Symbols In The Lathe Of Heaven

Ursula K. Le Guin’s, The Lathe of Heaven, is a science fiction novel set in a post-apocalyptic future that revolves around a man named George Orr. George’s dreams have the ability to alter reality, including the past. Before any dream-altering realities come into play, George is referred to a sleep specialist named Dr. William Haber after George gets into trouble for stealing dream-suppressing drugs. Through these “voluntary” meetings with Dr. Haber, George explores a variety of alternate timelines and has many revelations that eventually lead him to the conclusion of his own morality. The entire book focuses on the ideological differences between eastern mysticism and western humanism; represented and symbolized by George and Dr. Haber respectively. Through the use of the dreams, Le Guin explores the antipodal ideologies and reasons with how each would make the world a “better place”. Dr. Haber is portrayed as the antagonist in the novel and yet, shares the same ideology of so many of this novel’s readers. Le Guin designed the character to be a symbol for western humanism and utilitarian ideologies. During the story, the audience is under the impression that Dr. Haber has no idea of …show more content…
Haber, had a strong sense of eastern mysticism; and as Le Guin put it, “taoism”. Taoism is the ancient Chinese religion of Tao, the belief that nature is harmonic and can not be altered, but rather, events happen simply and spontaneously. George saw how Dr. Haber was using his dreams to alter reality and despised it as he felt it was wrong to change reality to suit Haber’s needs. As Heather Lelache said to George, “Who the hell do you think you are! There is nothing that doesn't fit, nothing happens that isn't supposed to happen. Ever! What does it matter whether you call it real or dreams? It's all one— isn't it?". Like George, Heather has a strong resistance to forced changes to reality - they believe that nothing can or rather, should, be forced to