myths aka hearth tales

In The Left Hand of Darkness, by Ursula Le Guin, there are a couple chapters where instead of continuing the plot of the story we encounter some myths. These myths are considered folk tales which the Getheniens refer to as hearth tales. The hearth tale of the two brothers is when we are introduced to what is known as "kemmering." Kemmering in a way is like being in heat but also what their intercourse is called. Through this we learn a bit more of the way the Gethenien culture is. Following the fact that they are androgynous, they are also unprejudiced about individuals sex. They also do not shame incest. They do have restrictions though. The two siblings may kemmer together but they cannot vow oath to each other which is like marriage on earth. No life-long incestuous relationships are allowed. When one of the brothers, Hode, hears they are not allowed to remain together he commits suicide. When the news of Hode's suicide went around, Getheren, the other brother, is driven out of town into the coldest place. This also represents the Gethenien culture and how severely they shame and close people off after shameful acts such as suicide or whatever it may be. He ends up finding his brother who has committed suicide there. He tries to capture him but he gets way. He ends up having to amputate his left hand and after this happens his old town begins to prosper again after their famine. These myths are not coincidences but reveal characteristic of the Gethenien culture and they also foreshadow the rest of the book.