Bankole and Lauren

Towards the end of the book, Lauren and Bankole get together despite their large age gap. The other group members notice and after Bankole and Lauren have sex, Bankole becomes aware of her age. Though everything pretty much goes out the window in a world such as Lauren's it is interesting that Bankole has such a strong reaction to her age. 

It is clear that Lauren is naive when it comes to partners and is sad that Bankole would suggest she be with someone older, but the discourse is different than your typical "old guy young girl" couple. Bankole is visibly distressed at her age and only switches up when he notices how upset she has become at the "disgust" he has portrayed. 

This is an interesting situation since the predatory nature of such a relationship seems to be dimmed down. Though I think Bankole is incredibly weird for being with Lauren nonetheless, and Lauren incredibly naive, I am interested to see where their relationship goes, especially with the group. Since he has offered to bring her to his land and tells her there's no chance he will let her go (they are to marry), I wonder what will happen to the rest of the travelers with them. Moreover, his teasing of Earthseed in combination with Lauren's passion for him makes me wonder how strongly she will fight for the Earthseed she has in her head to be the true religion she brings to the "new land" once everything is over, or if he will influence a new "Earthseed". 

Comments

  1. L. MoffittMay 20, 2021 at 10:15 AM

    Agreed -- the Bankole relationship was icky and uncomfortable, though Lauren does seem reasonably "empowered" in their interactions. I can only think Butler did this on purpose because Lauren has to deal with a father figure again, only this time she tells the father figure what she really thinks.

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