The Left Hand of Darkness:
A manifesto against homophobia.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46661/ambigua.8100Keywords:
Homophobia, genderization, gender-biased, heteronormative, Manifesto, Ursula K Le Guin, The Left Hand of DarknessAbstract
The Left Hand of Darkness is not a feminist novel but a manifesto against homophobia. Le Guin’s deficient depiction of androgyny, her use of the pronoun “he” to refer to the menwomen characters and the narration of heterosexist, gender-biased Genly bring homophobia forward. Even if an atypical manifesto—for it does not openly declare its intentions and motives-- the novel addresses readers and asks them to take action through Genly’s journey of unlearning. The novel heuristically reeducates and changes readers into real humans able to love beyond gender limitations. Also, it transforms social hostility against homosexuality into acceptance by providing readers with a positive, practicable alternative to their historical context of heterogendered discourse and gay discrimination.
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