In Ursula Le Guin's novel The Tombs of Atuan, it focuses on a young woman named Tenar. Much of the Tombs emphasizes Tenar's lack of choice, such as being chosen to even become known as Arha, "He Who is Eaten" (Tombs 177). As Arha, she is inducted into the dark and cruel religion of the Nameless. With the discovery of Ged, the Wizard of Earthsea, in Undertomb, Arha's life will never be the same, as she is offered knowledge and choices she never knew were available. to her. Trust and choices are two main aspects of the Tombs of Atuan, and it is thanks to Ged that Arha finally learns about them. The darkness of the Tombs labyrinth symbolizes ignorance and fear, and when Ged arrives with his light, he brings with him consciousness. and change. Tenar's role has often been downplayed to that of someone on Ged's journey, simply helping her escape the maze and Ged saving her. This is a misconception; Tenar plays an active role in Tombs, as she and Ged depend on each other to escape from the Tombs location. Ged was a crucial guide in Tenar's journey to freedom. Recognizing Tenar as a person who “was never made for cruelty or darkness” (Tombs 299), Ged found good in Tenar, even though she herself is blind to it. He offered Tenar the freedom to become his own person. Tenar discovers the truth and reality of the world through Ged. He knows that too much information from outside the Tombs can eventually overwhelm Tenar and lead her to collapse, so he is kind and patient, offering her freedom of choice instead of telling her to accept it. Ged knows that people who are not ready or unwilling to acquire knowledge cannot have knowledge imposed on them. While Ged holds back the earthquake with his magic until middle of paper..... .the Temple that she may find knowledge and balance. For this reason, it is entirely appropriate that Tenar's escape from Atuan was not through magic, but through trust in Ged.Works CitedClark, Suzanne. Cold Warriors: virility put to the test in Western rhetoric. Carbondale: Southern Illinois UP, 1988. Google Book.Jobling, J'annine. Fantastic spiritualities, monsters, heroes and contemporary religious imagination. New York: Continuum, 2010. Google Book. Le Guin, Ursula. The Tombs of Atuan. The Earthsea Quartet. New York: Penguin Books, 2012. 169-300.Print.Le Guin, Ursula. A wizard from Earthsea. The Earthsea Quartet. New York: Penguin Books, 2012. 12-168. Print.Le Guin, Ursula. Tehanu. The Earthsea Quartet. New York: Penguin Books, 2012. 479-691. Print.Le Guin, Ursula “A keynote address for left-handers. » UrsulaLeGuin.com. Accessed: November 29, 2013. Web.