Genly Ai vs. Neo Essay -- Matrix Left Hand Darkness Characters Essays

Genly Ai vs. Neo Just as a child starts out unable to live on their own and then eventually is able to walk, speak, and make decisions, Genly Ai from the novel, The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula LeGuin and Neo from the movie, The Matrix were able to grow as characters in much the same way. Genly Ais name reveals his three narrative roles throughout the novel that clearly depict his growth and change as a character. His journey begins as the reader views him as I, just a regular human. Gradually as the novel proceeds the reader finds that Genly Ai is able to transform and grow from I into eye, having blindness and insight into himself, and then finally to Ai, referred to as a scream which depicts the actual depth of his emotional existence. Neo changes and grows in much the same way. Though his name only refers to the idea that he eventually becomes this new human, he takes many of the same steps as Genly Ai in his character growth. In the beginning of the novel, Genly Ais character takes on the role of I, revealing that he is limited to himself. At this point, Genly Ai is a conventional, young, black Earthman who is confused and defensive. He lacks the insight and understanding to carry out his mission, and for the past two years he has been on Winter, he has never been able to understand or relate to any of the Gethenians. He views them as aliens and the others unable to step back and see that in reality he is the alien in this situation not the Gethenians. He is also unable to step away from his Earth prejudices and truly see the Gethenians for who they are. He believes that what is different from him is bad, a typical Human belief, which creates a barrier for him. Due to this lack of understanding of the Gethenians ... ... the new messiah for the last city of people on earth. He finally believes in himself and sees the new world in the eyes of the others. He has developed the ability to defeat the artificial intelligence within the matrix and has begun the process of restoring man to his rightful place. His old realities have been shattered, and he has fight for his life, and the future of humanity, against this dangerous group of artificial intelligence. Both characters transformed by the end of the novel and movie. They became fuller characters through the experiences they had in their strange environments. In the beginning they both took on typical society views where they thought mostly of themselves and question anything different. However, in the end of their journey they were able to see other views. They also grew as characters from within, becoming stronger individuals.