The Left Hand of Darkness - Essay Example

Persuasive essay The various themes that figure prominently in “The Left Hand of Darkness”, “Dune” and “1984” are discussed below Geographic Location : Journey as symbol In “The Left Hand of Darkness”, an envoy from Earth is sent to a distant planet called Gethen (also called Winter) in order to persuade its people to join the league of Planets for the purpose of sharing communications, knowledge and trade. “Dune” is set far in the future amidst a sprawling intergalactic empire where noble House control planetary fiefdoms that owe allegiance to Imperial House Corrino. The events of the novel 1984 (published in 1949) take place in 1984 in an imaginary future totalitarian state called Oceania that is ruled by a group known as the Party whose leader and dictator is Big Brother. The journey (portrayed in all 3 novels) is one of literature’s most prominent archetypal symbols, telling of man’s journey through life. The journey, which is usually difficult and risky, is a learning experience, through which the hero-traveler searches for an answer to the meaning of life and his own place in the world. By the end of the journey, the traveler gains maturity and self-awareness. One of the most famous journeys of antiquity, and one that has become a symbol for many others, is in Homer’s The Odyssey in which Odysseus, triumphant after his conquest of Troy, travels for ten painful and arduous years to reach home, a metaphor for his soul and his anima. 2) Truth Truth cannot change because it does not reflect a personal perspective. Both “1984” and “The Left Hand of Darkness” illustrate how humans relate towards themselves, friends, families and humanity as a whole. “Being in a minority, even a minority of one did not make you mad. There was truth and there was untruth, and if you clung to truth even against the whole world, you were not mad” (Pg. 173, 1984). It allowed Winston to fight against the Party. In “The Left Hand of Darkness” Ai knew that eventually the people of Gethen would accept the truth, but it would only take time. “One voice speaking the truth is greater force than fleets and armies, given time” (Pg. 27, The Left Hand of Darkness). Truth cannot be changed by man but can only be distorted. “The shortcomings are in the messenger, not the message” (Pg.106, The Left Hand of Darkness). “Everything faded into mist. The past was erased, the erasure was forgotten, the lie became the truth” (Pg.64, 1984). 3) Friendship A friend serves the purpose of helping you survive. In “1984” Winston had only one friend left after the interrogation – O’Brien, who took charge of the process of “reintegrating” Winston, torturing and brainwashing him until he totally believed in the Party and its doctrines. “He was the tormentor, the protector, he was the inquisitor, he was the friend”, commented Winston (Pg.201, 1984). Ai and Estraven were friends who helped each other get through hard times. “Estraven and I had simply arrived at the point where we share whatever we had that was worth sharing” (Pg.247, The Left Hand of Darkness). 4) Human Control over Ecology The emphasis on ecological ideas has made “Dune” a provocative departure from previous science fiction. To exist in the harsh desert climate of Arrakis, the Fremen must be keenly attuned to sociological issues such as the availability of water, the proximity of giant sandworms and unstable weather patterns. Dr. Kynes, an ecologist, attempts to transform the ecosystem of Arrakis from a desert to fertile land. No character in “Dune” questions whether it is morally right to change the climate of Arrakis. 5) Acceptance of the Other into the Self The need to overcome “otherness”, to reach beyond it, to accept the Other wholeheartedly and to encompass the Other into the Self, is the central theme of “The Left Hand of Darkness”. Ai craved to be a part of the whole. “I was named, known, recognized; I existed. It was an intense relief. I followed by leader gladly” (Pg.112, The Left Hand of Darkness). In “1984” Julia wanted to be a part of a group that hated the Party. When Winston asked her what attracted him to her, she said: “It was something in your face. I thought I’d take a chance. I’m good at spotting people who don’t belong. As soon as I saw you I knew you were against them” (Pg.128, 1984). 6) Theme of Love Le Guin’s book is an unusual love story where the lovers are not from usual feuding families but from different planets. They are aliens – different from each other in every possible way (mentally, culturally, physically), yet they find the way to mutual understanding and true love. In most ways, this is a tale of impossible love: the first one between brothers Estraven and his brother Arek that ends in the latter’s suicide; and the second between two aliens, inhabitants of different worlds, which too ends with death. The theme of love – impossible love – figures in the novel 1984 as well. Winston and Julia begin a clandestine love affair although any sexual relationship between Party members is strictly prohibited; their act thus becomes a political act against the state. Their love comes to a tragic end when, during the horrific process of brainwashing and torture, Winston is forced to betray his love for