ASSIGNMENT 2 - The Dispossessed

In Le Guin’s The Dispossessed, A-Io (Urras) represents the western world (the USA) and capitalism. On
the other hand, Anarres represents a type of an anarchist society and an idea of something entirely new
and radically different. Furthermore, the two societies are in contrast: the society of Anarres is poor but
equal, and Urrasti society is rich but unequal. By portraying the upper class of A-Io, Le Guin provides a
critique of modern consumer society and capitalism itself. Le Guin also mentions the dangers of
catastrophic ecological and environmental damage that this kind of society might result in. This could
also be interpreted as a warning to our own society. Also, gender equality is represented differently in
both societies – gender equality is built into Anarresti social structure, but, on Urras there’s a lack of
women in power and academia. This way, Le Guin not only criticizes the inequality of women on Urras,
but also its system of hierarchy which doesn’t exist on Anarres.