In Ursula Le Guin's novel The Tombs of Atuan, she focuses on a young woman named Tenar. Much of the Tombs highlight Tenar's lack of choice, such as being chosen to also become known as Arha, "The Eaten One" (Tomb 177). Like Arha, she is introduced to the dark and cruel religion of The Nameless Ones. With the discovery of Ged, from The Wizard of Earthsea, in the underground tomb, Arha's life will never be the same, as she will be offered knowledge and choices she never even knew were available to her. Trust and choices are two main aspects of the Tombs of Atuan, and it is through Ged that Arha finally learns about them. The darkness of the labyrinth in the Tombs symbolizes ignorance and fear, and when Ged arrives with his light he brings with him awareness and change. Tenar's role has often been downplayed by making her a person from Ged's journey, simply helping him escape the labyrinth and Ged saving her. This is a misconception; Tenar plays an active role in Tombs, as she and Ged depend on each other to escape the Tombplace. Ged was a crucial guide in Tenar's journey to freedom. Recognizing Tenar as a person who was "never created for cruelty or darkness" (Tombs 299), Ged has found the good in Tenar, even though she herself is blind to it. He offered Tenar the freedom to grow into her own person. Tenar is shown the truth and reality of the world through Ged. He knows that too much information from outside the Tombs can overwhelm Tenar and cause her to collapse, so he is kind and patient, offering her freedom of choice instead of telling her to accept it. Ged knows that people who aren't ready or don't want knowledge can't have it forced on them. While Ged holds off the earthquake with his magic until... middle of the card... .the Temple so that he could find knowledge and balance. For this reason, it is entirely fitting that Tenar's escape from Atuan occurs not through magic, but through trust in Ged.Works CitedClark, Suzanne. Cold Warriors: Manhood on Trial in the Rhetoric of the West. Carbondale: Southern Illinois UP, 1988. Google Book.Jobling, J'annine. Fantastic spiritualities, monsters, heroes and contemporary religious imagery. New York: Continuum, 2010. Google Book.Le Guin, Ursula. The Tombs of Atuan. The Earthsea Quartet. New York: Penguin Books, 2012. 169-300.Print.Le Guin, Ursula. A wizard from Earthsea. The Earthsea Quartet. New York: Penguin Books, 2012. 12-168. Print.Le Guin, Ursula. Tehanu. The Earthsea Quartet. New York: Penguin Books, 2012. 479-691. Print.Le Guin, Ursula "A commencement speech for left-handers." UrsulaLeGuin.com. Accessed: November 29, 2013. Web.