The Dispossessed

"The Dispossessed" was published in 1974 by Ursula K. Le Guin. It is a utopian science fiction novel. It is set in the Hainish Cycle universe. The story follows Shevek, a native of the moon, Anarres.

Shevek was a brilliant child who saw the world differently than his isolationist counterparts. His quick intelligence frightened his teachers, who tried to make him participate in group think and follow the popular ideas.

Shevek was a brilliant child who saw the world differently than his isolationist counterparts. His quick intelligence frightened his teachers, who tried to make him participate in group think and follow the popular ideas.

As a young adult, Shevek became a physicist, but learned that his society kept a wall around any higher achievements he reached for. His supervisor laid claim to his work and erected more walls around him.

Finally, Shevek travels to the forbidden sister planet, Urras hoping to find an outlet for his ideas, only to discover they want to use his genius to further their own reach for power. In trying to open the doors of communication, Shevek finds more walls being erected.
After a disastrous peaceful protest that quickly turned to violence, Shevek tries to give his theories involving time travel to the more peaceful Terrans or the Hainish, two other planets that are not as war like as Urras.

Shevek wants to use physics to unite people and join them into a collective brotherhood to advance the ideas in art and science. But, his world, Anarres, is not interested in anything they see as profiting and Urras wants to use his ideas to achieve power over the more peaceful worlds. The Terrans, which resembles an Earth of the future, are very controlled and the Hainish are too far advanced.

Throughout the book, Le Guin wavers between which world would be the Utopian world. Although Anarres has a strong brotherhood, they are closed minded and isolated. Urras is beautiful, but their laws and people are violent.

Book Summary

"There was a wall." That is how The Dispossessed starts. A space transporter ship is refueling and waiting for their cargo. They are on the planet, Anarres and surrounded by protesters. The captain of the freighter asks the foreman of the Defense crew if she thought there would be any trouble. When she sees him making motions towards the weapon at his hip, she assures him there will be no trouble. They are just protesting against his Passenger. The captain's gruff manner made the foreman more angry than usual and she took it out on her crew.

Some of the protesters were there to kill the traitor, some to stop him from leaving while others just wanted to yell insults. The protesters expected the traitor to arrive in a truck, so they stopped each vehicle and looked inside. Even though the passenger is protected by guards one of the rocks thrown at him hit him on the shoulder before he can make it inside the ship. A member of the Defense Crew was not so lucky. He was hit in the head and died instantly.

Inside the ship, the passenger and the doctor are locked down in the crew lounge. The captain wanted to keep them out of the way, but the doctor hoped to speak with the man and get to know him. As for the passenger, he was experiencing a panic attack so it took him a bit to understand the doctor was speaking to him. The doctor insists on calling the passenger Dr. Shevek, even though he tries to correct him that he is just Shevek and not a doctor.

The doctor examines his bruised shoulder where the rock hit him and tells him about the inoculations he will have to receive before entering Urras, the mother planet of their races. The doctor and he talk about the differences between their planets as Shevek receives his inoculations. The doctor is surprised to learn men and women are equal on Anarras. Other things come up to point out the differences in the more advanced world of Anarras.

When they arrive on Urras, the camera crews are waiting to film "The First Man From the Moon." As he is driven out to the facility in the country they had planned on for him, he says goodbye to the doctor and notices all the differences in the landscape. He had never seen a forest or donkeys as well as the many small things that point out what a different world he is on now. When he reached the compound, Shevek is surprised they use real wood in the fireplace to stay warm.

When one of the young men staying with him ask how he is feeling. He replies heavy. He's not sure if it is because of the gravity or the weariness. Finally he asks the three men surveying him what they plan on doing with him now that they have their anarchist.

Flashback - Anarras

As a baby in Anarras Shevek was inquisitive. But in Anarras children are taught not to be individuals. "Nothing is yours. It is to use. It is to share." When he tried to ask questions that would test the limits of physics at eight, his teacher accused him of "egoizing." Still yet he would "ask why, how and what if, but he would seldom as where."

Growing up, he often dreamed about the wall. The wall represented the barriers he butted against in trying to reach for more knowledge and answers. "The road ran up to it and was stopped." The dreams were always without resolution.

