How we cite our quotes: (Chapter. Paragraph)
Quote #7
That's why she's not here, he thought. She could not have been born gray. Her color, her color of brown, was an essential part of her, not an accident. Her anger, timidity, brashness, gentleness, all were elements of her mixed being, her mixed nature, dark and clear right through, like Baltic amber. She could not exist in the gray people's world. She had not been born. (9.20)
It's interesting that Heather is a physical manifestation of Taoism's emphasis on avoiding extremes. She's right in the middle of black and white, as if she encompasses the entire yin-yang sign. But since George is supposed to be the symbol of Taoism in the novel, why isn't he biracial? Why does Le Guin still choose to make her protagonist a white male?
Quote #8
He had, though. He could be born into any world. He had no character. He was a lump of clay, a block of uncarved wood.
And Dr. Haber: he had been born. Nothing could prevent him. He only got bigger at every reincarnation. (9.21)
Why don't George and Dr. Haber disappear when everyone turns gray? Isn't whiteness as much a part of their identity as brownness is a part of Heather's identity?
Quote #9
Orr bought a tasteless plateful of fish and chips with African peanut sauce at a crowded counter-restaurant; while he ate it he thought sorrowfully, well, once I stood her up at Dave's, and now she's stood me up. (9.34)
George is eating what should be a pretty weird international dish, but instead of finding it tasty, he finds it bland. Why is that? Is it because fish and chips shouldn't be mixed with African peanut sauce? Why not? What do you think Ursula LeGuin is trying to tell us about uniformity through this scene?