Ursula Kroeber Le Guin's She Unnames Them

Ursula Kroeber Le Guin (1929-) is a is an American feminist writer of science fiction and fantasy. Her work has often portrayed futuristic or imaginary alternative worlds in politics, the natural environment, gender, religion, sexuality and ethnography. Le Guin’s short story “She Unnames Them” uses the original story to enhance those how have been disregarded by the Biblical telling. According to the myth “She” (Eve, woman) and “Them” (animals, nature) were the ones who got their names from Adam. With this action, a hierarchy throughout words was created which led Eve to reaffirm her being. However, have you ever wondered about the barriers that language can establish? Le Guin’s short story illustrates the power of language in creating hierarchy and barriers. Eve and the animals are oppressed and that is why “She Unnames Them” is a brilliant and competent ecofeminist reading where women and animal’s rights are joined.

The story combines creatures or beings who belong to the same level: those which have received their name from a man. Accordingly, the names given by him creates a separation and a classification which supposes an impediment for set up harmony between all the living beings. Eve asks the animals to renounce their names for feeling closer to them. Through this process,

Due to the lack of names the “hunter” or the “eater” cannot be differentiated from the “hunted”, or the “food”. But then an important question comes up: could a world without names be possible? Names give us identity and distinctiveness, but the elimination of names is not the solution. For example, our nameless protagonist is forced to explain herself since there is no longer a name that defines "animals": " I'm going now. With the—" I hesitated, and finally said, "With them, you know," and went on out. In fact, I had only just then realized how hard it would have been to explain myself.” (Le