By sixteen he and his friends, Kvetur, Bedap, and Tirin were intelligent. Their minds "disciplined to the clarity of science." At eighteen he worked in a mining town in the Dust, a desert like environment. After that tour was finished, Shevek went back to his work with Physics. There he was brought to the attention of the senior physicists a the Institute, Mitis. She sent a paper he did on Relative Frequency to a collegue in Abbenay and they wanted him to go there. So he transferred.

Urras

Shevek spends time discussing theories with other physicists on Urras including Dr. Chifoilish, Dr. Oile, Dr. Pae and Dr. Airo, who invited him to accept the award granted to him for his work, The Principles of Simultaneity. He tells them that he has come, "like a good Odonian, with empty hands."

Finally discussing physicist with equals is treat to Shevek. It is the first time in his life he has had the opportunity. He is surprised to see how many mathematicians, physicists, astronomers, biologists, etc. come to meet him and discuss ideas with him in the next few days. He is also surprised there are no women in the faculty or attending lectures.

The men tell him there are no female scientists on the planet. Shevek assures the men that he is there to learn and to share ideas, on his own initiative, not as a representative of his planet. In the newspapers he is reported as "First Man From the Moon." He is told not to read the newspapers or "birdseed," since they only print sensationalism. But, he also learns they are trying to keep him away from the seedier side of their world. He also, finds another 'wall' in the charm of Pae.

The young man uses charm, courtesy, and indifference to block Shevek's questions. Shevek does learn that the only people who own cars are the very rich. They are heavily taxed as a way to control pollution, but Shevek thinks it may be another way to degrade the poor.

The men take Shevek on a tour of the sights they want him to see, including the grave of the woman who founded his planet, Laia Asieo Odo. Her writings were the philosophy his world was based on, even though she died before the first group of settlers left to colonize Anarres. The more time he spends on Urras, the more Shevek feels that he doesn't belong. Since he never felt like he fit in with the people of Anarres, either, he feels that he is trying to "bring together two worlds to which he did not belong."

Flashback - Anarres

Shevek wakes on the dirigible as he travels to Abbenay. He tries to spot a ship from Urras on the landing pad. Even though he has been taught to hate them, he would still like to get a glimpse. The freighters of Urras are the only ships from there allowed on Anarres since the ports were closed to immigrants. Anarres was originally only used for mining, so it is rich in mercury, copper, uranium, tin, gold, and aluminum.

These are still used in trade with Urras for things that are not manufactured on Anarres, and for seeds. But, "seven generations of peace had not brought trust," so they men on the ships cannot leave the port.

Going by the plan laid out by Odo, the Odonians even invented their own language. This would make them feel more free from the people they left behind on Urras.

Going by the plan laid out by Odo, the Odonians even invented their own language. This would make them feel more free from the people they left behind on Urras.

Even though the buildings of Abbenay seemed large to Shevek, they were all a single story because of the frequent earthquakes. The buildings were simple and utilitarian because Odo taught that "excess is excrement." There were a few places in the city that seemed a bit excessive to Shevek, though. He found a rich park that had trees from Urras and grass underfoot. He didn't like walking on it because he was unused to the texture.

The buildings were simple and utilitarian because Odo taught that "excess is excrement." There were a few places in the city that seemed a bit excessive to Shevek, though. He found a rich park that had trees from Urras and grass underfoot. He didn't like walking on it because he was unused to the texture.

When Shevek reached his posting at the University, he was told he had to learn Iotic, the language of Urras, because most of the books he would study were from there. He was told this be Sabul, who would become his adjective for a bureaucrat that only lets information out if he can control it and lay claim to it. Sabul tells him that he is working with him. Although Sabul hasn't come up with any new ideas in Physics for years, he is still being published. He affixes his name to the work of others.

They either allow it or their work never leaves the planet. He tells Shevek that he will decide what information to share with the public, not Shevek. He doesn't want just anyone to read the books he has from Urras. Shevek doesn't understand this because the teachings of Odo say to share all knowledge freely.

"The most brilliant insights of Sabul's own works on Sequency were in fact translations from the Iotic, unacknowledged." Shevek meets Gvarab, an old woman who teaches physics. He attends almost all her lectures. She has begun to lose interest in teaching because students didn't listen, but she gains more strength when she realizes Shevek is listening. They develop a friendship.

