The Dispossessed

Background of the Novel

Ursula K. Le Guin was a prolific writer, and one of her most famous works is her Science-Fiction novel, The Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia. She revolutionized the genre of science fiction by employing political ideologies and current social issues in it. She has published twenty-two novels, seven poetry books, more than a hundred short stories, and a number of other literary works. She received five Nebula Awards, nineteen Locus Awards, and five Hugo awards.

Her Sci-Fi works, including The Dispossessed, are set in the ‘Hainish’ universe. This novel is the first in the cycle of the Hainish series. It is set in an anarchist society, Anarres,  where there is no central organization and no government, while in contrast is ‘Urras,’ which is a hierarchical society. In this novel, the writer has fictionally explored the relationship between politico-economic systems and gender equality. 

This novel was first published in 1974. It won acclaim due to its succinct and concise expression of social, political, and gender issues through the genre of Sci-Fi. She is considered a master of Sci-Fi. Her works, including this one, are held as classics in this genre and still widely read. Another popular work of this series is Earthsea.

We can historically trace this novel’s relation with Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novel The Possessed, which is a work about anarchists. It is named ‘ambiguous utopia’ because the imaginary world it represents is not completely ideal. It does not present an ideal society, because sometimes the people of the shown imaginary world fail to live according to the standards which they have set.

When asked about her inventive and lyrical prose style in her novels, she told the impact of eminent novelists like Dickens, Tolkien, and Virginia Woolf, etc. She was inspired by Taoism, and it can be clearly seen in The Dispossessed. There we can see humility, compassion, freedom, spontaneity, etc. which are the fundamental values of Taoism. We can also trace the inspiration from anarchism in this novel as the anarchist ideals are experimented in a Utopian society.

According to the novelist, this novel was also inspired by a real-life figure J. Robert Oppenheimer. He was a physicist and had a prominent role in the development of the nuclear bomb. Shevek, a character’s role is resembling Oppenheimer who wants to revolutionize the ideas of time and decimation.

Guin was often criticized for only having male protagonists in her novels. She defended her stance by saying that it was a feminist’s attempt to explore the minds of men as aliens.

The Dispossessed won several awards, some of which are the Nebula Award, Locus Award, and the Hugo Award. Ursula was a Pulitzer Prize finalist and was named a ‘Living Legend’ by the United States Library of Congress.

The Dispossessed Summary

This novel is set in a fantasy world, two planets, namely Anarres and Urras, where the action takes place.

Chapter I

Shevek is a passenger who intends to go from the planet of Anarres to Urras and board a spaceship. The port for the spaceships is situated in a secluded place and isolated from the rest of the planet with walls. It is a strange and secluded planet where no one from other planets, including Urras, is allowed to enter. A mob comes and is infuriated because of the passenger’s plans who wants to leave the planet and intends to go to another. They fail to assassinate him or take hold of him; of this, the narrator expresses his opinion that they are not apt in mobs.

The spaceship takes off and to the narrator that the planet seems as if it is falling away. At the time of taking off, he remembers his life partner, Takver,  and his children. He has left them in a place which is called ‘Peace and Plenty.’ He has shared his plans to unbuild walls years ago with his partner. He is given an injection by a doctor to protect him from the diseases in Urras. Anarres is far ahead of Urras and has eliminated the diseases that Urras is facing.

Shevek is a physicist and is the first person from Anarres who is visiting Urras. He is welcomed at A-Io, which is a state in Urras. He is then escorted to the university Ieu Eun. On his way, he sees an animal that is like a horse or donkey and seems strange to him because they have eliminated all big animals at Anarres. He arrives at the university and is impressed by the splendor of this place and the impressive dressing of the people. He meets dignitaries and important people there and then is taken to his room.

Chapter II

This chapter is a flashback to Shevek’s past life. It begins at a baby nursery, where Shevek is kept and scolded by a matron for not sharing his space in sunlight. His father’s name is Palat. He is sad at the moment because Shevek’s mother is posted to a different place, and she is leaving.

When he is eight years old, he is sent to the learning center for education. At that time, he has a complex idea about time. He shares it with the director and his fellow students. He is scolded by the director not to tell his fellow students about it because they can’t understand it. He is then told that this idea is already discussed in a book, and he hasn’t come up with something novel. He longs to read that book and is interested in reading numbers, not words. Later, a math book is given to him by his father.

