanj or to parent the first group of humans. Kahguyaht also admits and that it though a male would be better suited to “parent” the first human group.

Question 3

Kahguyaht explains that because of “the way human genetics were expressed in culture” he thought a male would be good for parenting the first group (116). Kahguyaht goes on to say that as a parent one would have to “teach, give comfort, feed, clothe, and guide them though the world. I think that feeding, comforting and clothing are roles usually that our society typically attributes with females not. I also feel like these gender roles would be even more wide spread in the 80’s, when Dawn was written. Why do you think that Kahguyaht believed males to be better suited for the job of parenting? and what do you believe are the “human genetics” that Kahguyaht speaks of?

Chapter 1

Lilith is given eighty dossiers to review. The dossiers are “short biographies made up of transcribed conversations, brief histories, Oankali observations and conclusions and pictures” (123). Lilith’s job is to read the dossiers and choose people to Awaken but all the while Lilith is looking for people who could be potential allies. In her own words, Lilith wants someone who can “share the burden,… not do anything violent and stupid,...and give her ideas” (123). While she is reading the dossiers Lilith begins to form a plan for escape in her head. Lilith decides that Earth would give humans the best chance to escape Oankali control. Lilith briefly wonders if escaping is what the Oankali will expect her to do. Chapter 1 goes on to describe the dossiers which include the humans prior lives and how they have responded to the Oankali. In chapter one Lilith’s reoccurring fear is that she will not be able to gain the trust of the Awakened humans. Lilith thinks that the humans will see all of her abilities (memory, walls) and associate her with their captors. In the end Lilith decides to Awaken Tate Marah. Marah is described to be bright, manipulative, and egocentric. Ironically the Oankali had though Tate was more ooloi than female. Chapter 1 ends with Lilith preparing for the Awakening of Tate Marah.

Question 4

In Lilith’s descriptions of who she is looking for (someone to share the burden ect.) and in her final choice (Tate Marah) Lilith seems to think the ideal people will be equal to her. If by chance Lilith does find people who are equal to her in mind set they will not match her in ability. What do you think will be the response when the Awakened humans discover Lilith is superior to them in ability? Do you think that Lilith’s abilities and knowledge will make it impossible for her to be seen as an equal?

Letter From Birmingham Jail: A Manifestation of the Classical Sources of Persuasion

Letter From Birmingham Jail:
We will look at this together in class and identify where Dr. King appeals to the classical sources of persuasion (A&B ch 10).

http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html

Also, use this as a reference to identify the sources of persuasion:
http://courses.durhamtech.edu/perkins/aris.html




For your comment:
list a few passages where you think Dr. King effectively appeals to ethos and pathos and explain why. How is this example useful to you for composing essay #3?

Finally, write down ways you can appeal to logos in discourse.

Left to Right: Plato and Aristotle
-Really old rhetoricians!

Section II: Family

Chapter 6

In chapter 6 Lilith sits on the bathroom floor and starts to think about the day that her husband Sam and her son Ayre died in a car crash. Lilith recalls that Sam and Ayre were on their way to a carnival when a girl with her learners permit crossed over into oncoming traffic and collided head on into their car. Ayre was pronounced dead at the scene and Sam suffered brain damage and died three months later. Lilith stated “He was lucky to have died so quickly” (Butler 76). After thinking about all the pain and suffering Sam went through she started to think about the surgery that was proposed to her by Nikanj; she wanted to know what would happen to her if something went wrong. Lilith finally left the bathroom and claimed into a bed and fell asleep, she woke up from a dream about Sam in a cold sweat and forced herself to make a decision. Before she could let fear take over she told Nikanj to “Wake up and do whatever it is you claim you have to. Get it over with” (Butler 78).

Response 1

Lilith decides to let Nikanj perform the procedure on her even though she was against it when it was first proposed to her. 1.) Why do you think she changed her mind? 2.) If you had the chance to have a procedure done that would allow you to have a better memory would you get the procedure done?

Chapter 7

Lilith awakens from the surgery wondering if Nikanj completed the surgery and if she was alright. Nikanj came back into the room and started to feel around her head with his tentacles to make sure she was alright. Nikanj walked in the room speaking Oankali and Lilith responded to him without even thinking, she felt like the language was natural to her as English was. After the test were complete Nikanj told Lilith he was glad his family them together, because at first he didn't want to work with her. Nikanj was scared that it would be really easy for him to fail and damage Lilith. Nikanj then asked Lilith to help him through his metamorphosis when he went to mate. Lilith agreed to help him as long as he told her everything he had to do before they went. After Nikanj and Lilith discussed the mating process, Nikanj told Lilith he would try and find a English speaking human for her and stated "Ooan will not stand in the way of your meeting one now" (Butler 82).

