In this series, I’ll be working my way through Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea works and analyzing her prose chapter by chapter. Spoilers follow.
Chapter 7: The Great Treasure
Length: 11 pages, 90 paragraphs
Setting: The Place of the Tombs
Characters introduced: None
Arha cannot bring herself to kill Sparrowhawk. Whatever else she may feel, she is curious about him, wants to protect him, and will do what she must toward that end.
I love the way Le Guin writes the revelation of Kossil’s spying, Ged’s simple upward gesture, and the change in register of Arha’s dialogue when she realizes what’s happened.
As it turns out, the great treasure waiting at one end of the Labyrinth was Arha’s name. There, when she promises to keep him alive, Sparrowhawk returns to her Tenar.
I have some thoughts about Manan. He is a strange character that I am not quite sure I have a grip on, but that will have to wait for another post.
For now, this short post is all. Until next time.
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