“The Dispossessed” is a novel about a utopian life. A reader can observe the life on two different planets and they are Anarres and Urras. Urras may remind more of Earth while on Anarres people do not oblige any rules and have a very alienated life. Urras is seen as a superior planet considering the fact that population of Anarres have separated from Urras before.
Anarres’ state of mind can be seen as anarchic at first glance. However, after couple of pages the reader may find some tendencies of social life. It is important to mention that the current generations on Anarres are a little bit degenerated. The whole planet had a very set standard of life that Odo has established in his philosophy. Anarres became a society where one is unable to challenge any sort of inequalities. Every citizen is viewed equal and cannot compete for his or her rights. In this case alienation of people on Anarres has enabled them to stay equal, but they cannot compete for their goals. The author talks about equal opportunities: “For we each of us deserve everything, every luxury that was ever piled in the tombs of the dead kings, and we each of us deserve nothing, not a mouthful of bread in hunger” (K 145). The main hero is a victim of alienation, because his does not have an opportunity to go to Urras and present his ideas, because it is seen unfair towards his society.
In conclusion, it is important to state that alienation of Anarres did not bring anything good to the people who live on this planet. They became unable to develop their skills and become more advanced in different areas, such as sciences. The main here, Shevek is one of the victims of this alienated regime that people on this planet have chosen long time ago and now they must face consequences.
Works Cited
K., Le Guin Ursula. The dispossessed: an ambiguous Utopia. New York: Harper & Row, 1974.
Print.
