The Taoist Fantasy And The Fantastic Taoism In The Earthsea Cycle

The Earthsea Cycle by Ursula K.Le Guin,regarded as one of the most successful Western fantasy novels worldwide,constructs for the readers a fantasy Earthsea world where the harmonious combination of Oriental philosophy and Western literature lays the pillar.The pervious academic research dedicated to The Earthsea Cycle bases on diversified perspectives and conveys profound messages,such as the growth of the protagonists,the power of language,the role of the female,and the Transcendentalist interpretation of the text.However,despite the fact that numerous interviews and her literary works witness Le Guin's public emphases on Taoism's paramount influence on her personal life and literary career,few scholars take the initiative to explore the Taoist connotations of the typical elements and significant symbols in The Earthsea Cycle.Consequently,drawing upon the philosophy of Taoism and Tao Te Ching,and resorting to the analysis of the three most significant elements in the book,namely true name,magic and dragon,this thesis conducts a profound and comprehensive exploration of the Taoist wonders in The Earthsea Cycle.The first chapter illustrates the connections among true name,language creation view and Tao to reveal how true name reflects the nature of life and existence;the second chapter elaborates on the metaphoric connotation of magic and its reflection on balance and inaction,and analyzes the dialectical harmony and longing for Utopia;the third chapter demonstrates the symbolic meaning,metamorphosis and embedded feminist metaphor of the dragon to explore feminism,the harmony of Yin and Yang,and the eternal return.At last,the thesis concludes that The Earthsea Cycle is a literary work of Western fantasy entwined with Oriental Taoist philosophy.True name is the essence of existence in the Earthsea world;magic originates from the need to develop while following the course of nature;dragon symbolizes the awakening power of the female and the eternal return of life.All things in The Earthsea Cycle rely on nature and inaction,grows within the circle of life,and eventually accomplishes transcendentalism by harmonious dialectics.