Blog #5

I did not expect the book to end like that. Even though i found out that Estraven was going to die before I read it, it still took me by surprise because it was a sudden and simple death. I prefer books with happy endings or with a conclusion and afterward, so I have a clue what is going to happen. Le Guin probably ended it this way so our imaginations can continue the story. Maybe that is why on the very last page of the story p. “301” is missing the page number (unless it is a mistake).

Before I read chapter 20, I thought that Genly would go home after he accomplished his mission since Estraven is dead. Now I think he is going to stay in Karhide with Estraven’s family and Faxe, because when he saw the physician he said that he was glad that it wasn’t a man or a woman, it was a human. So I guess he is more comfortable with androgynes and Gethens would be more of a home to him than Earth. If he doesn’t stay in Karhide then maybe he will continue traveling to different planets to form more alliances.

Blog #4

After the chapter about the escape I found the book really boring, and reading it was kind of unbearable. It was really hard to concentrate on reading without getting distracted. And when I was reading in bed, it put me to sleep after a page or two . But chapter 17 and 18 is a lot better because more interesting information such as mind speech is reveal. In these past few chapters, I feel the love hate relationship between Estraven and Genry [mostly hate from Genry and love from Estraven]. Estraven is protective of Genry and Genry gives Estraven attitude. When I picture it in my head I think of them as husband and wife. Ch 17 was short but interesting, it sounds like other creation myths but then its also unique. In most creation myth I feel like the people start off in a utopia/ pure world for a while and then something happens, but in this one it’s from the beginning. It makes me feel like everyone is born with darkness and there is no such thing as being pure.

Also, why is Estraven in pain when he mindspeak with Genry? I wonder what happened to Arek, or why Estraven feels that way? If it's the same Arek from the previous chapter, is it because he feels guilty for letting him die?

Blog #3

Each time I read a chapter narrated by Estraven, I trust him more. Even though I am still a little suspicious of his motives, I actually feel like he really does want an alliance between his world and Genry’s worlds. What ever his true intentions are, I think he wants to help and protect Genry. And speaking of Estraven, is he Therem of Stok or Estre from chapter 9 because on p. 152 he said he “have thought continually of Estre” and “had again and again a sense of Arek’s presence.” But is that even possible? It was an east Karhidish tale and it happened a long time ago, unless a long time ago isn’t as long as they make it seem. Or maybe the people of that world live longer lives. If he is one of the Therem from chapter nine shouldn’t he or his son/father(depending on which one he is) be the King of Estre? And the son that Estraven is writing to, is that his son with Ashe or the other Therem from chapter 9 or a son with someone else like ? How many kemmering partners does he have/had? Two, three or four? 1. Ashe 2. Arek 3. Foreth(unless that’s another name for Ashe) 4. the first person that he vowed kemmer to(unless that was Arek)

I also find it ironic that the only people that I think are sincere are the Estravens(the traitors) besides Genry.

Blog #2

I realize that even though each chapter is confusing in different ways, the confusion eventually clears up in later chapters (such as kemmering). I don’t think any of the Estravens should be considered traitors because Arek only vowed kemmering with Therem of Stok. Therem of Estre only vowed peace and killed his three “brothers” who were trying to kill him, so it was just self-defense. And the Therem/Estraven from previous chapters didn’t seem to do anything wrong (I feel like his intentions were good, like he is trying to protect Genry or something along that line). In Ch. 9 both Estravens say that they we mortal enemies to Therem of Stok but they haven’t seen each other before. Even though they are “mortal enemies” the Estravens still vowed something to Therem, so I feel like those words are meaningless. Since they never seen one another before there is no real reason for them to actually hate each other because the feeling is not there. This reminds me a lot of the drama that happens in life because when a person hates someone, their friends usually hate that person too for no personal reason but just because their friend does. I think people should dislike someone only if they have their own reasons otherwise they are not being true to themselves or fair to the person being hated on. At the end of CH 10 when Genry is feeling uneasy or like something is off, I feel that way too because everything seems to go a little too smoothly, which seems suspicious.

Blog #1

Ch. 5 reminds me a lot of "Bead Women" because of the question about the meaning of life (p.60). In both stories there are negative views on the question, but it is presented differently. In "Bead Women", Beth knows the purpose of life but she is not allowed to tell people because they do not want to know and in The Left Hand of Darkness, the question is not answerable. I like the way Le Guin answers the question because it is more realistic. If they did know the meaning of life then that would mean they know everything, and what Faxe says about religion on p. 71 will be true. Everything will be facts instead of beliefs and opinions. If you know everything, what do you have to look forward to?

Although I am curious to learn about the unknown, I think it is better to leave some things a mystery. For example, if Lord Berosty rem ir Ipe (in Ch. 4) wasn’t so obsessed with finding out his death date, then maybe he would have lived longer (unless he is fated to die anyways). After reading the part about Erhenrang (p. 50) and how they keep everything at a slow pace, made me realize I don’t enjoy half the things I should. I am usually rushing from one place to another, even when I don’t have to because it is a habit. And since the people in the book are enjoying life slowly, the book is full of details and colors because they actually take to time to notice them.