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The Left Hand Of Darkness Literary Analysis

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The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula Le Guin is the story of Genly Ai’s trip to Gethen, a cold, icy planet inhabited by androgynous people. Genly was sent to this planet by the Ekumen, an interplanetary organization that encourages the exchange of goods and ideas, to introduce the Gethenians to the organization and its technological advances. When he arrives in Karhide (one of the countries on Gethen), he meets Argaven and Estraven, the country’s king and chancellor, respectively. The next day, Argaven refuses the Ekumen’s offer, and he informs Genly that Estraven has been exiled. Genly then journeys to Orgoreyn, a country adjacent to Karhide, to tell the people there about the Ekumen. He soon meets the thirty-three Commensals who rule Orgoreyn. …show more content…
He is willing to introduce the Ekumen to a new planet, meaning he is clearly courageous; he mentions that several previous messengers were received as invaders and killed. Genly initially views the planet and the Gethenians as alien. In particular, he believes the people’s androgynous lifestyle makes their society completely different from his own. However, by bonding with Estraven, Genly learns that sexual and other external differences are illusory, and that people from very diverse backgrounds have a lot in common. Estraven, the book’s other major character, is driven by his duty to benefit his planet. Estraven wants to prevent the current tension between Karhide and Orgoreyn from escalating, and he believes the Ekumen’s technology and oversight will help with this. Thus his integrity causes him to help Genly with his mission. Additionally, he learns to express himself and finally communicate with Genly, a completely different person. While the book does not focus heavily on Argaven, he seems to be a highly irrational character. He initially refuses Genly’s offer to join the Ekumen because he believes Genly is a liar trying to cease power, and he hears no further explanation. Yet by the end of the book, he suddenly accepts Genly’s proposal while saying that Genly was somehow serving him all

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