The Narrative and Folktales Correspond

      The myths and folks presented in The Left Hand of Darkness have meanings that seem to foreshadow the events of this novel. For example, the myth called The Nineteenth Day suggests that the King of Karhide is mad. He uses fear to rule others and function so that dominance, shifgethor, and stability is secured. The tale of Estraven the Traitor indicates that Therem of Estre or Arek of Estre are similar or related to the Estraven in the narrative. First, Arek of Estre was in kemmer with Therem of Stok. These two nations were in dispute with each other. Then their child, Therem of Estre, made made peace with Stok and compromised half the disputed lands. Normally, the Domain of Estre would consider both Arek and Therem as traitors for showing kindness to their opponents. In the narrative, Estraven advocates peace between Karhide and Orgoreyn and Genly Ai's mission of the Ekumen's desire to establish an alliance with Gethen. Estraven is considered a traitor and is exiled out of Karhide. Fear of the Envoys mission and the desire of maintaining shifgrethor plays a role in this exilement. However, as the tale suggests, will Estraven be the one to end the feud between Karhide and Orgoreyn?
      Another tale is called the Place in the Blizzard. It symbolizes the situation that Genly and Estraven are in after the Pulefen farm burden. They decide to go north and cross the Gobrin where its freezing cold and snowy. In the tale, a brother pledged kemmer to his brother who later committed suicide because society did not allow siblings to keep kemmer until a child was born. This gives us an idea of Gethenian culture and their beliefs. Apparently, the Gethen culture also believes that suicide is a mischevious act. In the tale, the other brother was blamed and was exiled from his homeland. He goes through the harsh conditions of a cold and snowy region called the Pering Ice. This journey is similar to Genly and Estravens journey. The brother seems to find his kemmer; the brother who was supposedly dead in this place in the blizzard. He does not want to stay with his kemmer because he believes that the vow was broken by the suicide. Estraven in the narrative was angry at his kemmer, Ashe, because of the belief that he broke the vow when he ran to be a Celibate for the Foretellers.  In the tale, the brother runs away from his kemmer and is lost in the snow to the point of death. People find him and he eventually survives. Now in the narrative, it does not seem as if Genly and Estraven will survive but maybe the tale alluded us that their perseverance will allow them to succeed on their journey.