Healing & Mending

The Theme of Healing can be seen throughout the story of The Other Wind, in the problems that each character must overcome, and in the way that this story itself completes and answers the problems presented in the previous books of the Earthsea cycle.

Healing is present as an immediate and necessary thing through the character of Alder who journeys to the Immanent Grove on Roke (the very centre of the whole world) in order to find peace and rest from his trials. Later too, Ged provides healing for the young sorcerer by giving him the kitten Tug, who acts as a way to mend his broken heart. Alder's character throughout the entire story in fact, can be said to encapsulate this theme entirely. Alder himself s a Mender (a type of sorcerer who can return things to their original state), as was his departed wife Lily...