Dawn
question
Saving humanity and alien altruism
Marcel
Jan 02, 2017 10:35AM
here is a question I have about Dawn I cannot answer: Initially it seems as if humanity is saved by those aliens and that is a good thing. In fact, it appears as if there is some altruism in place. Then, as the plot continues, *spoilers ahead* it appears as if those aliens are actually quite egoistic bastards, in fact, I feel they are raping the hell out of their human wards - in all imaginable ways.
What I am not clear about is this: does Butler posit any thought on whether this type of seemingly well-meanig meddling is a good or a bad thing?
I couldn't shake the feeling that those aliens are like a pedophiles with the appearance of a priest...
What I am not clear about is this: does Butler posit any thought on whether this type of seemingly well-meanig meddling is a good or a bad thing?
I couldn't shake the feeling that those aliens are like a pedophiles with the appearance of a priest...
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You could read the sequels and find out. There's some room for interpretation, but much less so in light of the sequels.
But even considering Dawn on its own, I happen to think it's pretty obvious these aliens were primarily inspired by European "altruism" towards sub-Saharan Africans.
But even considering Dawn on its own, I happen to think it's pretty obvious these aliens were primarily inspired by European "altruism" towards sub-Saharan Africans.
Butler does this a lot of her books, where she explores these ideas and parts of society that make you uncomfortable - pedophilia, aliens controlling every aspect of our lives, torture and slavery. I have always thought it was her way of working through those issues in her head and is part of what makes them such fascinating reads.
In interviews she always stated that in her mind the Oonkali were good. (Or at least not evil.) They were genuinely here to help in their alien terrifying way. There's definitely the fact that they don't understand the concept of consent, but like Tina states above that's true in a lot of OEB's work.
The aliens are treating humanity like we treat animals endangered species, with the difference that in the book humanity self destructed, while we are wiping out the animals. Think about that next time you set foot in a zoo and think we are doing it for their own good.
