Content area

Abstract

The reversals and subversions that occur in the last three Earthsea books entail more than simply presenting women in roles usually occupied by men or vice versa. [...]in addition to choosing the ordinary life of a housewife, Tenar, now a widow with grown children, is also a dragon lord, at least as defined by Ged: "One whom the dragons will speak with" (Tombs 95). (Tehanu 32) The short story "The Finder" directly contradicts this observation. [...]the protagonist of the story, Otter or Medra, trains a woman to be his replacement as the Finder of Roke. Le Guin rewrites the story of Elfarran in the appendix of Tales, revisioning both this woman and the use of the Old Powers. Since Elfarran is presented first as Earthsea's version of Helen of Troy, a re-vision of Helen's story is also achieved, making this re-write something of a triple play. [...]she meets Ged, Tenar has known men only as warriors or eunuchs.) Sam Gamgee, the Everyman (or Everyhobbit) of The Lord of the Rings also chooses partnership and domesticity, and is not scorned for his choice. [...]Tenar's explanation, in Tehanu, as to why she chose obscurity, when she could have lived the life of a princess in the court of kings, is more of Le Guin's "revisionist," or revelatory history.

Details

Title
WITCHES, WIVES AND DRAGONS: THE EVOLUTION OF THE WOWEN IN URSULA K. LE GUIN'S EARTHSEA-AN OVERVIEW
Author
Rawls, Melanie A
Pages
129-149,221
Publication year
2008
Publication date
Spring 2008
Publisher
Mythopoeic Society
ISSN
01469339
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
749970890
Copyright
Copyright Mythopoeic Society Spring 2008