They are taught at school about how revolution took place, and their ancestors left Urras. They are told about miserable life conditions there and about prisons. They are taught that in Urras, lower-class people are exploited by upper-class people. They read in books and watch movies regarding Urras and muse what sort of planet it will be. At the age of twelve, he and some of his friends conduct an experiment about prisons. Kadgav, his friend, volunteers to become a prisoner. This is a horrible experience for them, and Odo is frightened by it.

At about the age of sixteen, he sent for an afforestation project to an area called ‘The Dust.’ He then returns to his institute and is taken with a renowned physicist, Sabul, and there he works with them, fulfilling his dream to excel in this field. Here he first meets his future partner, Takver.

Chapter III

Urras is a completely different place in comparison to Anarres. It’s a lush green planet while in contrast to it Anarres looks like a desert. The lifestyle here is also different, and people from the upper class live a lavish life. Anarres looks a dusty, inhospitable, and bleak place if compared with the beauty of Urras’ environment. He meets the four senior scientists there whose head is Atro. He has been in contact with him for long, and they have exchanged papers.

He comes to know about different states there and the situation of freedom of the press. He comes to know about the A-Io state, where the press is completely free. While in a communist state Thu, there is censorship on the media. Initially, he is kept in isolation in a room to keep the citizens of Urras protected if he has some diseases. He is then taken on visits to different places. He comes to know that the guides earn a lot of money in the tourism business. He then visits Odo’s grave.

He meets an engineer who is interested in his developing theory regarding time. He wants to develop a spaceship that will move faster than the speed of light. At the visits, he comes to understand that the forfeiting of this planet by his Odonian ancestors was a mistake, and they should have remained there.

Chapter IV

He starts working with Sabul at the institute. He was informed that Sabul is a selfish person, and it is revealed to him gradually during his work. Sabul instructs him to learn an Urrasti language, Iotic, which is spoken in the region of A-Io. The works of Urrasti physicists are published in this language. Sabul asks him not to share this information with anyone and thus seems strange to him. He is taught to share information that he has, but now Sabul asked him not to share.

He comes to know that Sabul is not that genius person, and all his research is the translation of Urrasti books. He exchanges research with the Urrasti scientists and discusses the new developments with them. He comes to know the reason for Sabul’s selfishness because it is that knowledge that gives him superiority. Once, he asks him to publish his paper, which Sabul refuses and asks him to share it with him as a co-author.

Shevek, for the first time in his life, falls ill and spends his time in hospital. A woman regularly comes to visit him. Her name is Rulag, and it comes out that she is his mother. She asks him about his father, and he tells her that he is dead. He remains cold towards her for not raising him and staying away. Though there is no legal obligation for parents to raise their children themselves. She is happy for his success and offers him help if he needs it, which he refuses.

Chapter V

Shevek starts teaching on Urras, and he comes to know that students there are free. They don’t have many responsibilities and domestic obligations. He remembers the hard life at Anarres. The only that they need to take care of here is the academic responsibilities. The university where he teaches is Ieu Eun University, and here the students have little choice about their lives.

One day his fellow physicist, Chifoilisk, comes and informs him secretly that he is being used by the government of A-Io. He asks him to leave for Thu, where the communist government will welcome him. He tells him that he will be respected here until he develops his time theory, and after that, he will be kicked out. He is astonished to hear this all. A few days later, Chifoilisk mysteriously disappears. He comes to know that he was ordered by the government of Thu to come back.

He keeps himself busy trying to reconcile the planets and tries to create brotherhood. He notices the upper-class people distancing themselves from him. He feels isolated and reconsiders thinking about the solidarity between the two planets. He is invited to his fellow physicist Oiie’s home, and his family seems interested in him.

Chapter VI

In Anarres, Shevek recovers from the illness, and he feels depressed. He thinks about his mother and feels that he will suffer the same fate as his mother, to be alone. He thinks about his life at the institute, and it looks clear to him that he has wasted his time. A teacher in the institute, Gvarab, dies, and she is paid less respect than she deserves. This adds to his feeling of meaninglessness of this life.

He shares his thoughts with his childhood friend, Bedap. He tells him that he had even considered suicide. Bedap tells him that in Anarres, conformity is promoted, and that’s why his original thought is not acceptable. He comes to know that Bedap and his unconventional friends are revolutionaries. They are a different type of revolutionaries; they don’t want to change everything. Their motive is to make things as they were in the initial days of the revolution.

