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 Madman
Length: 15 pages, 101 paragraphs
Setting: At sea, Obahel
Characters introduced: None
The masterwork of this chapter is how Le Guin depicts Arren’s anger and misgivings about Sparrowhawk bringing Sopli slowly transform into the same listless paranoia that drives Sopli. Le Guin takes us there step-by-step, fear and anger toward Sopli becomes doubt in Sparrowhawk’s judgment becomes doubt in the purpose of this whole adventure and eventually becomes fear of Sparrowhawk, disbelief in magic, and a desire to find the dark gift offered in the dreams.
I also appreciate how Le Guin handles violence in this chapter. For all the adventure at hand, we’ve seen very little direct violence in Earthsea so far. Here it springs out so suddenly neither Arren nor reader understand it until a spear strikes the boat. And just as suddenly, it ends.
Thus far in The Furthest Shore, it seems like Le Guin is using more words to paint bigger pictures with more focused themes in each chapter. It does, sometimes, leave me with less to talk about, but it’s good stuff.
Until next time.
chasetriesagain.com 