The theme of isolation and loneliness is supported by the constant cold in Gethen because
of the way that it makes Genly feel. Genly Ai is not used to the cold weather and temperature
like everyone else in Gethen. Genly already struggles to fit in because of his appearance and they
way he is formed. The fact that everyone else can tolerate this cold except him is another factor
that makes Genly feel alienated in Gethen. The cold only limits his interactions with the
Gethenians.
To me, when someone is cold they are unemotional and lacking affection. In Gethen it is cold year
round. The people are cold year round. Another way that the constant cold contributes to the
theme of isolation is because harsh cold conditions often restrict people. Whether it's restricting
them from interacting with other people or from simply going outside. In Genly’s case, his lack
of tolerance for cold forces him to become isolated from everyone else. In other words, the cold
isolates Genly from the people of Gethen forcing him into loneliness, and since the cold is
year round, Genly will forever be distanced from everyone else. The cold not only represents
the physical conditions that separates the Gethenians and Genly, but it represents the feeling
shared between them as well.
of the way that it makes Genly feel. Genly Ai is not used to the cold weather and temperature
like everyone else in Gethen. Genly already struggles to fit in because of his appearance and they
way he is formed. The fact that everyone else can tolerate this cold except him is another factor
that makes Genly feel alienated in Gethen. The cold only limits his interactions with the
Gethenians.
To me, when someone is cold they are unemotional and lacking affection. In Gethen it is cold year
round. The people are cold year round. Another way that the constant cold contributes to the
theme of isolation is because harsh cold conditions often restrict people. Whether it's restricting
them from interacting with other people or from simply going outside. In Genly’s case, his lack
of tolerance for cold forces him to become isolated from everyone else. In other words, the cold
isolates Genly from the people of Gethen forcing him into loneliness, and since the cold is
year round, Genly will forever be distanced from everyone else. The cold not only represents
the physical conditions that separates the Gethenians and Genly, but it represents the feeling
shared between them as well.
I agree. The cold contributes to Genly's feeling of isolation because he is not physically built to withstand the cold easily, but all of the Gethenians there are. He is the only one aside from sick or old people that does not feel comfortable in the cold.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the cold contributing to Genly's feelings. Not only is he not used to the cold physically, but he is also distanced from the Gethenians due to their very non similar characteristics. Those who are cold lack emotion and feel disconnected. Personally, I think that Genly will never feel connected to the Gethenians, due to the year round coldness. The feelings shared between Genly and the Gethenians are harsh, and it is ultimately a planet of isolation and darkness.
ReplyDeleteAs I read your post, I realize that since the book is mostly narrated by Genley, and as you said, he is different than the rest of the population - his perspective of the world makes it seem extremely harsh and lonely. Since he is a foreigner who is not familiar with Gethenian life, he feels disconnected from the people and the society making his perception of the world as isolated and lonely. As readers, we see the world from his perspective.
ReplyDelete