The Tombs of Atuan

Ged is the second-most important character in the novel. Though he was the protagonist of the first Earthsea novel, he plays a supporting role in the second, as the character who triggers Tenar’s self-awakening. Believing that true names hold power and should be kept secret, Ged calls himself “Sparrowhawk” through much of the narrative. He reveals his true name to Tenar in Chapter 9 as a sign of trust.

Ged, a wizard from the Inner Lands, has dark skin that marks him as foreign among the Kargish, who have pale skin. He comes to Kargad and the Tombs of Atuan on a mission to retrieve the second half of Erreth-Akbe’s broken amulet. He already possesses the first half, having received it in the first novel, though he did not realize its significance at the time. Ged is a quiet, serious man, who has seen many dark and dangerous things in his life and faces challenges with calm confidence. This attitude is partly why Tenar comes to trust and rely on him. He appears to feel pain and guilt for his role in Tenar’s disillusionment and self-imposed exile from her homeland. He also clearly cares for her well-being and admires her strength and bravery.

Ged represents a middle ground between Tenar’s devotion and Kossil’s unfaith, suggesting that the nature of faith depends a great deal on subjective interpretation. Unlike Tenar, who doubts the existence of the Nameless Ones but not their worthiness of worship, Ged knows that the Nameless Ones, like many other Powers of the Earth, exist and should be respected, even feared, but asserts that are not worthy of worship. This reinterpretation of the Nameless Ones allows Tenar to change her relationship to her faith. He offers Tenar a new way of seeing her role in the world, as a vessel of light rather than darkness, and helps to break her free from the servitude she has been bred into.

Kossil is the external antagonist of the novel, embodying Tenar’s struggles with both the nature of faith and the role of women in patriarchal society. Kossil is the High Priestess of the Godking, the most recent in a line of emperors who have fashioned themselves into living gods. Kossil is tall, thin, and hard, in comparison with Thar who is soft and large. She is the priestess who first found Tenar as a baby and confirmed she was the One Priestess reborn. She and Thar share the duty of educating Tenar and performing her role as priestess until she comes of age. Where Thar is stern, Kossil is cruel.

Kossil does not believe in the gods or worship them in her heart. She only believes in power and knows that her role as the priestess for the Godking gives her that power. She believes the Nameless Ones are weak or dead. In contrast with Tenar, who gives up her power to follow her faith, Kossil uses others’ faith in the Kargish religion to create power for herself. She is jealous of Tenar’s status as the One Priestess and would end the line if she could. Kossil also represents one possible response to the subjugated role of women in her society: using any power at her disposal to control her own life, even at the expense of others who are similarly oppressed.

Manan is an important secondary character who supports Tenar throughout the novel. He is a Warden of the temples, meaning that he is a eunuch, as men are not permitted within the temples or the Undertomb. Manan’s role, much like the roles of women in patriarchal society, suggests that men who are not seen as traditionally masculine are also subjugated under patriarchy.

Manan is assigned as Tenar’s guardian upon her arrival at the Place and takes his role seriously. He encourages and comforts her when she is lonely or sad and tries to protect her from her own questionable choices and other dangers, including Kossil and the retribution of the Nameless Ones. His dialogue and behavior indicate that he cares for and loves Tenar, though Tenar sometimes dismisses his concerns and speaks coldly to him. In contrast to Kossil, Manan is a true believer in the gods, which causes him a great deal of anxiety, suggesting the oppressive nature of faith. He encourages Tenar’s faith and fears that she has invited their wrath by permitting the intruder, Ged, to live. Manan dies while trying to prevent Ged from escaping, and his death weighs heavily on Tenar.

Thar is the High Priestess of the Twin Gods, Atwah and Wuluah, who are secondary gods to the Nameless Ones and the Godking. Thar is large, round, and soft, compared to Kossil who is tall and thin. Though she dies of illness in Chapter 5, Thar is important to Tenar’s growth and education in her role as a priestess. Thar was close with the previous One Priestess and teaches Tenar everything the previous priestess taught her, including the many paths through the Labyrinth and the locations of the spy holes throughout the grounds. Thar is stern but not cruel. When she dies, Tenar misses her and fears being left in Kossil’s sole care.