Wave Two

I think the idea of cold has multiple connotation than just the temperature.  Often I associate kindness and belonging with warmth.  Le Guin choosing to create this world that is always cold is interesting because it establishes this underlying feeling of loneliness throughout the story.  Cold is an uncomfortable feeling and I think that creates a  general uncomfortability in the novel.  It almost hurts to be cold and I think that adds to the loneliness of the planet.   I have never thought of cold as something friendly and that is way the book is just so lonely.  Le Guin was very smart about her choices.  I think she wanted the planted and the novel to be lonely.  By Le Guin literally showing cold in her novel she makes the overall mood lonely  Loneliness because of cold is also shown through the characters. Genly is very lonely the planet and he is obviously not a fan of the cold.  “I (Genly) longed for anonymity, for sameness.” (8).   This part of the book starts to show just how lonely he is on this planet.  Genly talks about how he has never been warm in the planet in a few chapters.  This is probably meant literally but I think that Genly is also talking about friendship.  Genly has never felt welcomed or friendship on Winter.  The people of Winter are in general cold people.  They are not very welcoming to Genly because he is strange and different.  This adds to the coldness of Winter.