He, at Bedap’s suggestion, goes on a hike with him and some of his friends. There he meets Takver; he has met her in his teenage. She is a marine Biologist and is in search of a life partner. They feel strongly attracted to each other, and they become partners. He feels a little relieved because there is a happy change in his life, while Takver also feels relaxed.

Chapter VII

Shevek is in Urras and leading a normal life. One day he finds a letter in his pocket and comes to know about the presence of anarchists there. They have invited him to join them and bring about a revolution. He meets Vea, who is Oiie’s sister and exhibits her feminine traits. He thinks she is more feminine than humans.

He comes to know that there is a revolution going on in Benbili. The newspaper has informed that the government of A-Io may intervene in this problem. There is a power struggle going on between Thu and A-Io; they are using this revolution as a proxy war to counter each other. He thinks it would have been better if he had gone to Thu.

He attends a party at Vea, and there he meets different people to whom he explains his theory regarding time. At the party, he takes a lot of Alcohol, which he is taking for the first time because it wasn’t available at Anarres. He argues with Vea in her room and tries to rape her but doesn’t.

He is escorted to his residence because he is not conscious. On his way, he eavesdrops their discussion and comes to know that A-Io is desperate to make use of his theory. One of the escorts mentions that the people of the state are eager to know about his theory. Someone has prophesied that a stranger or exile has come and will bring in a change in A-Io’s people’s lives.

Chapter VIII

There is drought in Anarres, and it is about to face famine. Shevek is still a companion of Bedap and his friends in their revolutionary ideas. Takver is pregnant, and later she gives birth to her first child. Shevek has worked on a paper, and Sabul doesn’t want to publish it. He tells Shevek that this paper may create social discontent and is harmful to society. He even blocks his way to publish it in Urras.

At Takver’s advice, he tells Sabul that he should publish it as the co-author of the paper, and he agrees. Then Shevek is sent to a far-flung place where he, for the first time, experiences hunger. He spends a much hard time there and comes back safely. Takver is assigned a job at another place, and she also leaves. When he comes back, he comes to know that Sabul and his mates have decided to fire him from this job. They do it on the ground of his field being outdated and being no longer productive.

Chapter IX

Shevek’s hangover has gone, and now he, for the first time, feels shame in his life. He looks back on his actions and seems discontented with what he has done. He comes to the conclusion that he will not serve the individual interests there, and he will work for the state of A-Io.

He is fed up with politicians and their deceitful talk. Pae comes and tells him that the capital of Benbili has been “liberated.” He also discusses with him a communication device, ansible, which will be developed according to his theory. He doesn’t trust him anymore because he thinks that he is not a sincere person.

He seriously wants to complete his work and starts working on it. He doesn’t want it to be used by any state. He then thinks about relativity theory that will help him in his work. He studies Ainestein of Terra, Earth’s Einstein’s theories, and comes to know that simultaneity and sequence are not something opposite. He comes to know that they become a unity in the end. At the completion of this work, he thinks that his purpose in life is fulfilled.

After the completion of work, he falls ill and asks his servant, Efor, not to let anybody know about it. He wants to keep it secret because he fears his colleagues. Efor takes care of him, and he recovers. He comes to know from him about the condition of the poor and the rich.

Atro comes and tells him about war. He then asks Efor about the anarchists and those who put the note in his pocket. He agrees to help him and tells him to take a taxi to the poor part of the state. He meets anarchists there. They tell him that he is an embodiment of Odo for them. They intend a demonstration in the city to let the government know about their discontent. He delivers a speech in the demonstration; the military comes and puts it down violently. He hides in a basement for his security.

Chapter X

Shevek and Takver spend four years in separation from each other due to job postings. They finally reunite when he is posted to the place where Takver is assigned her job. She lives there with their daughter, Sadik. Shevek has left his recent job because it didn’t conform to his personality. He was given the responsibility of ration distribution. He didn’t want to do it because people were considered mere figures, and he considered it inhuman. The famine is over, but this has left marks on his memory, which can’t be erased.

Finally, he meets Takver, and they discuss their childhood friend Tirin. He is not posted to a proper place because he is a non-conformist. He is not given proper opportunities, and his literary genius is rusting. He wanted to be a playwright, and now as a rebellion writes the same play repeatedly. Then they discuss their own miseries because Shevek was also a non-conformist, though he didn’t express it openly.

