Valeria Ochoa Lopez - Wave Two

Genly Ai is always referring to the extreme cold, because as a human from Earth, he is more vulnerable to the harsh environment. The extreme cold environment of Gethen adds on to the theme of isolation that Genly constantly feels among the Gethenians, because it's similar to the feeling of loneliness. The experience of being alone and feeling isolated can often be a cold and harsh feeling, just like the freezing, and unforgiving environment of Gethen. When people are isolated, usually it causes discomfort and can leave an empty, cold feeling in that person's emotions and feelings. The environment is also the same to Genly's isolation because it is bitter, and proves how loneliness and isolation affects Genly's mission to unite the countries of Gethen with the Ekumen. For example, Genly is constantly known as the weird 'pervert' alien among a community of people who don't claim a certain gender, and doesn't really connect with any of the people there. He is there on a mission, but the paranoia of the people there constantly isolates him from people thinking good things about him. The only person that trusts Genly is Estraven, but Genly isolates himself from Estraven because he does not trust him. This feeling of being alone affects Genly by causing him to be a little bitter at the fact that nobody is listening to him, and instead treat him as though he is weird and a liar. When people are isolated, it can be a harsh and unforgiving feeling, especially when it seems like no one is listening to what you have to say.