Response 2
Do you think that Lilith and Nikanj are starting to trust one another and if so what evidence is there to prove they are starting to trust each other?





Chapter 8
Nikanj and Kahguyaht search around and interview English speaking humans for Lilith to go meet with. One day Nikanj took Lilith to go and visit Paul Titus who was captured and awakened when he was fourteen. Lilith sits down and talks with Paul for a while and they discussed many of things like; where they were from, what they liked to do and where they were when the war started. The first thing Lilith asked Paul was “Have you really decide to stay here?” because she was very curious to why he had chose to stay and live amongst the Oankali instead of returning to earth with the rest of the humans (Butler 85). Lilith and Paul proceeded to talk and then started to get in a disagreement about returning to earth. Paul hen got up and but his hands on Lilith forcefully, Lilith was a little uneasy about this. Paul then tried to kiss her and take off her close in an attempted to rape her; Lilith fought back and tried to talk her way out of it in till Paul kicked her with enough force to cause her to lose consciousness.

Response 3


If you had a chance to stay and live with the Oankali's where there was food and shelter or had the chance to return to earth where civilization is gone and you had to start over, what would you do and why?



Chapter 9

Lilith awakens to the voices of Nikanj and Kahguyaht surrounding her, telling others to go away. Lilith’s body was badly injured particularly her arm which Paul had broken. Lilith was asking questions to Nikanj about Paul and what happened after she was knocked out. Lilith is upset about what happened to her but doesn’t place all the blame on Paul, “He did what you and his so-called family set him up to do” (Butler 100). Lilith believes it is a mixture of both there faults and blames the Oankali’s for not allowing him to have contact with humans for over fifteen years and by letting him believe he could mate with her. Lilith also got upset when Nikanj kept on referring to the Oankali’s as Paul’s family and Lilith believes that the Paul can’t be an Oankali.





Response 4
Even though Lilith is hurt and upset by what Paul did to her I find her taking his side and blaming the Oankali’s for keeping Paul in away from other humans and setting him up. Who do you think should be at fault for Lilith getting hurt and how Paul snapping and becoming enraged and out of control?

Section II: Family

Section II: Family

Ch 1: Lilith is introduced to Jdahya’s family. His wife Tediin is the largest in the family and their ooloi child is named Nikanj. She takes a disliking to the ooloi, Kahguyaht, since he was “smug and tended to treat her condescendingly” (Butler 46). Lilith finds that although Jdahya tells her “the Oankali were not hierarchical, the ooloi seemed to be the head of the house” (Butler 46).

Response: Jdahya says the Oankali are not hierarchical yet Lilith observes Kahguyaht to be the leader. Do you think any society can exist without leadership?

Lilith is finally given human food to eat again, and finds out that although some Oankali foods will poison her, the Oankali can learn to eat any human food that could potentially be harmful to them. Although Lilith is intrigued by the Oankali’s powers to neutralize foods, as humans today we also take precautions to make our foods so that they are not harmful to eat. The difference is that we cook them with tools or cut out toxic parts.

Thus far in the novel it seems that many of the Oankali's powers humans also have. Humans can surgically or chemically treat cancer, and humans cook and pasteurize food. However, the striking difference between our methods and the Oankali's methods is that we accomplish them with tools rather than our mind and being. Our use of tools separates us from most all animals, including the Oankali.

Response: The Oankali are able to adapt and evolve much quicker than humans. Do you think that human evolution is being halted by the use of tools?

Ch 2: Kahguyaht takes Lilith to see Sharad, who is being kept alive in a plant. Kahguyaht explains that the plant used to carnivorously eat people until they changed the plant’s genetics to keep the human alive but not kill it.

The Oankali have put humans into a deep sleep, to heal some and wait for the right time. Which is similar to when doctors place patients into a medically induced coma until their body is healed enough to be awakened.

This reminds me of the Matrix, where humanity was kept in pods to keep them alive but dormant. Kauguyhat says that on the ship, they “float in a bath of nutrients and water” (Butler 52), which is much like the contents of a Matrix pod.

Kahguyaht then brings Lilith back to Jdahya's house to start her lessons with Nikanj. Why would the Oankali leave Lilith to be taught by a child?

Kids are a basic reflection of a society’s culture and values. In America we value fame and fortune, drama, technology, and family among others.

Ch 3: Nikanj shows off Lilith to his other Oankali friends. She is compared to a pet for Nikanj and wonders "How is a pet supposed to feel? How do zoo animals feel?" (Butler 56).

Response: Describe a time in which you were being shown off for some reason good or bad and how you felt afterward.

Ch 4: Lilith sets two goals for herself. 1. Speak with another human. 2. Catch an Oankali in a lie. She has little luck accomplishing either task. As her and Nikanj exchange knowledge, Nikanj

appears more and more like Sharad, however, Nikanj has a shorter temperament. When Lilith herself becomes frustrated at her slow learning capabilities she asks Nikanj for paper and a pen, however, he declines and insists that she is not allowed.

