When I first read the first myth I was completely confused. Where did it come from? Just a random side story out of nowhere. Slowly things started piecing together as you read more and more and how these mini stories teach us their cultures, background, and surroundings.
The first myth with the two brothers, Hode and Getheren fall into Kemmer (I believe this is the first time they introduce Kemmer as well) and want to pledge to be together. They couldn't be brothers in kemmer until one produces an offspring and at that point they'll have to break up. When they were forced to break up Hode committed suicide and that was looked upon very poorly by the Gethen culture. They also make references on how cold it is at Hearth and how he gets frostbitten and nearly dies. He enters a place where the trees are pure white and even his arms are pure white, and suddenly he can move his arms again! Hode comes out of nowhere basically and says this is the land of the suicide and asks Getheren to stay with him; however, because Hode committed suicide and broke a promise, Getheren rejected his offer. Hode tries to keep him there, however, Getheren breaks free and escapes with only one injury: his left arm. Eventually the arm is amputated and Getheren hides away and the ending is a little cliche and weird. He hides away tells a traveler on their way to Hearth that he takes his name and information. All of a sudden Getehren dies and Hearth prospers again!
What I found most interesting was the left hand being the main body part that was injured and how it was amputated. It made me think back to the title LEFT HAND OF DARKNESS. And also I believe that the place that the brothers met will play a big part in the story.
THEORY AND MAYBE SPOILERS IF NOT CHAPTER 18 YET:
Estraven mentions his brother in chapter 18. I believe something "deja vu" is going to happen and something similar will happen to Estraven. I don't recall any other main character with a brother in the novel so I believe that the first myth has to do something with Estraven. Hopefully he doesn't lose a left arm :D !
I was going to write almost exactly the same thing as you! I also thought about the connection of his left hand being amputated to the title of the book and the possibility of reading about the setting in that chapter again.
ReplyDeleteAt first these myths were confusing for me as well. I didn't quite understand why they were placed in the middle of the actual storyline of the rest of the book. However, this made reading them a little more interesting. Like most people, these stories eventually started to make sense and really helped readers understand things that occur in the Gethan culture.
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