Journey To Adulthood
In A Wizard of Earthsea an archetypal pattern of death and rebirth highlights Ged's journey from adolescence to adulthood. In "Myth and Archetypal Criticism" we read, "Images of death and rebirth [
] usually suggest some kind of emotional, moral, or spiritual rebirth"(Young 70). We see one or more of these aspects in each of Ged's rebirths, especially in his last rebirth in this book. Ged's coming of age process in this novel is also illuminated by the use of binary oppositions, one of which can even be seen in the book's title; earth/sea. The relationship between these oppositions helps us to better understand Ged's journey into adulthood as being also a journey into the self.
Ged's first major rebirth along with significant binary opposites can be seen in his Ceremony of Passage. In this ceremony his aunt, the witch, first takes from him his boy name, Duny. Then without name or clothes he walks into some cold springs near his village. As he enters......
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Approximate Word Count: 2245
Approximate Pages: 9 (260 words per double-spaced page) |