Ursula K. Le Guin uses the setting of Gethen to symbolize isolation and loneliness. The constant cold climate of Gethen, so to say that the season of winter is persistent in this world, contributes to these themes of isolation and loneliness. These themes are found in different events throughout the book that share the freezing similarity.
The first prominent evidence of the themes of isolation and loneliness are found in Chapter 2, The Place Inside The Blizzard. This chapter describes a story of a kemmering relationship. One of the partners is sent into exile as a result of the significant other’s suicide. The exiled one faces this isolation away from the rest of society and goes on into the cold atmosphere of Gethen. In the midst of a blizzard, he comes across the soul, or spirit, of his partner (page 25). The down-to-earth connection between the exiled one and his partner has been severed, leaving both to face loneliness. The blizzard is the cold-themed barrier that shows this division between the two.
Reading the novel, more and more situations reflect the cold weather of Gethen. Genly Ai, for one, is a person who has come from another planet. He is mostly by himself within the cold winter climate of Gethen, thus evincing the theme of loneliness. The exile of Estraven also has his character faced with the freezing climate. The separate experiences of both characters have their own representation of loneliness.
On a separate observation, kemmering appears to be a “warm” bonding between two people. One who does not share a partner in kemmering is not able to experience this “warmth”. In a sense, those without a mate for kemmering can be characterized to feel the cold absence of this bond.
Wow, I never thought of the kemmering bond as being "warm" to the point that it would be the safe hold that the bond will escape from isolation. I liked how you used that chapter in this discussion because I also used it in my discussion of the theme in my blogpost
ReplyDeleteYou make excellent points about how the author uses symbolism of isolation and loneliness that I never though of. In addition the part where you adding kemmering being a symbol of warmth never crossed my mind. I always thought kemmering was just a way to reproduce and bond. As you can see both Genly Ai and Estraven have both been cast off into isolation and loneliness but somehow they ended up together. So maybe they symbolize the possibility of Winter becoming less isolated and lonely because as we know Winter does join Ekumen in around 5 years.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Avram and Alex. That's a pretty awesome observation about kemmering. But I still think that it's still seen as "cold." I can't really agree with it being a "warm" experience when kemmering is done often and you can do it with many people. Different people. I see reproduction as something that is a warm experience, in our society since it is done with love. Reproduction in Gethen is done so heartlessly, as a routine.
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