Ged Friendship

Wizard of Earthsea's protagonist, Ged, has proven to enjoy the quality of his company rather than the quantity; as proven multiple times by the way he makes and enforces some of the friendships he is shown to approach at several points in the book. Although focusing on what caused his actual strive for getting these friends is important, remembering that this is already discussed at the very start of the book where most of the children Ged's age fear and sometimes refuse to interact with him corrects this argument immediately, and It's very interesting to observe the corelation of his strive for adventure with his strive for making friends. From the eyes of a lonely boy who is the only one among many to know magic: making friends is hard. Although

this, as the reader notices when the plot grows thick, Ged turns into an apprentice, and eventaully a powerful wizard. The importance dosn't lie exactly in making friends: It lies with how he has them come to exist.

Ged's arguably most genuine relationship had first been with Vetch. Even when they take a pause from the School to spar over an argument, even as "Vetch sobbed with horror, [...] he put out his hands to try and pull [the Shadow] away from Ged." Their relationship is unique, because they are actually very similiar people in very similar situations. They both go to the Wizard School, the are both roughly the same age, and they both are hot-headed and fast to act. This is especially interesting since they come from different kinds of families and social statuses, yet they manage to ignore their past and forge a friendship after the sparring. Additionally, even though he was the one who was insulted first by Ged originally, Vetch took it upon himself to go out of his way and visit Ged, probably because he wanted him to know that somebody cared about him. So much so, that he reveals his actual name after Ged had been wounded; one of the most valuable gift you can give to someone in a world where words can mean everything. "...If ever you need me, send for me," he said, "call on me by my name: Estarriol."

Following him meeting with Vetch, he followed up by recovering his injuries and stumbling across a new creature: "Hoeg!" Since, unfortunately for Ged, the creature can't speak the common-language, he to it one sided, even though he's sure they understand him..

"-'...Want to come with me?' The otak sat itself down on his open hand, and begain to wash it's fur. [...] Sometimes during the day it jumped down and darted off into the woods, but it always came back.-" It's evident from the text that Ged seems to have a sort of aura or mood around him that keeps the creature close by, even though communication is sparse between them. He takes a liking for the creature, and it him, and thus their own relationship came into existence. They hand't done much before they had to part: but this relationship helped signify to the reader of the nature of Ged's friendliness on his outer and personal appearance, and it helps set the mood to how he acts to strangers, humans or

not.

Ged's relationship with Ogion is a complicated one, but after some furthur research it definitely counts as Friendship. A balanced defnition of friendship would be that two people enjoy each other's company, either directly--or indirectly. At page 48, Oigion gives Ged his name; "Whispered to him his true name: Ged." He chooses to apprentice him, and gives Ged a path to tread for his life. While Ged likes him as a person and respects him as a teacher, he still feels drawn away from Ogion at first since he dosn't present much room for learning. "Have you ever thought how danger must sorround power as shadow does light? [...] Think of this: that every word, every act of our Art is said and is done either for good, or for evil." This quote serves as context for Ged's feelings towards Ogion, and Ogion towards Ged. These ideals of Ogion make Ged passionate about being his desciple, as Ogion as well does want to teach the boy about the principles of wizardry.

From the reader's point of view, there had been several occasions where men and creatures of this world had taken a certain, mysterious liking to Ged.

Additionally, although these relationships are rather rare when reading, they are as valuable as they are reminded to the reader. Everything from a fellow student who took a liking to him up to a Master who felt a mix of both pity and admiration for Ged's unspent potential. Generally speaking, Ged isn't very social. Around the other kids he uses his magic freely, and while his village no doubt thanked him for his acts; admiration for him seemed distant and unheared of, even if it meant to be the very oppisate. Every single time he met someone in Wizard of Earthsea, it was a unique and usually odd experience which kept him in awe or excited; having the writer usually cover at least a couple of pages in describing or mentioning the character he met. What are their intentions? What are they dressed like? What does Ged note about them? Nevertheless, Ged persists in allowing more and more people into his life, as he is a curios boy, and not much could stop him from having friends as he

did.