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I certainly found the Gethenians to be human in their behaviour, their belief systems and their faults. In a way, they reminded me, with their avoidance of warfare, like bonobos in comparison with chimpanzees. Almost the same, but not quite.
One other theme we haven’t explored, of which I was reminded by Le Guin’s essay, was that of loyalty and betrayal. Genly felt at the end that he had betrayed Therem by bringing down his colleagues before Therem’s condemnation as a traitor had been revoked. Therem was betrayed by the man who owed him loyalty.
Did Therem feel he had betrayed Arek by going on living, and having another relationship? I think he did, given his reaction when Genly mindspoke to him in what seemed to be Arek’s voice.
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