Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Wave 3
In the Left Hand of Darkness, we are presented with several parables that somehow connect with the story. For example, in chapter 9, we get a parable called Estraven the Traitor. The chapter tells a tale of a man who gets lost while skiing and accidentally gets onto his enemy’s land. The Therem of Stok lets Estraven into his cabin and helps him warm up in order to save him. After they introduce themselves, they realize that they are mortal enemies. Estraven says “ We are mortal enemies. I would swear kemmering with you.” (126) They both vow kemmer to each other. If Estraven hadn’t gotten killed, he would have returned to his land only to become titled as a traitor for vowing kemmering with his enemy. This connects with the Estraven from the story because he himself gets exiled after being accused of being a traitor. (31) I also noticed that both Estravens’ vow kemmering with someone they are not supposed to —Estraven from the parable with his mortal enemy and Estraven from the story with his brother. Not only do they share their name, but they also share the title of being dishonorable. In cultures, most folktales usually work as a way to give some sort of advice to the people. Folktales try to teach people about morals and many more things like patience. Like for example, with the parable of the Nineteenth Day, you can infer that the folktale is somehow telling you to think before you ask a question or to think before you act. Lord Berosty’s actions resulted in the murder of the person who he vowed kemmer with. He let his anger get to him and at the end he ended up losing.
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ReplyDeleteI agree with your connection of chapter 9 to Estraven from the main story. When beginning the chapter, you would think from the title, Estraven the Traitor, that Le Guin is writing of the Estraven we all know; however, when continuing into the folktale you realize that it is of an Estraven of the past. This chapter illustrates the importance of Estraven's name that once belonged to a traitor, as himself.
ReplyDeleteI like how you related that both Estraven's vowed kemmering to someone they weren't supposed to. I never connected that. But we can see with both the Estraven's when they became a traitor. They suffered severe consequences. The Estraven of the past faced death. While the Estraven of now was kicked off his land to face death by someone else's hands.
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