Sure, I could choose to write about the easy “alien” elements of Octavia E. Butler’s Lilith’s Brood: Dawn. There are plenty of strange things in the story like a living spaceship or creatures covered with writhing tentacles and no eyes or ears. Or I could focus on the shifting walls of the vessel and the green pods holding humans in suspended animation. Even the Oankali social structure is unique with a third gender of ooloi, which provide many special qualities including mind-blowing sexual nerve stimulation.
Instead of these obvious “alien” components, I’m most drawn to the extreme differences between the personality traits of the Oankali and the human beings. The comparison of the species’ reactions to various situations highlights just how “alien” the Oankali people are. In particular, their patience is light years ahead of human levels, as shown throughout the novel.
The first example of the Oankali patience can be measured in Earth years. The setting in this part of the story is 250 years after the planetary wars destroyed most of Earth. Instead of rushing to repopulate Earth and begin their genetic “trading,” this extraterrestrial race decides to diligently study people on an individual basis over two and a half centuries. Only after all these years do the Oankali feel they understand the humans enough to train them for re-colonization. They also have the foresight to realize that humans need “time to heal” (18) after seeing so much death.
On the other hand, the Earthlings consistently show annoyance at having to wait days (or even minutes) for anything. This character trait in all of the humans is a common theme throughout the story. Once Lilith starts to Awaken members of her group, Tate urges Lilith to speed up the Awakening process to “get things done faster, get down to Earth faster” (144). When Jean Pelerin demands meat, she asks for it “now” (145). After Lilith shares her first ooloi-administered connection with Joseph, she returns to the group who are “waiting for her sullenly, impatiently, hungrily” (165). The men are even worse, as they can’t seem to wait and repetitively try to rape a woman upon first meeting. Paul Titus assaults Lilith after their initial conversation, Wray attacks Leah as soon as he’s Awakened and Gregory beats Allison upon her Awakening. Jeez, keep it in your pants, guys!
In addition, the early conversations between Oankali and Lilith further evidence the gap between the two species. Jdahya cannot “be hurried” and shows “no impatience or annoyance” (27) before taking Lilith outside. He simply waits “uncomplaining” (44) until Lilith takes action. During their talks, his continual lapses into silence frustrate Lilith to the point that “she needed to hear him speak. Silent, he was completely alien” (14). Conversely, Lilith is attached to hurried diction like “the last straw” (11) and frequent use of the words “quickly,” “abruptly” and “automatically.” Even after her time training and living with the Oankali, she still is easily angered or upset by her human adversaries.
These two races originate from different worlds and are clearly worlds apart in patience. The Oankali realize that there will be a time will come for every action. There is not urgency or rush, since they view life based on the history and future of their species. At the other end of the spectrum, the human beings are impulsive and rash in many decisions. They cannot stand being trapped and judge their time on the length of their life expectancy. Patience may be a human virtue, but the Oankali’s alien temperament controls this quality, as much as it controls Lilith’s brood.