There is no authority in Anarras, instead the people are controlled by a social conscience. The opinion of others is the moral force that motivates their behavior. Most of the young people feel that being ill is shameful. It is only for the old.

Urras

Shevek is glad that they have finally decided to put him to work. He isn't required to teach but he asks if he can. The arrange seminars. Some students come out of curiosity, others are drawn by his personality. Shevek notices that the students are well rested, as opposed to the students on Anarres who would nod off in class because of rotational duties. When he began to teach, Shevek didn't want to give grades, but this upset the administrators. He relents by telling the students to write a paper on whatever interests them and he will give them the highest marks he can.

He also notices that the students are made up of wealthy men. No women, no poor. The students have no distractions, "complete leisure to work; all materials at hand; intellectual stimulation, argument, conversation whenever wanted; no pressures."

Before his classes start, the men convince Shevek to buy some better clothing. When he dresses he is surprised how much he resembles his mother, Rulag.

One afternoon Shevek is talking with Chifoilisk. He learns that Chifoilisk is with another government. He tries to talk Shevek into bringing his theories to his people. But, Shevek tells him that what he wants is to bring the walls down, not build more. "I want solidarity, human solidarity."

What all of the people of Urras desire is Shevek's "General Temporal Theory." He is working on time travel. "Transillience---if we've mastered transillience, their interstellar drive won't amount to a hill of beans." Chifoilisk asks Shevek why he didn't give the theory to his own people, but he replies they didn't want it.

Dr. Oiie takes Shevek home with him to spend the weekend when Shevek asks to spend time getting to know how regular people live. Shevek makes friends with his wife and children.

Flashback - Anarres

Shevek had been spending too much time working, so he became ill. After spending a decad (ten days) in the hospital, he decides to only spend five nights in ten working and the rest of the time socializing. Shevek has a tendency to get so involved in his work that he forgets to sleep and eat. He becomes antisocial. He discovered that he was interested in music, and attends concerts. Shevek attended the Physics Federation and tried to get them to agree to share their findings with Urras, but they say no. He wants open communication. They don't want to share with "propertarians."

When Bedap comes to visit they discuss the problems and He tells Shevek that he has come up to a wall. His wall in this instance is Sabul and his supporters in the PDC. Shevek asked him how Sabul became so strong. He had learned how to sway public opinion.

Bedap makes friends with some disaffected youth. One of his friends is a young woman who Shevek has met before, Takver. By the end of a double date, they have realized they are made for each other and move into together. She is a marine biologist. She also makes mobiles that she calls, "Occupations of Uninhabited Space." They are happy and in love in their committed relationship.

Urras

When the snow begins to fall, Shevek is amazed. He spends time at the house of Oiie and plays with the children. While there he meets Oiie's sister, Vea Doem Oiie. Although she doesn't have any hair on her head, as is the fashion, Shevek still thinks she is pretty. She is a terrible flirt and asks him if he has a wife. At first he says no, because he thinks of the wives the men have on Urras and how the men think of it as ownership, then he corrects it by saying he has a 'partner.' She asks him to visit her at her home someday.

Shevek often fears that he is becoming too accustomed to his life in Urras. When he reads of the revolution of the Benbili he remembers why he is there and wants to find a way to push cooperation between the planets. He also hadn't been working on his Theory.

One afternoon he puts a call through to Vea to accept her invitation to a party. The two spend the day together. Shevek spends a small fortune entertaining her while she flirts outrageously with him. Later at the party he drinks too much and makes a pass at her. She rebuffs him and he becomes ill. She calls her brother to take him home.

Oiie and Pae take him home and put him to bed. They spend time going through his papers and try to find his Theory. Pae becomes angry and points out that they have been feeding him for ten months with no results. They want to have an advantage over the Hainish, a more powerful people who taught the Anarres' about space flight when they discovered them.

Flashback - Anarres

While Takver was pregnant with their first child, Shevek found out that Sabul would not publish his Principles. He is heartbroken because he worked so hard on it and wants some acknowledgment. Takver convinced him that if he wanted to get it published he would have to let Sabul share the ownership. He reluctantly agrees even though Sabul had nothing to do with it, but can stop it, never the less. He tried to include a copy of his original work in longhand in the shipment to Urras.