They discuss that people don’t make bold decisions because they care much about society and people’s opinions regarding them.

Chapter XI

Shevek flees to the Terran embassy after the A-Io government’s violent response to the demonstration. He talks to Terran ambassador Keng there and tells her about his theory. He tells her that A-Io’s government wanted to use it for destructive purposes. While he was in opposition to this idea, he wanted to use it productively to make the ansible. He expresses his desire that he doesn’t want it to be the property of a single world and wants it to be shared with all worlds.

Then she informs him regarding the worsening situation of Terra. She tells him that pollution has almost ruined the planet, and Terrans have failed to prove themselves ‘social species.’ She is in a state of despair due to her native planet, but he encourages her. He tells her to broadcast it to all the worlds where it is possible to transmit. He asks her to do it as soon as possible because he intends to return to Anarres.

Chapter XII

He is at Anarres, and with Bedap there, he has founded an organization named ‘Syndicate of Initiative.’ It is an organization that is made to communicate with Urras and print Shevek’s works. There they discuss if they can provide asylum to those anarchists who are maltreated in Urras. They don’t agree with this proposal, and he asks the members that one of them should visit Urras to see the situation there. This is opposed by his mother, Rulag, and responds that anybody who goes to Urras will not be allowed to come back.

He and Takver have their second child, and Bedap visits them. They discuss how they face problems for their non-conformist behavior. Takver tells them that she is maltreated by her colleagues. Their daughter Sadik is bullied by children at school. Shevek is offered a job by Sabul, which he intends to refuse because it’s a ploy. It is an attempt to stop his engagement with the syndicate. He doesn’t know if Rulag will allow him when he comes back. He takes the final decision and decides to go to Urras.

Chapter XIII

Shevek is traveling back on the ship to Anarres. He doesn’t know if he will be allowed to the planet. There are questions regarding his safety. A person from Urras accompanies him on the ship and asks him if he will allow him to go to Anarres to which he agrees. He feels hopeful that everything will be fine at Anarres at his arrival.

The Dispossessed Characters Analysis

Shevek

Shevek is the protagonist of the novel. He is a physicist. He feels easy neither at Urras nor at Anarres. He, in the guise of aliens, is a perfect embodiment of a human being who doesn’t want to spend a robotic life. He is a genius person who, with the help of other’s works, develops a theory that will make communications. His discovery also carries negative impacts, and he doesn’t want it to be used for destructive purposes.

He is a good-natured and upto a certain extent, a simpleton person. Due to his good nature, he faces problems in both the planets and is exploited. He is a responsible citizen and believes in helping his compatriots and fellow beings in other planets. There is an internal war going on in his mind; he fights with his desire for solitariness and individual freedom. He believes in sharing and shares what he has learned from his research.

He is a non-conformist and rebel. He rebels against the status quo, which doesn’t let the public know about the new developments made in knowledge. He fights for those who are suppressed and is a courageous person. He takes risks and believes in his abilities. He has the courage to stand against odds to change his world into a better place.

Takver

Takver is Shevek’s wife and a marine biologist. She is in need of a partner, which she gets in the form of Shevek. She, like her husband, is a non-conformist and is Bedap’s companion in his movement. She is Shevek’s confidante, and he shares his plans with her. She is her husband’s committed partner and supports him in his decisions. She has two children from her husband. She, for her non-conformist behavior, suffers and spends four years away from her husband.

She is the one who suggests her husband visit Urras. She knows that it means their separation, and he may not be able to come back. She still urges him to take this decision and sacrifices her own happiness for him. She is a loving wife and mother figure. She is a round character that develops throughout the novel.

Bedap

Bedap is Shevek and Takver’s friend. He is a freedom-lover and wants to break the invisible chains that are used to contain individual freedom. He is the one who rebels against the conformists favoring society and helps individuals express their depressed self. He is admired by many people in Anarres, and he is the one who is able to form an organized institution to help people express themselves.

He is the one who is the first to rebel against the mechanical rules of anarchism in Anarres and is successful to an extent. He speaks against the constraints put by society around individuals. He fights against social pressure and disapproval. He is the one who forms ‘Syndicate of Initiative,’ and helps publish Shevek’s works. He is the one who is behind the idea of communication with Urras.

He wants to free society from the clutches of so-called individuals like Sabul. Though there is no regular organizational structure in this society, this mafia is unseen and controls society. It, along with control, deceives the public and works to sabotage the motives of revolution.

