The Lathe Of Heaven

In this third section, the characters portray the distinction between the ancient philosophy of Taoism, called “the Way,” and the much newer 18th-century European philosophy of utilitarianism. Haber embodies the concept of utilitarianism, which becomes the watchword of the new Portland he has created, as the famous utilitarian slogan, “the greatest good for the greatest number,” is found across the city. Haber thinks it is an act of genius that George turns everyone gray, seemingly causing racial strife to disappear. Haber offers a list of things he considers achievements, claiming that they have done more to improve the lot of humanity in six weeks than human civilization has achieved in 6000 years. This supports the utilitarian viewpoint that what is good for the majority of human beings is ideal. Through Haber, Le Guin shows that determining “the greatest good” is highly subjective and often determined by those who already hold power under the systems they wish to change. Within the text, the “greatest good” is not only subjective, but it also creates great pain for many people. For example, Heather’s disappearance is significant, as it means that, in this ideal world of gray skin individuals, she cannot exist, thus emphasizing the human cost of the utilitarian “greatest good.” This skin-changing act is symbolic of the weakness of utilitarianism: It paints everybody gray and, in viewing humans as one whole body, it robs them of individual identity.

George, on the other hand, recognizes that these changes have caused significant imbalance, which represents his approach to The Will to Power—he does not believe that any one person should make decisions for the whole of humanity. To an extent, this also represents the theme of The Powerlessness of the Individual in that George accepts this lack of power as a fact rather than a weakness. Indeed, George appears to recognize that overpopulation, civil strife, economic inequality, hunger, and the loss of individual rights are reflective of a society that is out of balance. As such, it cannot be fixed by dreaming up new, extreme changes from the top-down, as the society itself is the root of the problem. No matter how many changes are made from the top-down, the society still operates in the same manner, meaning that balance cannot be achieved.

Prior to this section, George himself is portrayed as imbalanced and passive. He fears his dreams because of their power and does what he can to prevent himself from dreaming. However, in this third section of the narrative, Heather finds George in a cabin evading sleep and even contemplating ending his life to stop Haber’s world changes. Heather serves as a comrade for George, providing comfort and understanding and viewing him as an ethical, thoughtful person rather than a mere tool, as Haber does. As a result of this trust, George has an effective dream of his own design, intended for peace. While the result of that dream initially seems catastrophic, George is a different person when he wakes: He is confident that Haber must be stopped, and he has reached some peace within himself as an effective dreamer. Thus, as Haber’s power grows in disruptive ways, George’s power grows more balanced, and he grows confident. George has been restored, and he no longer fears the power of his dreams. Indeed, though he cannot prevent Haber from following through on his plans, George has an underlying sense that balance is going to be restored: George has faith in the ability of people to change on their own, which serves as a stark contrast to Haber, who seeks to control every aspect of humanity.

The insertion of Heather into George’s life disrupts his isolation, providing him with a sense of peace and a reclamation of his own power. In contrast, Haber becomes more isolated, suggesting that power-hungriness leads to all-encompassing obsession. For example, when the aliens invade Earth, the Institute evacuates, but Haber remains to wait for George, a person he views as a tool that can solve all of his problems. However, once George encounters the aliens that he summoned in his dreams, and who all appear to know him, his confidence and sense of self grows. He recognizes that the aliens are on his side, that they understand the notion of effective dreams, and that he can call upon them for help. As such, George’s character arch has grown significantly, as he has developed from a frightened, passive person to a character with clear intentions, strong morals, and many allies. Indeed, in this third section, though George does not actively resist Haber’s attempt to rob him of his ability to dream, he allows Haber to proceed without any negative impact upon George’s personal power. This implies that the person who is balanced has little to fear from the person who is imbalanced. Further, though George has lost Heather, his faith in the balance of the world allows him to remain in a state of calm.