On the day that his daughter, Sadik was born, Shevek had trouble getting the midwife and almost had to deliver the baby. In Anarres the names of people are chosen by the computer when they are born. That way no two people living have the same name. They are happy and Shevek loves to spend time with their daughter.

But, Shevek receives his posting and it is far away. Before he comes home, a drought had gotten worse and Takver was sent to another posting to find ways to feed people. After walking most of the way home, Shevek discovered she and their daughter left days before. He went to Sabul and discovered that his position was eliminated. When he tried to get a posting near his wife, he was informed there was nothing for him, so he took whatever they could find. It was a terrible post in the desert.

Urras

The next morning Shevek wakes up with a hangover. He plays the night before over in his head and discovers one of the worst part of the chemical reactions in a hangover; the feelings of shame. He begins to thinks about his reasons for being there and starts to think about the Theory of Relativity by the brilliant physicist of ancient times, Ainsetain. He began to see his way to his own theory and begins to figure it out.

After spending days working on his Theory, Shevek becomes ill. While he is sleeping his papers and computer disappear. He calls in his 'maid,' Elor and asks him if he can help him escape the walls of the University. Shevek finds out that Elor has contacts in the resistance. He calls for a taxi and tells him to ask for Tuio Maedda. "In Joking Lane, in Old Town. The grocery." Elor tells him he will cover for him as long as possible. He will tell them that Shevek is working since that keeps them happy.

After coming against a few obstacles in the bad neighborhood, Shevek finally goes into a pawn shop and asks for Joking Lane. The shopkeeper is also with the resistance and takes him to Maedda. He learns more about the resistance. Shevek asks him if they are Odonians, he says, "Partly. Syndicalists, libertarians." He tells Shevek that the blessing they tell each other is "May you be reborn on Anarres!"

The resistance has a demonstration planned in three days and they want him to speak at it. Shevek agrees and works on an impassioned speech about brotherhood and open communication. Maedda insists on using passivity because as Odo said, "Only peace brings peace, only just acts bring justice."

During his speech Shevek says, "You cannot buy the Revolution. You cannot make the Revolution. You can only be the Revolution. It is in your spirit, or it is nowhere." When his moving speech ends, they hear helicopters over head. They open fire. The men and women who can run begin to search for cover.

As the police look for survivors, Shevek helps the wounded man that was standing next to him to find shelter. When he asks other fleeing people to help him, they continue to run. In their terror, Shevek is the only person who stops to help his fellow man, even though he doesn't know him. Shevek finally finds a basement to hide in. He is once again stymied by a locked door.

No one locks their doors on Anarres. He breaks the lock and helps the man inside. He puts a tourniquet on the wound and wants to call for help. The man regains consciousness for a few minutes and Shevek asks him what would happen if they turned themselves in to the police. The man says they would shoot them. Since Shevek had been hearing sporadic gunfire he didn't doubt it.

Shevek sleeps for a while. When he wakes the man is dead and the world is silent. "a silence of death."

Flashback - Anarres

Shevek is finally making his way back to his family. There have been four years of famine and he has been working in the desert. He talks to the engineer of the train he is on and hears stories of unusual violence during the famine. Trains that carried food to the outer realms were attacked by starving people. The engineer tells him the words that help him in his later studies of time, "It's getting time on your side. Working with it, not against it."

Shevek tells the man about his duties. He had a desk job and was given the task of making lists. He decided who would eat and who would starve. People on working six hours were given full rations. People on half time were given three quarter rations. If they became sick or injured they were given half rations. They couldn't heal with so little food and would die.
He quit the job and left for Grand Valley, a worst hit town. He spent the rest of the famine working in the mills.

Finally Shevek arrives in town and finds his wife and daughter. His little girl is unsure of him at first because she doesn't remember him. Sadik is four years old. They are all in tears at the joy of being together again. Takver tells him that she moved to Chakar because the famine wasn't quite as bad.

