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I know this may sound interestingly weird but I still have to ask it. Is this a love story between Tenar\ Arha and Ged ?
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The Tombs of Atuan,
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layla
I think a lot of the answers here don't give satisfying answers to your question. I've just finished the "The Tombs of Atuan", but I know how Ged's and Tenar's story continues from spoiling myself on Wikipedia lol.
Short answer: yes, this is a love story between Tenar/Arha and Ged, but not in the traditional sense.
Long answer: first and foremost, "The Tombs of Atuan" is a Bildungsroman - so it has many themes associated with coming-of-age. The main themes are identity, redemption, trust, and defying a false destiny. One of the minor themes is love. Tenar experiences many different conflicting, confusing and distressing emotions and revelations when Ged comes into her lives, and the combined feelings of resentment and love are some of them.
The love story is definitely there - it's just that Tenar, having very little exposure to a world that isn't consumed by religious fanaticism, doesn't understand what she's feeling (very easy to infer from the later chapters). Also, she's 15.
We don't get to see things from Ged's perspective, but it's pretty obvious that he cares for her deeply, but at that moment the reader is unsure if he returns her feelings.
The book might not be an orthodox love story, but it's definitely the beginning of one.
Short answer: yes, this is a love story between Tenar/Arha and Ged, but not in the traditional sense.
Long answer: first and foremost, "The Tombs of Atuan" is a Bildungsroman - so it has many themes associated with coming-of-age. The main themes are identity, redemption, trust, and defying a false destiny. One of the minor themes is love. Tenar experiences many different conflicting, confusing and distressing emotions and revelations when Ged comes into her lives, and the combined feelings of resentment and love are some of them.
The love story is definitely there - it's just that Tenar, having very little exposure to a world that isn't consumed by religious fanaticism, doesn't understand what she's feeling (very easy to infer from the later chapters). Also, she's 15.
We don't get to see things from Ged's perspective, but it's pretty obvious that he cares for her deeply, but at that moment the reader is unsure if he returns her feelings.
The book might not be an orthodox love story, but it's definitely the beginning of one.
Mary
I suppose you might consider it the start of a love story, since this is when they first meet. But the main thrust of the story is Tenar/Arha's coming of age, and her dealings with the ancient powers at the Tombs. Hope this helps!
Gav451
No, its far more eclectic than that.
Qristy
Keep reading the series and it will answer this question.
Holly
Nope.
She's 15. He's older and an infidel.
It's not about romance. It's about personal discovery and the cost of abandoning a false narrative for your life.
She's 15. He's older and an infidel.
It's not about romance. It's about personal discovery and the cost of abandoning a false narrative for your life.
Martyn Stanley
I would say. Their relationships is not a romantic one. At least not in this book - I don't know how the story develops yet.
Sorrel
It's got very little to do with the TV series.
Sven
Not in this book. If you read Tehanu (book 4), your question will be answered.
Cole Steffensen
No, definitely not. She's still a child. I take this relationship as a mentor-student type thing.
Kristoffer Liland
Just finished it and I got no such vibe. What follows in later boooks I don't yet know but this is not a love story, it is a story of redemption
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