Violence and Taoist Ethics in Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Word for World is Forest

Authors

Aleena Achamma Paul, Indian Institute of Technology Ropar, IndiaFollow
Swathi Krishna S, Indian Institute of Technology, BhubaneswarFollow

Abstract

This note critically investigates the ethico-moral intricacies of violence/peace in Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Word for World is Forest (1976) while arguing that her radical political sensibilities are informed by her ardent Taoist worldview. Amidst the urgent tussle for domination by the colonizing Terrans and the struggle for survival by the native Athsheans in the fictional planet Athshe, Le Guin incorporates her incisive critique of imperialist exploitation and militarism while upholding the non-dualistic ethics of Taoism. Moving beyond the moral imperatives and either/or debates, Le Guin illustrates how from time-to-time violence turns to be the singular means of self-preservation for persecuted communities, thereby resolving the glaring opposition between violence and peace in the novella.

Publication Date

2024-2025

Volume

1

Issue

1

Copyright

©2025 Aleena Achamma Paul and Swathi Krishna S.

Recommended Citation

Paul, Aleena Achamma and Krishna S, Swathi (2025) "Violence and Taoist Ethics in Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Word for World is Forest," UKL: The Journal of Ursula K. Le Guin Studies: Vol. 1, Article 2.
Available at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/ukl/vol1/iss1/2