She Unnames Them Analysis

An Analysis of Identity in Le Guin’s “She Unnames Them” The interpretation of language can have powerful consequences. It can open one’s mind to new perspectives. It is possible that Ursula K. Le Guin is trying to introduce new points of view in “She Unnames Them”. She is depicting the significance of individuality to female audiences, in particular. The story is arguably told from the point of view of Eve from the Book of Genesis. She goes to every type of animal trying to convince them that they do not need names. Eve then proceeds to give her name back to Adam saying, “You and your father lent me this-gave it to me, actually. It’s been really useful, but it doesn’t fit very well lately” (Le Guin 1). Thus in “She Unnames Them” Ursula K. Le Guin employs imagery to convey individuality and female empowerment. Name symbolism exists in the text, and it seems to depict essential character traits. One entertainment writer comments, …show more content…
In the process of creating that world she needed the animals of the world to disown the names they were given by their creator. In doing so the simplicity of predator and prey disappear. All animals and human are able to live in harmony because they are more focused on becoming who they want to be to focus on anything else. Eve had also joined in on the disownment of her name. She went up to Adam and personally gave him her name back. Adam had dismissed Eve telling her “ Put it over there O.K.?” (Le Guin 1) Adam had not even acknowledged Eve’s triumphant moment of giving back the existence the creator and Adam had given her. She was brushed off as an afterthought. That moment had made Eve’s great plan of the animals party with their names even more powerful. It had proved her point that names give animals the illusion of a hierarchy. As the animals disposed of one identity to adopt another the world had become a more loving and accepting