The Feminist Science Fiction of Ursula Kroeber Le Guin: The Left Hand of Darkness and The Dispossessed

Science Fiction (SF) has always been a male-dominated genre with authors like Asimov, Wells and Herbert leading it. However, during the past century, we saw a growth in female writers who brought new perspectives, outstanding themes and unique opinions to SF. Therefore, this BA thesis examines the history of Science Fiction, focusing on Feminist Science Fiction. I will briefly discuss different points of view on the definition of this genre. Then, I will illustrate the history of SF from its founding fathers Jules Verne and H. G. Wells to the feminist writers of Soft SF such as, for instance, Ursula K. Le Guin, Octavia E. Butler, and Vonda N. McIntyre. In particular, I will analyze the figure of Ursula Kroeber Le Guin as a woman, writer and activist. I will explain how her upbringing was crucial for her writing career. Then, by analyzing her novels, short stories and essays, I will focus on how she portrayed minorities and raised awareness over important themes such as feminism, environmental and social issues. Furthermore, this thesis will focus on two of her most famous novels: The Left Hand of Darkness and The Dispossessed, analyzing the themes portrayed in these works, ranging from feminism to environmental issues, gender and authority.