Tirin

Tirin is a playwright in the novel. His artistic abilities are ruined by the oppressive social norms. He has got talent, but society doesn’t allow him to make use of it. Society doesn’t allow him to express his individuality. He can give society much, but he is not let to do so because it will make him different.

He writes a play that is critical of the social system, which is implemented in Anarres. He is sent to the asylum for this crime. He finds himself in a situation of creative deadlock, unable to move. He doesn’t give up even then and expresses his discontent by writing the same play again and again.

His character discloses the evils of an anarchist society where conformity is given priority above individual freedom and right to expression.

Sabul

Sabul is a pseudo-scientist and a so-called scholar. He represents oppressive forces that don’t let the society prosper. He has control over the publishing of papers. He prevents those scientists from publishing their paper whom he doesn’t like or thinks that they will supersede him. His researches are translations of those works which are already published in Urras.

He maintains his power and authority by exploiting others. He is a clear example of scholarly dishonesty. He is a selfish person and works against the principles on which his society is based. Like egotist people, he is a threat to able people who can make any place in their society.

Atro

Atro is a resident of Urras and a physicist. He was in contact with Shevek before his arrival at Urras. He thinks that Urras and Anarres are superior to other planets. For this, he wants Shevek’s theory as proof and eagerly waits for it. He is a militaristic person and romanticizes war. He supports A-Io’s war at Benbili. He thinks that fighters are disposable and can be replaced.

Rulag

Rulag is Shevek’s mother. She has stayed away from her husband and son for years. For this reason, she feels alienated, she at first expresses her love for her son, but when he doesn’t respond, she turns antagonistic to him.

Vea

She is Oiie’s sister. She focuses on her feminine side more than normal. She thinks that her gender is a privilege, and she can use this power indirectly. She is about to be abused by Shevek but is saved at the last moment.

Chifoilisk

He is a physicist. He works with Shevek at the physics lab in the state of A-Io. He is a spy and works for the communist state of Thu. He recruits people for Thu and works against the interests of A-Io. He tries his best to co-opt Shevek but fails. He is a communist.

Efor

Efor is Shevek’s servant. He is a resident of Urras and is in contact with the anarchist rebels. He is a caring and secretive person. He helps Shevek contact the rebels and is an aid in his escape from the university.

Gimar

She is a worker who meets Shevek during an assignment.

Gvarab

She is Shevek’s teacher at the institute. She is a hardworking woman, and Shevek admires her for that. At her death, Shevek feels disappointed because he feels her efforts were not appreciated.

Keng

She is Terra’s ambassador at Urras. She is a kind person; she feels despaired about the state of her planet, which is devastated by environmental pollution. She is the one who gives Shevek asylum at her embassy and agrees to transmit his theory to as many planets possible.

Mitis

He is Shevek’s mentor and is a physicist at the national Physics institute in Anarres. He is the one who tells Shevek that Sabul will co-opt his work, and if he didn’t cooperate, he wouldn’t be tolerated at the institute.

Oiie

Oiie is a physicist; he is from Urras. He is in friendly terms with Shevek and invites him several times to his home.

Pae

He is a secret agent who informs the police in the state of A-Io about Shevek’s activities.

Palat

He is Shevek’s father and a loving person. He expresses his mild disapproval of the government by showing love for his wife, who has been sent away on a job.

Themes in The Dispossessed

Utopia or Dystopia

In this novel, the author has analyzed the complex concept of utopia. From this attempt, it can be inferred that utopia is imaginary and thus unachievable. The denizens of Anarres think that their experiment to achieve a utopia has been successful. Their belief is a misconception because it is based on a single-sided view. If this state is compared with the planet of Urras, we can realize that it is a complete failure.

In the state of Urras, there are few powerful people who control everything, and their will dominates. Same is the case with Anarres; there are also a few who pursue their self-interests though not explicitly. Thus there is not much difference at the level of power. But in the case of the general public, there is a big difference, middle and lower classes suffer more in the utopia than the non-ideal. In Urras people can enjoy a normal life, though with problems. In Anarres, people face hardship because natural things are scarce, and this is the reason behind misery.

So, we can infer that utopia is a more miserable state, and if it is experimented, it will result in dystopia. 