Shevek and Takver take Sadik to the dorm where the older children stay at night and then spend time alone together. He tells her that she has done a wonderful job with their daughter under terrible circumstances. She tells him that she breastfed her until Sadik was three because she was able to give her more nutrients that way.

Shevek doesn't want to go back to work under Sabal. He wants to do his own work for a while. Shevek tells her, "We fear our neighbor's opinion more than we respect our own freedom of choice." "We've made laws, laws of conventional behavior, built walls all around ourselves, and we can't see them, because they're part of our thinking." "I'm going to go unbuild walls."

Urras

Shevek arrives at the Terran Embassy and insists on seeing the Ambassador. At first the clerk tries to stall him, but when he finds out who Shevek is and sees a car pulling up outside with men in black coats, the clerk helps him hide and sends the men on their way.
He tells the Ambassador that he is looking for asylum. She gives him a place to rest.

After two days of rest and meals he is able to talk to her. He explains that the men at the university were trying to get the Theory from him so they could achieve power over them and the Hainish. She tells him that Hain and Terra work together and knows he is with them. She offers their radio so he can contact his family.

"I thought it would be better not to hold apart behaind a wall, but to be a society among the others, a world among the others, giving and taking. But there I was wrong." Shevek has learned that Urras has nothing Anarres needs.

The Ambassador tells Shevek a bit of Terran's history. "You Odonians chose a desert; we Terrans made a desert." They damaged their world so thoroughly that without the help of the Hainish they would be gone. Terran had to resort to total centralization to survive. Total rationing, birth control and euthanasia. They also control every acre of land and all the metals. A universal conscription into the labor force. It is the only way they were able to survive was with complete regimentation.

Flashback --- Anarres

Shevek and Bedap have formed the Syndicate of Initiative. Their goal is to advance the sciences and culture on Anarres. But, they are called traitors. Sabul pushes this sentiment with his followers. The two men go before the PDC and try to get them to allow people from Urras to come to Anarres and people from Anarres to go to Urras. They want to open communication. Bedap knows that their biggest opponent is Rulag, who he finds out later is Shevek's estranged mother.

Bedap finds out that Shevek's wife and daughter are being harassed because he is accused of being a traitor. After Shevek and Takver put Sadik and their new daughter, Pilun to bed, they discuss the meeting Shevek had with Subul. He has offered him his old job back if he quits the Syndicate. Sabul said that he could publish in his own name. Takver asked him if that means he won and the walls are down.

Bedap says that there are walls behind walls. Shevek tells her that if he went to Urras he could finish his theory and give it to all the worlds. "Here I'm cramped, it's hard to work, to test the work, always without equipment, without colleagues and students. And then when I do the work, they don't want it. Or, if they do, like Sabul, they want me to abandon Initiative in return for receiving approval."

Urras

Shevek is headed home to Anarres on board a Hainish ship. He finds the crew civil, considerate but somber. Shevek spends time talking to Ketho, the first mate. Ketho becomes interested in Anarres and asks if he can go with him. Shevek explains it might be a long mission, but Ketho, as a Hainish, wants to learn about their culture. Shevek thinks it might not break the "Terms of the Closure of the Settlement of Anarres" because it is worded to stop Urras from settling not the Hainish.

"Are you sure you want to walk through this wall with me, Ketho? You know, for me, it's easy. Whatever happens, I am coming home. But you are leaving home." But he still wants to come.

Shevek knows that he will be with his family come nightfall and wishes he had brought a picture of the sheep for Pilun. But, his hands are empty while his heart is full.

Characters Analysis

Shevek - The hero of the story. Shevek was born on Anarres but doesn't quite fit in because he wants to break down the walls that keep them from learning new information. From a young age he is more intelligent than the other children but is held back by the teachers. They don't want him to stand out.

He becomes a brilliant physicist, but is still held back by the isolationism of Anarres. Finally, he breaks through the wall and takes his findings to Urras with an idea toward breaking down the barriers between their people.

Tirin - Shevek's friend. He is also a man who doesn't fit in. He is creative and makes a play that goes against the norm. He ends up in an asylum undergoing treatments that push his feelings of nonconformity down. Afterwards he is a shell of the man he was and makes Shevek determined to break down the walls and form a group that can stand together and support each other in their intellectual pursuits.