Response: Why do you think Lilith is denied any means for recording information? What implications do records and history have on how we live our lives?

Lilith begins to wander about the ship, which gives her a sense of freedom. She overhears some Oankali talking about her, and another human Fukumoto. However, she is caught eavesdropping and can only hear that Fukumoto is from Tiej, so she sets off to go find him. It is a long journey and upon arrival she searches for him to no avail. As instructed by Nikanj, she buries her leftover orange

peelings in the ground which essentially poisons the ship. Kahguyaht comes to her rescue and informs her that Fukumoto was a human being who died the previous day after living 60 years with the Oankali people. Lilith imagines it must have been torturous for Fukumoto to be held with those people for that long, however, Kahguyaht claims that "Fukumoto has chosen to live and die among us instead of returning to Earth" (Butler 68).

Response: Stockholm Syndrome is a psychological disorder in which hostages show signs of loyalty and sympathy to their abductors. Do you think Fukumoto developed Stolkholm Syndrome or did he have a sincere desire to live with the intriguing Oankali people? Why?

Ch 5: Kahguyaht takes Lilith back to Kaal and she speaks with Jdahya. Jdahya tells her that she is

not in trouble, they are just upset with Nikanj. Jdahya and Nikanj appear to have an argument which flows too fast for Lilith to understand. Nikanj then explains to Lilith that he is not allowed to mate until she has completed her lessons. She maintains that she could learn faster if only she could write. But Nikanj informs her that he must change her brain chemistry so that she can remember things better. She protests and hides in the bathroom in fear of what's to come.

Throughout Section II, Lilith often asks questions only to be met with half-truths or silence. She is often equated to a child in that she is not told the full story and must be led around by others. Although the Oankali are always honest with Lilith, they are sometimes witholding. Lilith believes that "catching them in lies would make them vulnerable. As though it would make the thing they intended to do less real, easier to deny" (Butler 58).

Response: Some say that "honesty is the best policy", yet others claim that "ignorance is bliss". Would it be harder for you to know someone is honest and accept all that they tell you, or to question everything they say and let your imagination wander?

Dawn Presentation #1 Chp 1-5

Through these first five chapters, Octavia Butler slowly paints an environment which is both very interesting and complexly foreign and bazaar. The main character Lilith goes through a series of events which she calls “Awakenings” (Butler 3). We later come to realize these Awakenings are over a duration of 250 years post humanity’s “attempt to destroy itself” (Butler 14). While confined in a room which she describes as “dim” (Butler 3) and containing a bed that “seemed to grow from the floor” (Butler 4) Lilith tries to figure out where she is and why. 

Butler illustrates Lilith’s captors in a very mysterious light, making note that they ask her questions without revealing themselves. All this was a means for the captors to understand and observe Lilith. A young East Indian boy named Sharad is place in Lilith’s room upon one of Lilith’s Awakenings. They sing songs together and tried to understand each other’s languages. The boy is soon taken away and Lilith thinks of how he reminded her of her son Arye. 

Lilith’s captors turn out to be aliens called the Oankali. The Oankali are a civilized species which travel from planet to planet seeking out life forms with genetics that can improve their own. The humans with their cancer cells and genetics offer the Oankali a chance to be able to regenerate limbs and increase their life span. Once the Oankali teach the humans how to live on the earth changed by nuclear war and Oankali intervention they will split off into three groups and continue to explore the universe. One group called “Dinso” will stay on earth , one called “Toaht” will leave on their current ship, and one called “Akjai” will leave in a new ship. The Oankali will alter the humans' genetics a bit which will cause the humans to reproduce children with Oankali traits. After Learning all this Lilith becomes upset and frustrated that she has lived through the whole ordeal. Jdahya, the first Oankali she encounters, offers to kill Lilith, she hesitates and declines. 

I feel as though the Oankali are overwhelmingly similar to the human race; advanced in civilization and always eager to evolve. The Oankali have already experienced a similar situation of destruction as the humans have. I believe the way the Oankali treat the humans (while not harmful) is very much the same as the way humans treat animals as pets and test subjects; always feeling they have the right to determine what is right for the animals. I understand the Oankali’s reasoning for interfering and doing all the things they have to the humans, but I just can’t help but sense that something is wrong and that Lilith’s natural inclination to be afraid of Jdahya is a foreshadow that the Oankali are not to be trusted. I love the title of these first five chapters called “Womb”, because Lilith’s experience is liken to a baby coming out of the womb into a whole new world filled with whole new opportunities and new dangers.  

This 3min video, speaks about the debate of animal testing which is whether or not it is worth testing animals for human health benefits.