The chapters 10 to 13 of The Dispossessed discuss the important notion of ‘complementarity’ in the utopian world. It is true in the writer’s opinion that no two elements will be seen as the same by two people. Interpretations can be different, and they can at the same time be justified for each person. The reason why either of the interpretations should be considered valid is because they help to form the logic and reasoning in everyday life situations. Moreover, this analysis is helpful in discovering an understanding of Shevek’s journey and the answer to being completely free and socially responsible as well. The logical aspect of the argument is that it is not possible for all people to think alike and respond to a situation with the same response. There will be two different opinions, both of which are essential in forming a society. One also needs to agree with the critic Daniel Jaeckle that there can be a moral problem to a certain situation such as choosing freedom and taking social responsibility at the same time: “Seen one way, the problem is moral: how does a person act in complete freedom and yet for the mutual aid of others?” (79). Social responsibility is the phenomenon that encompasses the idea that a person needs to benefit others as well. This also coincides with the analogy of the driver killing the robbers to save the lives of 800 people, because it is a moral obligation for him to help the needy and innocent even if it means curbing the freedom of wrongdoers and ending their lives. Furthermore, as mentioned in the book, “ disalienating—that is, understanding the areas we share in common—is an inherently social act that forces us, perhaps against our total freedom, to consider how responsible we are to the wellbeing of others” The notion of ‘disalienating’ is more appropriate than alienating because it helps integrate the members of a society and allows them to express them freedom bearing in mind the social responsibility they have toward one another.
Work Cited
Guin, Le Ursula. The Dispossessed. 1974. Print
