The Significance of the Poem Recited by Estraven on Page 233 of the Book The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin Essay

In Ursula K. Le Guins The Left Hand of Darkness, what is the significance of the poem recited by Estraven on page 233? How does it reflect on the significance of Estravens character in the book?Even though this poem making mention of the title of the book, darkness has some obvious metaphoric importance within the story. Estraven is often referred to as a shadow, even literally so against the unshadow they cross in chapter eighteen, because of his status as a traitor in hiding as well as the fact that he takes coarse actions, like deceiving Genly Ai, for the greater good. The concept of yin-yang, the tandem existence of light and darkness, is also brought up during this adventure through the cold. The poem suggests that darkness cannot exist without light they are always together and cannot exist separately. A shadow, then, is a convergence of light and darkness light is cast upon an object and creates a shadow behind it. I think the poem is telling us that Estraven is the convergence of light and darkness he is the essence of the concept that these two do not exist without each other, and it presents Estraven as proof.In the same book, do Estraven and Genly Ai ever fall in romantic love? Is it possible to know whether or not they do?This is a difficult question to answer because there is obvious sexual tension between the two characters, especially throughout their journey in the cold and even more so when Estraven enters his kemmer phase. Genly Ai describes their relationship as follows on page 249 a friendship so much needed by us both in our exile, and already so well proved in the days and nights of our bitter journey, that it might as well be called, now as later, love. Love is not a term used lightly, but it is also never forced to be romantic. In a different section, they almost appear...