Time

Time is a confusing concept, and it has always baffled human minds. In this novel, this concept is analyzed through Shevek’s theory regarding time. The concept of time is both simultaneous and successive. It can be considered both ways. There is a confusion in the characters’ minds regarding time, and this is ended when Shevek comes to discover that time carries both the features.

From this, we come to know that time is a unity where there is future, past, and present, but it is like a book. All these parts are like the chapters of a single book, which can be read in a systematic order or haphazardly. The states want to use this concept as a weapon, while individuals like Shevek want it to be used as an element of solidarity. This also adds to the concept of time that is both constructive and destructive.

Freedom

In this novel, we see the people on the planet of Urras under the leadership of Odo, who rebel against the government there. They leave for Anarres and establish a state where there is no authority. They do this for the sake of individual freedom. Their current state is an anarcho-syndicalist society. In this state, no one owns anything; they are free from possession, evils of capitalism, and free from state rule.

Here the concept of freedom is explored in detail. It is done using the state of Anarres, which seems perfect but is not perfect as it looks. It is a utopia formed to achieve freedom, but there is no freedom because there is no choice. It may be an attempt to clarify that freedom is a relative term and can exist in a specific frame of reference. It can also be inferred that freedom may not exist at all and impossible to be realized.

Individual concept of freedom changes with the passage of time and the same is the case with societies. We can see it when Shevek revisits his ideas regarding freedom. In the same way, there is a comparison between people in the two planets of Urras and Anarres. Anarres, where there is the idealized “freedom,” it’s residents want to change and revisit the system. While the other, Urras, where the residents think that they are not “free” want to do it the way their rivals did.

Gender Roles

Gender roles are an important social issue that is of profound importance in modern politics. In this novel, gender roles in an anarchist and in a hierarchically organized society are compared. In-state of Anarres, these roles are balanced while in the state of Urras, there is clear leverage towards the male gender.

In the state of Anarres, people have almost forgotten the role of being male or female, and works are divided regardless of this fact. In the case of Urras, men hold important social and political posts, while women are considered a commodity.

There is no use of gender by females in the state of Anarres, while in the case of Urras there a woman like Vea uses it as an indirect power. In this state, there is a dehumanization of the female gender, and they are considered a subhuman category. So we can conclude that in an anarchist utopia, gender roles are balanced, and there is no discrimination based on gender.

Perspective

People see things differently, and this is called their perspective. In this novel, two widely held perspectives are discussed. There are two different opinions is Urras and Anarres, and both consider the rival planet as their moon. Shevek steps forward to investigate this issue. He is in search to find the truth and wants to know which is the moon, really.

He comes to know that it depends on where one is based. If one is a resident of one planet, the other will look moon to him and vice versa. He comes to know about a third perspective, which is regarding the good and bad. The ambassador of Terra considers both the planets moons and her planet a hell because it is devastated by pollution.

From this, it can be concluded that there is no absoluteness, views vary, and there is no wrong view.

Language

Language is a source to perceive realities. Its units, which are words, carry nuances that are determined by the culture where they are originated. In Urras and Anarres, there are different languages spoken, and even in Urras itself, there is variety. These languages are a source of understanding things.

In the state of Anarres, there are no possessive pronouns because there is no concept of property. For mothers, they don’t use ‘my mother’; instead, they use ‘the mother.’ There is no concept of titles in the state of Anarres, and Shevek is surprised when he is called Dr. Shevek in Urras. There is no difference seen between ‘work’ and ‘play’ in Anarres. When Shevek arrives at Urras, he is surprised by many new things, the majority of which is just an idea and has got a name.

Individuality Vs. Collectivism

One the planet of Anarres, we see that the motive of people is to work for the well being of others. If anybody thinks about his own interests, it is considered wrong. In contrast, in Urras, we see that people are free to determine their own way; they can pursue self-interest. In Urrasti society, there is a drive for self-advancement and self-aggrandizement. 

Shevek observes this, and this brings his mind into a conflict. He considers both the systems and their values. This work is used as an allegorical expression of the fact that both capitalism and socialism are failures. One kills individualism while the other kills the collectivism, both systems acting as extremes. There is a desire expressed for a system that can bring the two systems together and lead to their hybrid. It is anarchism that can keep both individuality and collectivism in their due place.