Julia, and his feelings for her are destroyed. “But it was alright, everything was alright, the struggle was finished. He had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother” (Pg.300, 1984) It must be mentioned here that Le Guin offers a new definition of love that does not call for the unification of the lovers, or for sexual consummation (an ironic comment on Freud’s concept that sex is the basis of intimacy), but for total acceptance by each of the other person, with all his differences, as he is. 7) Gender, Androgyny and Unisex These themes are unique in “The Left Hand of Darkness”. To create a planet whose inhabitants are ambisexual, men and women in one, is Le Guin’s most original invention. When men and women become completely equal, they become the same (menwomen) who possess the qualities of both male and female. The theme of androgyny or hermaphroditism (having the characteristics of both male and female) as a symbol of wholeness can be found in many myths, most notably Plato’s Symposium, where Aristophanes tells the fable of angelic, eight-limbed creatures. Le Guin’s unisex eliminates what Simone de Beauvoir considers woman’s inferior status and expoitation as the “second sex”. In “Dune” the Bene Gesserit is the secretive female society with mental and physical powers developed through thousands of generations of controlled gene lines and many years of physical and mental conditioning called prana-bindu training. When a Bene Gesserit acolyte becomes a full Reverend mother by undergoing the Agony she gains her ‘ancestral memories’ – the complete life experience of an infinite line of female ancestors. Paul worries that the Bene Gesserit’s plan to reinvigorate the human gene pool can be accomplished only through jihad, or war that will spread across the universe. 8) Religion and Power Many science-fiction authors consider religion as an outdated institution that will eventually lose its direct control over society. Frank Herbert’s “Dune” has a feudal government system where religion has a very strong presence in everyday life and politics. Kynes’ father exploits religion as a method to control the Fremen. Paul’s adept interpretation of religion allows him to rise to the position of Emperor. In “1984” the St. Clement’s Church picture is a double symbol. For Winston, it symbolizes a stolen past, but it also symbolizes the Party’s complete power and betrayal of humanity, since the picture hides the tele-screen by which the Party monitors Winston when he believes himself to be safe. 9) Precognition, Doublethink One of the more distinctive aspects of the environment in “Dune” is the existence of precognition, or knowledge about events that have not yet occurred. The mystical ability of certain human beings to see into the future brings element of fantasy into the novel. The characters with precognitive powers are Paul and members of Bene Gesserit. Paul’s precognition gives him control to shape events in the present to attain the results he desires. Of all his powers, precognition is the most useful, as well as the most terrifying. He is concerned about having too much control over people, but he also feels driven to achieve his ultimate goal of gaining control over the universe. In “1984” Doublethink is the ability to maintain two contradictory ideas in one’s head simultaneously and believe them both to be true; it functions as a psychological mechanism that explains people’s willingness to accept control over their memories and their post. Doublethink is crucial to the Party’s control of Oceania because it enables the Party to alter historical records and pass off distorted versions as authentic. The brainwashed populace no longer recognized contradiction; instead, it accepts the Party’s version of the past as accurate, even though that representation may change from minute to minute. 10) The Future Le Guin takes her idea of harmony between the male and female principles onto a national level: her planet Gethen reflects the integration of, and the balance between, the only two nations on the planet. The novel “1984” presents an imaginary future where a totalitarian state controls every aspect of life, even people’s thoughts. In “Dune” Kynes and his father hope to bring paradise back to Arrakis, turning it from a desert planet to a lush, green world. In the future society depicted in the novel, relatives inherit more than wealth. The “sins of the father” often pass to the children as well. Inheritance is important to both males and females for preserving knowledge and power. Conclusion All three books show that relationships between humans may be different, but the principles are the same; the relationships we build with others is a reflection of our beliefs of truth and humanity. Another lesson to be learnt from these books is that if human beings fight the natural order of life, whether through the environment or genetic codes, the results can be dire, even if repercussions are not felt until far off in future. References used: Herbert, Frank. Dune. USA. Ace/Chilton. 1965. Le Guin, Ursula K. The Left Hand of Darkness. USA. Ace. 1969. Orwell, George. 1984. USA. Harcourt. 1949. Truth and Darkness – 1984 and The Left Hand of Darkness. Planet Papers. 25 April 2006. Read More