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The contrast between the primitive and modern world's in "The Left Hand of Darkness", "She" and "The Shape of Things to Come".
African tribal group captured the Englishmen, the acts of slavery were viewed as normal behaviour; however they did not realise that She-who-must-be-obeyed was the one who brought them to safety. She-who-must-be-obeyed was not yet known to the men, therefore they thought slaves were acting generously and sparing their lives simply because they were white. Haggard, through stereotypical views of African primitivity, shows the savage and frightful adventures of the Englishmen on the roads
less travelled. Through his writing, Haggard portrays a negative view towards primitivity, therefore choosing a more modern world.
As an ethnographer in Ursula Le Guin’s Left Hand of Darkness, Genly Ai discovers a planet with a more primitive society than the modern state on Earth. Gethen (meaning winter) and Earth are both colonies of the same ancient race with common ancestors, but Gethens’ technological advances are worlds behind. Genly Ai focuses on the countries of Orgoreyn and Karhide in his travels to Gethen. Orgoreyn is portrayed as a totalitarian country, while Karhide is governed by a crazy and chaotic monarchy. Orgoreyn, while not as advanced as Ai’s own society, exhibits more advancement than Karhide. Le Guin writes, “One of the most dangerous is the implication that civilisation, being artificial, is unnatural: that is the opposite of primitiveness; primitiveness and civilisation are degrees of the same thing. If civilisation has an opposite, it is war.” (Le Guin, p.102) Suggesting that Orgoreyn, the more civilised and technologically advanced society, shows less of a tendency towards war. Conversely, Karhide was behind on these newly developed technologies fought back, not by matching Orgoreyn’s progress, but by dismissing civilisation and starting war. The planet of Gethen was created by Le Guin, who said; “Light is the left hand of darkness, and darkness the right hand of light” (Le Guin, p.233), to prove that the world must be divided into opposites for the human being to realise the differences. These differences may prompt either constant advancement into civilisation, or initiation of war; the reaction of advancement into civilisation classifies modern societies as better and more complex. Le Guin sees primitives as inadequate, where they will have a slighter chance of competing in society.
Wells, Haggard and Le Guin created other worlds through science fiction writing to express their feelings towards universal changes, classifications and advancements to help or inhibit a society’s evolution. Through The Shape of Things to Come, Wells expresses fears that war will wipe out new technologies and humankind will be set back to primitive ways. Wells develops a modern view of the world rather than a less advanced primitive environment. Haggard’s She opposes savagery by portraying a society in which he himself would much rather escape than become a part of. The fear of primitive living motivates Haggard to live a more modern, civilised life. Lastly, Le Guin shows mixed feelings about modernity and primitivity. She sees a benefit to having different societies with ever changing technologies, but she fears war will be the outcome of this disparity between more and less advance societies. [next page]