Project Proposal

Samuel Li

Dr. Adam Johns

English Composition 0200

19 November 2014

Proposal: Lilith’s Namesake

Lilith’s Brood presents an alternative interpretation of traditional Abrahamic mythology, specifically regarding the creation of man, and the demon Lilith’s role. The interpretation is different, in that Lilith is casted as the protagonist, whereas in Abrahamic lore, she was casted out and branded as a demon. By challenging the popular interpretations, it challenges the foundation on which most Western morals were built on. And, of course, by challenging what and where our morals come from, we can find our flaws, and replace outdated traditions and ideals with more progressive ones.

This could easily be argued by challenging my interpretation of how the characters translate over into Christian figures, or by challenging that Butler’s argument subverts common Western morality. Or, they could argue that Western moral principles do not borrow heavily from Christianity, or they could argue that Butler’s argument (or, at least what I interpret it to be) is wrong. The “main” area to dispute would probably be about my interpretation of Butler and the novel, and its commentary on society and the world through an allegory on Lilith.

In Abrahamic lore, Lilith was the first wife of Adam, made from the same material as him, and was so his “equal” (as opposed to Eve, who was made from Adam’s rib, and thus considered his inferior). She repeated refused to submit to Adam, and eventually sinned by saying God’s true name out loud. Then, she left the Garden of Eden, and refused to return. In some variants, she later becomes the snake that tempts Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit. Outside of the Garden, she copulates with demons, and has a reputation of being promiscuous. While she doesn’t appear much in Bible, to the point that people debate her canonicity, she still had a profound cultural impact, in literature and the arts. So regardless of her presence in the original versions of the Bible, her impact on culture is undeniable.

What’s interesting about this book’s take on Lilith is that Lilith is the protagonist, and the roles are reversed, in a way, and thus, the messages are also reversed. In the original versions of the tale, she, the independent woman, is contrasted with Eve, the submissive woman. The original implication was that her independence and refusal to submit was portrayed as negative, but in Lilith’s Brood, it’s portrayed as positive. Similarly, taking the forbidden fruit, or the genetic modification that Lilith “tempts” the humans to use, is portrayed as the logical and optimal course of action, rather than a sin. And so on. This being so, the reversal of the original ideas in the myth lends the novel an interesting perspective to look at.

Butler, Octavia E. Lilith’s Brood (Dawn). New York: Grand Central Publishing, 2000. Print.

Hunt, Mary E. The Coming of Lilith: Essays on Feminism, Judaism, and Sexual Ethics, 1972-2003. 74 Vol. CARY: Oxford University Press, 2006.

Plaskow, Judith. "The Coming of Lilith": A Response." Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion 23.1 (2007): 34-41.

Vague outline:

Intro

blah blah feminism blah

Relevant parts of Lilith’s myth

creation, snake/fruit of knowledge, cast out of eden

Lilith’s Brood and how it connects

who’s who, what’s what

lilith = lilith (heh)

oankali = demons, “humanity” = god, fruit of knowledge = enhancements

What these connections mean

role reversal, etc etc

Gender/sexuality commentary

embrace sexuality?

lilith doesn’t submit, good job lilith

Good and evil, authority and stuff

Counterarguments

Conclusion