Bedap - Shevek's closest friend. He is a revolutionary and works with Shevek in starting the Syndicate of Initiative.

Takver - Shevek's partner. Takver is a marine biologist. She is a supportive mate. They have two children. She is a protective and good mother. When he thinks about life changes she supports his decisions and gives him the best advice she can.

Rulag - Shevek's mother. She leaves him with his father because she values her work as an engineer more than her family. After he is an adult, moved to the city and as achieved some fame, she finds him and wants to get to know him. He rebuffs her and later when they face each other at the PDC she rebuffs him.

Sabul - An old man in charge of the Physics Department of the University. He is jealous and vindictive. When Shevek is working in his department, Sabul puts his name to the Theory Shevek writes before he allows it to be published. Sabul guards the books that come in from Urras that they use for research so only the select few can read them. He says the information is too much for the average person, but Shevek learns that Sabul has been publishing the ideas he finds in the books as his own.

Dr. Chifoilisk - A physicist on Urras. He is a spy from the Thuvians. He wants Shevek to bring his Theory to his country. When Shevek refuses, he leaves.

Dr. Atro - A physicists on Urras. He is an old man who is interested in Shevek. The two have been communicating by letter for years and discussing their theories.

Dr. Pae - A physicists on Urras. He becomes friends with Shevek and takes him home to meet his family. At first he tries to keep his distance but Shevek's good nature breaks him down.

Dr. Oiie - A physicists on Urras. He is determined to get the Theory from Shevek and is mean spirited.

Ketho - The first mate of the Hainish ship. He makes plans with Shevek to explore Anarres.

Ursula Kroeber Biography 

Ursula Kroeber was born in 1929 in California. She writes novels, children's books and short stories. Most of her books are on fantasy and science fiction. She dives into an imaginary world of alternate politics, gender, religion, sexuality, and ethnography. Ursula used sociology, anthropology, and psychology to write her 'soft science fiction.' She does not like this classification feeling that it is sexist. Throughout her books she brings up anarchism and environmentalism to bring her messages to light.

Born to an anthropologist and a writer, Ursula and her three older brothers were exposed to reading at a young age. Her father, The encouraging environment of her upbringing helped to build her career as a writer. Alfred Louis Kroeber, her father, became the director of the University of California Museum of Anthropology, and her mother, Theodora Kracaw, wrote the best seller, Ishi in two Worlds, about a Native American who was the acclaimed 'last wild Indian.' Being surrounded by the study and stories of Ishi and the Native Americans, prompted Ursula's stories of cultural interactions. At the age of nine she wrote her first science fiction story and had it published in the magazine, Astounding Science Fiction when she was eleven.

During the school year the family lived in Berkeley and their summers in Napa Valley. Although she found math tough, Ursula liked biology and poetry. She received her B. A. in Renaissance French and Italian literature in 1951 at Radcliffe. She also earned her M. A. in the same subjects from Columbia University in 1952. She was the recipient of the Fulbright grant and studied in France from 1953 to 1954.

While in France, Ursula met her husband, Charles Le Guin. She married the historian in 1953, and they are still married. They had three children. Ursula dropped her doctoral studies and the couple moved to Atlanta, Georgia where Charles obtained his Ph. D. at the Emory University. In 1959 the family moved to Portland, Oregon where they still are. Charles is the Professor Emeritus of History at Portland State University and Ursula continued writing while raising their children.

In the ten years between 1951 and 1961 Ursula wrote five novels. All five were rejected by publisher. She continued writing fantasy and science fiction stories that were published in such magazines as Amazing Stories and Fantastic Stories of Imagination.

"The World of Unbinding" was published in 1964 and was the beginning of her Earthsea fantasy series. In 1970 she won the Hugo and the Nebula awards for her book, The Left Hand of Darkness. Her next book, The Dispossessed also won the Hugo and Nebula, which made her the first writer to win both awards for the same two books.

In 1979 Ursula began to work with film, and contributed to The Lathe of Heaven. A PBS film based on her novel by the same name. She also worked on Rigel 9, with David Bedford.
Ursula, Ken Kesey, Brian Booth, and William Stafford started the Literary Arts in Portland in 1984.

She follows Taoism and leans towards Anarchism.