While reading the novel, The Left Hand of Darkness, I didn't really make the connection between Gethen's weather and the theme of isolation; however, I remember Ms. Fletcher and Mrs. Vanderbaan talking about how the recent rain and weather makes us want to stay home where it's warm and comfortable. We stay indoors because the weather outside is too cold and unpleasant for us; we are often isolated from everyone else.
Similarly, the constant, harsh environment prevents Gethenians from interacting with each other. Genly notes that "they are not a people who hurry" (41). This suggests that the weather discourages Gethenians from rushing and communicating with each other. They lack the energy necessary to be bustling about. Isolationism is a result of this lack of energy.
In an entry written by a previous Investigator, the environment gets brought up again. As she explains why war is such a rare concept to Gethenians, she believes that "the dominant factor in Gethenian life is not sex or any other human thing: it is their environment" (96). By saying this, she is able to emphasize the impact of the weather on Gethenians' personality and their life style. It shows that who they are is defined by their cold environment. These people have become so used to surviving on their own. They don't fight each other because they are too busy protecting themselves. They don't interact as much because that, once again, takes energy.
Lastly, chapter two ties together both coldness and isolationism because it features a person who got exiled (Getheren?) and his journey on the freezing planet. I think this draws a literal example of coldness and loneliness, but I am sure there is a more figurative importance to it.
I agree with your points. I think the Gethenians are so focused on fighting the cold and simply getting through each day that they do not attempt to interact more than they have to interact. Now I am further in the novel, I see more examples of isolationism because of the cold. When Genly and Estraven are trekking across the Ice, they talk less when it becomes colder. They have less energy to talk with each other and sometimes they are unable to because the cold freezes their breath. Instead they think more and become more isolated in that moment.
ReplyDeleteKayla, you bring up a very good example of coldness and isolation that I didn't get to when I first posted this blog. Their whole journey was battling the snow and cold terrain, and we got to see instances where the weather and being exhausted prevented them from sharing with each other.
DeleteI as well agree with your points. It honestly relates to how we interact, whenever it's cold and rainy everyone has one destination and that's finding some place warm and dry.
ReplyDelete