100 pages 3 hours read

Octavia E. Butler

Dawn

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1987

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Part 3, Chapters 8-11Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 3: “Nursery”

Part 3, Chapter 8 Summary

Lilith goes out and calls the rest of the group over to eat. They look at her with hostility and impatience. Peter Van Weerden and Jean Pelerin comment rudely and Lilith sees that they will be troublemakers. Lilith announces to the group that she will be Awakening ten more people the next day. Gabriel comments that Lilith should leave the food cabinets open, but she says they close automatically.

As everyone settles into groups with their food, Peter speaks up from where he is sitting with Jean, Curt, and Celene, saying, “If you ask me, the walls are fixed that way to keep us from thinking about what we ought to do to our jailor” (166). Lilith quietly tells him, and everyone, that turning against her would only result in everyone being put back into suspended animation, then starting all over again with another group of people.

Lilith then goes to sit with Tate, Gabriel, and Leah. Tate says that it was good for Lilith to give the warning, though Leah thinks no one will care if they have to start over again. Gabriel believes that the group has already made personal ties, so they will care.

Gabriel tells Lilith that the group believed her, even the troublemakers.