Cultural Values in The Left Hand of Darkness, The Fellowship of the Rin

Shaping of Cultural Values done Environment in The remaining Hand of Darkness, The syndicate of the Ring, and Dune Ursuala K. LeGuins The Left Hand of Darkness was written after J.R.R. Tolkiens The Fellowship of the Ring and plainspoken Herberts Dune. One of the most interesting comparisons between the three novels is how the authors treat the exhaust of cross- heathen misunderstandings. All three works contain many incidents where throng of one race or planet encounter people of a different race or from a different planet. Tolkien treats this issue in a specisitc or physiological manner. The cultural misunderstandings and clashes that arise in The Fellowship of the Ring are due to the differing physiology of the tones. Herbert deals with cultural misunderstandings in an environmental manner. In Herberts world, cultural value imagine less on which species a character belong to (because all characters seem to be roughly human) and instead depend on environmental variables. In The Left Hand of Darkness, LeGuin combines both uprisees. The cultural misunderstandings between Genly Ai and Gethenians are due both to difference in physiology and different cultural values imprinted by environmental factors . Tolkiens physiological approach is best seen by examining the hobbits attitude towards the outside world. The hobbits are suspicious of, and primarily do not understand, non-Hobbits. This can be seen by the Shires constant unbelief of Bilbos past adventures. The miller Sandyman comments on Bilbos adventures Elves and Dragons I says to him. Cabbages and potatoes are better for me and you. Dont go getting mixed up in the business of your betters, or youll state of matter in trouble too... ...iologically different from the Gethenians and comes from a planet with a alone different environment. Both of these factors lead to numerous misunderstandings in LeGuins novel. The difference in the three authors approaches may be seen in the debate between genetic science and environment may be the broader issue. Tolkien seems to take the genetics side, Herbert takes the environmental side, and LeGuin, existence the daughter of an anthropologist, realizes that both genetics and environment determine cultural values. These values often come into conflict, and when they do, misconceptions and misunderstandings are almost inevitable. Works Cited Herbert, Frank. Dune 1984, Chilton control follow LeGuin, Ursula L. The Left Hand of Darkness 1969, Ace Book Company Tolkien, J.R.R. The Fellowship of the Ring 1993, Houghton Mifflin Company