"I want to know the price of your people's help. What do you want of us?" asks Lilith - Jdahya answers "Not more than you can give --" . What is the price that emerges as the novel unfolds? Is the bargain "worth it."? Would it have been better if the Oankali had chosen not to "interfere" in humankind's self-destruction? Why or why not? Is humankind suicidal in Butler's view? What are the two qualities that the Oankali identify as leading to self-destruction on the part of humans? How do the actions of the awakened humans at the end of the novel support or contradict the Oankali's analysis? The Oankali see from all over their body and they can't turn off visual input. Lilith finds this a horrifying concept. What would be the impact of always "seeing." How would this change humanity if this were one of the genetic traits transferred to the children of humans and Oankali? When Lilith learns about some of the modifications that have been made in her body -- and in the body of other humans, she compares this to human's treatment of animals. "We used to treat animals that way,..." "We did things to them--inoculations, surgery, isolation all for their own good. We wanted them healthy and protected -- sometimes so we could eat them later." Butler using this comparison to capture how vulnerable the humans are in this encounter with the Oankali (are they pets? food? experimental subjects? slaves?) or is she asking us to consider our relationship with animals by using the "see how it feels" approach. - in fact, is this the main message of the book?