Adulthood Rites

A phoenix is a mythical creature known for its cyclical regeneration through catching fire and being reborn from the ashes. This symbol assumes a central role in the narrative, notably as the namesake of the principal resister city, Phoenix. By employing the image of the phoenix in this context, Butler elevates it beyond a conventional mythological reference. Instead, the symbol becomes a potent metaphor encapsulating humanity’s enduring struggle for independence and the preservation of its identity. Drawing on the traditional associations of the phoenix’s renewal and rebirth, Butler represents the resisters’ cyclical journey of destruction and renewal. The phoenix represents the ongoing resister struggle, capturing their tenacity and their cyclical resistance against forces that seek to reshape them.

The phoenix is introduced as a symbol of humanity’s struggle when Akin moves to Phoenix after being abducted. Phoenixes also appear when Gabe shows Akin the village’s currency, which features a phoenix emblem. During this scene, Gabe shares that the bird represents hope for humanity’s eventual resurgence from the ashes of nuclear fallout. Akin, influenced by his Oankali skepticism toward stories deemed “untrue,” instinctively dismisses the phoenix as a myth.