The Gethenians have myths they live by and embrace strongly in their culture. These myths also continue in the novel and connect with other events that have or will happen. One myth that while reading made me feel affected by it was the Nineteenth Day. The Nineteenth day was a story of desperation and agony, then followed by murder and suicide. The importance of this myth is, that knowing our fate doesn't always give you better fortune or make life easier, but rather may hinder you from enjoying life or perhaps making your fate be what you want it. Lord Berosty let knowing the day and month of his death dictate his life, and maybe in the course of this all, anticipated his death. The Foretellers were right when they warned that everyone pays a price, Berosty had to live with knowing the day of his death and Herbor paid his own price for seeking knowledge of the future. From the passage I learned that foretelling is a dangerous path and there will always be a price to pay in this case death for them both.
Coincidently after this chapter, Genly Ai goes to Fastness to seek his own prophecy from the Foretellers, which made me think that there will be a price for Genly to pay. As all the other myths, the events that follow next are foreshadowed by them.
Let me know what you guys think.
Yooo, I was really affected by the Ninteenth Day too and it's probably my favorite myth/tale so far. I think that it has an important lesson that we can relate to, unlike most of the other stories. This one deals with knowing the future or our fate but at the same time, it shows that we are technically in charge of what happens to us. Also, I love the psychological aspect of it. Like, did it happen because he asked or would it have happened anyway even if he didn't? Was it supposed to happen that way? It's pretty cool when you start really thinking about it. But yeah, I totally agree with you.
ReplyDeleteYeah I think that myth was especially relatable to our Earthly lives.There's definitely going to be some price to pay or it's not going to turn out as expected by the time the prophecy is fulfilled. I think Gethen is going to join the Ekumen but for all the wrong reasons, like trying to gain advantage in the war between the countries. I feel like things are slowly becoming more and more chaotic in the book which is going to lead to something tragic, because all good books have some tragedy in them.
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