There are many myths present in Gethenian culture, and what I have observed is that the myths all sort of re-occur more than once in order to align with the plot. For example, one myth that is mentioned very early on is the Place Inside the Blizzard, which basically talks about how after one kemmering brother committed suicide, and the other was banished, both brothers reunited in a place inside of the storm of the planet of Gethen. I think a big part of myths in this world is about seeking to express or explain the attitudes of Gethenians when it comes to things they don’t necessarily agree with. The world was against siblings vowing kemmering so they told a story of what happened to people who once tried that. Later on, I am not sure exactly the chapter (I believe 15 or 16), Estraven and Genly are making their way to Karhide crossing glacier and Genly is worrying about whether or not they will survive the cold and Estraven mentions possibly finding the Place Inside the Blizzard. The fact that Estraven brings up this tale again can be a sign of how widely known myths are in the society, and possibly how many people actually think they are true.
-Brooke Sasse
Wow! I really didn't realize Estraven's reference to a past chapter. Anyways, the "place inside the blizzard" does seem to be a symbol of safety from the expectations of fellow Gethenians. I find it very interesting that the myths serve as small anecdotes. Although I am not entirely sure, I believe they are used to emphasize the unique characters that have lived on Gethen and bent the traditional rules of the land. In that chapter, the brothers vowed kemmering to each other which was forbidden by law. In another story later in the novel, two individuals from opposite nations in the middle of a war vow kemmering even though their countries are enemies.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting and logical theory you have! I never looked at it in a way where Gethenian myths were used to signify Gethen's most valued principles and morals. For example, how suicide on Winter is seen as the ultimate sin, and Ursula LeGuin created a whole chapter, the Place Inside the Blizzard, to illustrate the lawlessness of taking one's own life by developing a Gethenian myth on two kemmering brothers. I also believe that the Place Inside the Blizzard correlates to Estraven's life because he was also in kemmer with his brother and bore a child together. In addition, Estraven's brother died (I don't know if it was by suicide though) and so did Getheren's brother, Hode, in Chapter 2.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your point of view! Another big part of the myths that I noticed is how it always being Winter in Gethen is a huge factor in the myths and tales. For example in the myth you mentioned the Place Inside the Blizzard it obviously took place in a cold storm, instead it could've been in a dessert, or a rainforest, or anywhere else. As well as in the second myth you mentonied, again it had something to do with the cold. The glaciers. They could've been crossing a mountain or something else of that sort.
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