This essay serves to examine the novel; Left Hand of Darkness as a novel which challenges “our” normal worldviews. In an attempt to do so, a few themes in the novel will be discussed. LeGuin in her expanded definition of science fiction outlines that one of the essential functions of science is to ask provocative and essential questions, which reverse our habitual way of thinking. This poses a threat of how difficult it is now to accept reality as a given, fixed, and unchangeable entity.

Ursula LeGuin in her novel, examines the word truth and takes the reader through a journey into the world of imagination, the world of the unreal a

Le Guin, Ursula.1969: The Left Hand of Darkness, England, Clays Ltd.St Ives plc

This further gives way to the idea or theme of “self and other” wherein Genly Ai figure represent the “self”. Originally from earth, he fails to form a mutual understanding with Gethenians but rather want to understand them from earth standard and perspective. This results in him seeing them as strangers and fails to accept anything that is “other”, in this case the Gethenians.

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