Gethenian culture is not complicated to explain in the earlier chapters but is quite odd and leaves me cringing a bit. In Chapter Two "The Place Inside the Blizzard" we learn that gethanians reproduce by kemmering and in the folktale that was told in this chapter two brothers that have loved each other can vow Kemmer but not vow kemmering because to vow kemmering between siblings is forbidden.
This tells us that gethanian society is similar to our because we see incest as a taboo.
This folktale relates to Estraven because he once had a brother he loved but commited suicide because they could never vow kemmering.
In Chapter 17 "An Orgata Creation Myth" tells us the creation of the gethenian people.
In this myth the gethenian people were basically born in a house of flesh built by Edondurath,
He is the "person" who killed the many who haven't awoken from there slumber, only one person was able to escape. The person who escaped came back to Edondurath and vowed kemmering around the dead bodies of people around them which was the birth of the Gethenians, this is why Gethenians are always followed by death. This is a bit related to The king because Edondurath the (oldest) woke up alone acted in an egotistical isolated way fears his brothers awakening. The king is suspicious of Estraven until the alien Genly shows up which the king is feared of, the king suddenly starts to trust Estraven because he takes care of details in Genly.
The Myths and Folktales connect with the story very well and pieces everything together for people to understand, although they are separated by different chapters expect random epiphanies to pop up
an more interesting twists to be discovered.
That was a very great way to explain the book. Good job!
ReplyDeleteThat was a very great way to explain the book. Good job!
ReplyDelete