The Left Hand of Darkness Chapter 5 Reflection

The most interesting part I found of this chapter was the perspective of a Foreteller of Otherhord. Genly wanted to know more about the Foretellers by asking one of them questions. He asked Faxe why he didn’t use his future predicting capabilities to help conclude decisions. Faxe’s answer was that questions have to be precise in order to mean what they really mean. For example, how to make the best out of something depends on what the person thinks is the best way to use that something. I thought Faxe’s answer was interesting when he said that he came to the Fastnesses to think of what questions not to ask. If one is thinking of what question not to ask, one has fear of asking the wrong question. Estravan had explained to Genly that patriotism was fear of the other. Probably all Karhides have that same mind set of having fear of the other as patriotism. At the end of the chapter, Faxe says that life would not be possible if it wasn’t for uncertainty, of knowing what comes next in life. That answers Genly’s question of why future prediction isn’t put to use to aid in decision making. Aside from uncertainty of the future, uncertainty of sexes is present in Karhides, from Genly’s point of view.
Genly also asks Faxe if he could communicate with Faxe with their minds. Faxe does not accept because he says that it’s a thing of business, politicians, and kings. Clearly Faxe is not interested in progress, but in presence. He says that he does not want to change the entire world. Although 5 years were predicted of Ekumen encounter, the future is not definite. It would contradict Faxe, of what he said of life not being possible if it wasn’t for uncertainty. Genly felt a bond with Faxe, probably because he thought of Faxe as a woman.