Relationship between People and State

Throughout this novel, we notice insurrection and anarchy as the recurring motifs. On both the planets, we see people confront the state and question the dominant values. There are questions raised or clear opposition. In Urras, we see there are three different states which are based on three different systems, each based on a different ideology. There are discord and unrest on the whole of the planet, but still, there are efforts to suppress anarchy.

In contrast, Anarres was founded on the basic principle of anarchy, but now there is no opposition tolerated to the widely held beliefs. If anybody speaks against them, he is considered an enemy and dealt unfairly. It is evidently clear from the state of Shevek, Takver, and Tirin who are isolated from society due to the non-conformity to the society.

So from it, we can conclude that whether a state is anarchist or hierarchically organized, there are some forces that try to overrule the public opinion. So the public has to stay alert and strive for their rights. The relationship between state and public is that of being alert and strive for rights. There is no difference; either it is an anarchist or hierarchical society.

The Dispossessed Literary Analysis

The Dispossessed is a fantasy work that discusses major problems of the contemporary world in an allegorical manner. The story is told in foreshadowing where the cyclical chapters reveal the conflict, and thus the novel moves in an anti-climactic manner. It discusses the philosophical concepts of time, space, and existence using fiction, clarifying the facts much better than philosophical works. 

The exquisite imagery lets the reader wander in this utopia without recognizing the fact that he/she is reading fiction. The characters are almost realistic though it is a magic realistic cum sci-fi work. It discusses feminist issues without offending the reader. In short, it can be held as a modern masterpiece that encapsulates the current problems, which makes the reader think and delight at a single instant.

Genre

The Dispossessed is a work of Science-fiction in which an imaginary world is created to discuss the anarchist idea of the world. The characters are shown aliens, but they are perfectly human and perfectly embody the human instincts. Though there are Anarresti citizens who are modified, they also look like hybrid humans whose gene code is modified. It can also be called a dystopia.

Tone

The tone of the novel is neutral, where the incidents are narrated as if these are happenings taking place in a science lab. It is probably the impact of the Anarresti environment where emotions are banished. It can also be attributed to the philosophical issues discussed in this novel, which require gravity of tone.

Point of View

The point of view of the narrator is third-person omniscient. The narrator discusses with complete knowledge all that happens in both the planets and reveals things happening secretly, even telling the minds.

Significance of Title

The title of the novel has probably origins in Dostoevsky’s novel The Possessed, which relates the story regarding anarchists, though realistically. It shows those characters who speak against the ills in vogue in society  are exiled physically or boycotted by distancing them emotionally. Both the cases are evident in Shevek, who is threatened not to be allowed to the planet if he leaves it once.

Significance of Ending

This novel has no clear ending; it ends at the point at which it starts. Suspense is left about what will happen to the protagonist, but the hope is given that the end will be good. The ending suggests the continuation of things in the world without any definite end and absence of any white or black. There is a grey zone that divides things but not clearly. This is what the end of the novel suggests.

Symbolism in The Dispossessed

There are many symbols used in this novel which convey its multifaceted message. Wall is used as a symbol that tells of the self-isolation by the Anarresti. They are secluded by this wall, which hinders the communication between the twin planets. It represents the deepening of the differences and the resolution not to solve the problems ever. This wall is shown made up of mortar and stone, which shows the ugliness of the differences over non-issues.

Letters are used as a symbol of the strength of the bond between Shevek and Takver. They are separated, but they don’t give and continue to communicate with each other. Prison is shown as a symbol of selfish people who are living in Urras, but it also represents the condition of Anarresti, who have given up all their comforts for an illusion, freedom.

Setting of the Novel

The spatial setting of the novel is two planets Urras and Anarres, which are considered moons for each other.

Literary Devices Used in the Novel

Irony

Anarres is shown as a state which stands on ironic grounds. It was founded based on the fundamental human value of freedom. But there is a clear lack of freedom because all are forced to conform to a single standard, which is not acceptable to all. It is ironic because it was formed for the comfort of its citizens, but they face hardships which they wouldn’t even have faced in Urras.

There is irony shown in Anarres, which was found to be utopia, but it turns out to be a dystopia.

Allusions

There are references to historical personalities and facts, important of which are Einstein, his theory of relativity, and work of Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky.

Imagery

The planet of Urras is shown green and lush while Anarres is shown as a desert, which signifies the comparative non-human conditions in the latter. Imagery reinforces the message of the author and is an important motif that shows the results of unwise decisions.

The imagery of unhealthy people is another portrayal that shows unwise decisions.