Question H

[Jonetta]

Is it feasible at any level that the members of the Tranquility commune were unaware of the incestuous relationship between Pike and his daughter, Tabitha?

[Charlene]

One might hope so. Perhaps the women felt that Tabitha was just the daughter of privilege, who lived her life on such a higher plane of existence that they saw no real evidence of incest. I'm not sure the men, other than Pike's son, would have thought deeply about what they saw or suspected. I shudder to think what would have happened in the community when the children became teens.

[Jonetta]

I don't believe for a minute no one knew they were sleeping together. Tabitha could barely hide her obsessiveness and jealousy over her father. It would have been hard to miss.

[Charlene]

I got the impression that the incestuous relationship between father and daughter did not involve full intercourse, because Tabitha was concerned that her dad's seed would be planted in Honor. Perhaps the use of condoms just didn't figure in the story or I missed it. Nonetheless, one gathers that there was mutual "satisfaction," one way or another. We just get the father's outlined, a male point of view emphasized here.

[Jonetta]

There was one scene in particular where Pike pretty much made it clear he had intercourse with her.

[Charlene]

I might have missed that, if it was clearly indicated. Not a huge difference all in all, though.

[Quynh]

I think some of the members would notice the incest. They just can't comment on it publicly or to Alden, otherwise, that would mean they had to "disappear". Their relationship grossed me out, I wanted to take a shower any time sexual things were mentioned between them.

[Jonetta]

Yeah, after seeing the wives "disappear," there was no way anyone would say anything. And, they were complicit in the abduction of the other women so who were they to throw stones.

[Quynh]

Exactly. Either follow the leader or die. Certainly scary. I wonder if any of the men felt regret once they joined and realize they couldn't leave.

[Jonetta]

I didn't get the sense, especially as what we learned through the eyes of the women, they were content because they were older with young women who were forced to do whatever they wanted.

[Quynh]

Good point. What man would question his way of living if a woman was doing his every bidding. :/

[Charlene]

We surely do agree that the father-daughter relationship was unhealthy {and morally reprehensible} on many levels. It seems we also agree that any men who thought about it were, as Quynh puts it, turning blind eyes to what "everyone knew" but not questioning their positions of privilege. Yukky, and also, I wanted a shower after some of the grisly thoughts of the daughter came forth.

[Kris (My Novelesque Life)]

I agree, everyone knew but stayed silent out of fear and their own reasons.