The Power of Choice in A Wizard of Earthsea

Throughout A Wizard of Earthsea, Le Guin makes it clear that the power of choice has its own magical hold over Ged in this novel. Although it can be argued that at times Ged does not choose his fate, I would argue that Ged is given certain choices and he can either choose to be inherently good or bad.

At the beginning of the novel, it is clear that Ged is destined for great things and that his choice is that he will be good. It is said that “the greatest voyager, was the man named Sparrowhawk,” and he became dragonlord and Archmage, and “it seemed a broad, bright road” in the beginning of Ged’s life (1.1, 6). Le Guin makes it clear from the get go that Ged will do good things that ring true throughout the land in Earthsea. This is so much so that songs and tales are spread of the deeds that he has done, and as a child it is obvious that he is on the path to a bright future. But before the tales, we begin to wonder where does Ged decide to be good or does he even get a choice at all? His first choice comes when he saves his own village from the Kargs as only a child. It is described to us that “need alone is not enough to set power free: there must be knowledge” and although Ged had little skill “his intent was different” as he named the spell (1.10-11). In order to make his spell powerful enough to save the village, his intent had to be in a good place to do so. Ged made a choice, in spite of even facing a beating from his father, to save his village. This is a pivotal moment in the beginning of the story because it shows Ged’s innocent, good intentions from the start. Next, Ogion saves Ged from his wizard coma and “whisper[s] to him his true name: Ged,” and by a very wise wizard “in the uses of power” (1.17). It can be argued that Ged may not have much choice in his own destiny here and that it is chosen for him, but Ged makes his own choice, when saving the entire village. He could have stayed in the village and been the apprentice of the witch woman or the man that taught him the fog-weaving spell, but instead he chose to summon his own power with the right intentions and this led him to Ogion. These moments in the story are crucial to the start of Ged’s journey and clarifying his good intentions throughout the book, where pride and the coming of age seem to fog Ged’s vision.

Under the wing of Ogion, Ged begins to learn more about the power of magic and faces another crucial choosing point in his journey. First, Ogion describes that every act of wizardry is “done either for good, or for evil” (2.27). This means that every act of magic is a choice. Every choice is made for good or evil because of such a powerful knowledge behind it. This sets the foundation for Ged being aware of the choices he is making, or at least should set the foundation. Next, Ged is given the choice to “choose between Re Albi and Roke” by Ogion, but in him is the “wish for glory” and “the will to act” (2.28). This is where Ged’s pride begins to get in the way, and he recognizes that there is a slow road to mastery ahead if he chooses Re Albi. He felt he was destined to learn greater things than to just wander with Ogion. Ged cannot suppress his eagerness and urge for glory, so he tries to choose the fast pass to becoming a mage. This choice begins his path for choosing good or evil and his quest quench his thirst for power and glory.

While at the School for Wizards, Ged sets loose a shadow that becomes the antagonist of the story, and this shadow becomes the driving force behind Ged’s choices. As Ged grows more powerful, he is able to set loose this mysterious shadow. The Master Summoner tells Ged that as a “man’s real power grows”…his path “grows narrower” until “he chooses nothing, but does only…what he must do” (4.85). As Ged grows more powerful and knowledgeable, he loses his freedom of choice because of the responsibilities that go hand in hand with such power. With the shadow, Ged may know deep down what he must do and that there is only one choice. This leads him to feel that he has no choice at all because it is not the choice he wants to make. Ged felt that “each choice…was blocked by a foreboding doom.” Facing the doom of the shadow monster leads Ged to believe that he has no choice, but to run. Ged has two choices, though, and that is to be hunted by the shadow or to be the hunter.

Ged makes the choice to then leave the School for Wizards with the protection it provides, and go to Pendor where he chooses to fight the dragon so he can further flea from the shadow. Ged wanted to “[seek] this danger of his own will” so that “he [is] free” (5.101). Ged finds comfort in choosing his own destiny. Not only does he find freedom in this, but he wants to choose to do the right thing and undo the mistakes of his past. Ged could have just left the people of Pendor to fend for themselves, but instead he chooses to solve their problem whilst allowing himself to be a free man. When Ged reaches the Court of Terrenon, he points out that he “was not drawn here, but driven here, and the force that [drives] [him] works to [his] undoing.” Ged points out that he feels that he is being driven by the shadow. The shadow is working to draw him to the side of evil or trap him on the dark side. Ged’s believes that he has lost his choice, but he is still fighting to choose good and not let the shadow undo him.

Finally, Ged is reunited with Ogion and Ged is given the ultimate choice in where his destiny will lie. Ogion tells Ged that “[he] must choose. [he] must seek what seeks [him]. [He] must hunt the hunter” (7. 151). In the end, Ged must choose his own destiny in order to defeat the shadow. Ged knows that if he allows the shadow to drive and overcome him, he will be driven to the dark that represents evil in the novel. So, Ged chooses to hunt the shadow instead and “meet danger and evil” and “choose the way” that he will go (7.151). Not only is this the only chance that Ged has at not having to hide the rest of his life, but he is choosing to leave his mistakes in the past. Ged is choosing to overcome his mistakes with this choice to use his power and knowledge for good versus evil.

Throughout this novel, Ged feels that he has a right to his choice. Although it is sticky sometimes as to if his choice remains or he is being driven to a certain destiny, Ged has a choice to use his power and knowledge for either good or evil, dark or light. Choosing his own destiny or fate saves Ged from the shadow in the end, as well enforces his preference to be in control of his own destiny. The choice to take on the shadow and choose good intent behind his acts of magic lays the foundation for Ged becoming one of the greatest mages.

Works Cited

LEGUIN, URSULA K. WIZARD OF EARTHSEA: The First Book of Earthsea. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 1968.