The Left Hand of Darkness

When I consider politics today, I’m often disgusted by what I see. Whether it’s due to the hatred and bigotry or the fear-mongering and outright lies, I’m genuinely shocked by the prejudices that continue running rampant in our society.

For this past election season’s October surprise, a caravan of immigrants, many of whom were families seeking asylum, were framed by politicians as being a massive security threat to the United States. Coupled with the media’s coverage of it, they succeeded in drawing attention to the issue and expanding our fear of the “other.” Unfortunately for those who remain unprejudiced, this type of slander and fear mongering is nothing new. There has yet been a time where we, as a society, have wholly succeeded in purging ourselves from the bigotry and intolerance that holds us captive, as it relates to race, religion, nationality, gender, or sexual orientation. Perhaps we never will. However, regardless of our preconceptions, it remains true that these “other” groups pose no more a threat than we do to ourselves. In fact, nearly all data suggest both documented and undocumented immigrants commit fewer crimes than native-born citizens. It is clear, then, when it comes to this group or any other, that our fears are entirely unsubstantiated. So while there is a deeply held stigma of these people being different, and therefore somehow worse than us, reality suggests, when it comes to the things that matter, they are no different after all. The majority is merely frightened by the harmless minority that threatens to change their status quo. I wonder then, what happens when the minority becomes the majority?

In The Left Hand of Darkness, Ursula K. Le Guin asks this very question. Exploring the impact androgyny plays on culture, the novel follows the mission of Genly Ai as he endeavors to recruit the people of the planet Gethen, an androgynous race capable of being both male and female, to join the Ekumen. The reader quickly learns the obvious differences in culture not only between the Gethenians and Ai, but also between the individual Gethenian countries. Generally, they seem to be a more peaceful people with different political structures, mating rituals, social customs, and more. Nevertheless, it is hard to say whether these differences stem from variations in physiology or other factors such as the planet’s climate. For example, the absence of war may be a result of their lack of pure masculinity or the extreme cold that permeates their way of life, as fighting against someone else is rather difficult when you’re busy fighting against the weather and trying to stay alive. In any case, Ai has trouble living among the Gethenians, often unable to grasp how they see the world and interpret their behavior. His mission, however, demands otherwise.

In order for Ai to succeed in recruiting the Gethenians, he must find a way to be welcomed into their society by acting as they might expect him too. Ai, nonetheless, seems incapable of viewing their world in any way other than from his position as a man, persistently assigning them gender roles and deeming them more masculine or feminine. By projecting his worldview onto them, he tries to force a connection between their cultures over a characteristic that is simply immutably different, skewing his understanding of them even though they do, in fact, have many things in common. This reflects how ingrained our ideas of gender are, as though there is much that connects us, this small detail acts as a major barrier to acceptance. In this sense, it would seem that people define themselves by the differences apparent in those around them. This is not inherently a bad thing, but if one sees themself as so entirely different, they may feel cut off from those around them or try to force such a connection in areas where the other party is unable to change. This only serves to perpetuate a cycle of misunderstanding while further preventing true awareness of the other’s culture. Thus, because this understanding is paramount to the fulfillment of Ai’s mission, a change in his rationale was necessary.

After nearly dying in Orgoreyn, Ai is rescued by Estraven, who proceeds to accompany him across a great icefield in their return to Karhide. For months, the two were each other’s only company, growing closer through their shared perils. In this time, Ai finally begins comprehend Estraven and the Gethenians’ motivations. Moreover, though it is true he discovered many things that they had common, it is from their differences that love came. Thus, their differences, rather than their similarities, expanded Ai’s view of the universe and served as a bridge across what divided them. It could be argued, then, as it pertains to the real world, that it is our unique characteristics that make us strong together. At the same time, however, it is clear when the Gethenians join and interact with the Ekumen missionaries at the end that, like the races in the novel, we are not so different after all, for, at our core, we share the same fundamental values.

Ultimately, the The Left Hand of Darkness demonstrates how to navigate cultures different from our own and reveals how necessary such interaction is for a growing mind and nation. Never has this been more relevant than in today’s political climate, where fear of other peoples continue to spread. I ask that we consider, then, that just as the Ekumen grow stronger with the addition of the Gethenians, so too can we Americans grow from the integration and appreciation of other cultures, for though we appear different on the surface, it is from those differences that we draw strength, while underneath it all, we remain united.