It wouldn't be a commencement address without some mention of the hopes and dreams the speaker has for the recent graduates. Well, okay, it could be…but it'd be pretty dismal.
So Le Guin framed "A Left-Handed Commencement" around the fact that she hopes women will learn to embrace their roles, whatever suits them best, rather than try to compete against men in a man's world. She hopes they'll find their way to lives that are fulfilling, and that they'll find strength in the adversity they've faced already simply because of their gender.
It's a pretty empowering dream, actually.
Questions About Dreams, Hopes and Plans
- What does Le Guin hope for the future of the people listening to her speech?
- What does she mean when she says she doesn't "wish you success"?
- Where, specifically, does Le Guin say hope lies? What does she mean by that?
- Overall, would you say that Le Guin's dreams for the graduating class are positive, or kinda depressing?
Chew on This
Le Guin doesn't care what the graduates do with their diplomas. She just hopes they all have babies. Lots and lots of babies.
According to our intrepid wordsmith, "Hope lies in the earth," so archeology must be the science of the future. (We are supposed to take that literally, right?)