Novel Reflection: The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

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Novel Reflection: The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
“The only thing that makes life possible is permanent, intolerable uncertainty: not knowing what comes next.” This is one of the famous quotes in the novel, The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin. The quote means that life is full of mystery, making it exciting since no one knows what might happen next. The quote expresses the uncertainty in human life, where people are not sure of what to expect, and therefore, everyone has to make efforts to achieve what they desire.
The novel aims to promote unity among nations where Ai’s mission is to tour a different planet, Gethen, to convince the Gethenians to join an existing trade network known as Ekumen. The trade network would see all the member planets benefit from exchanging products and developing healthy relationships. Ai travels and settles in one of the countries in the plant, where he interacts with the country’s prime minister known as Estraven. Later, Estraven is exiled, and this development leads to Ai’s proposal being rejected, which causes him to move around the country to learn about the people’s culture. He meets some people who prophesy to him about the future, narrating that his proposal would come to pass in five years when Gethen would join the trade network. At some point, Ai faces difficulties since the people do not understand him and his agender, considering that he is different from them. When imprisoned, Ai’ meets Estraven, who helps him escape, and they both return to Sassinoth. Ai pleads with the king to allow his shipmates into the nation. They then tour other countries in Gethen, spreading the word, and they manage to convince them to join the trade. The fact that life is unpredictable is the reason it...