There are a lot of interesting oxymoronic concepts in Lilith's Brood. Throughout the series, the Oankali mention that the Human race is full of life and death, horror and beauty. Simultaneously, Lilith notices the subtle ways the Oankali treat the Humans. Their imprisonment isn't actively aggressive, but it's an aggressiveness hidden in kindness. "And they had done it all so softly, without brutality, and with patience and gentleness so corrosive..." (67). Also, when the ooloi and the humans are fighting, Lilith describes it as "gentle chaos."