Ged's Shadow

A dark part of himself that hunted Ged until he named it.

An evil shadow spirit slipped through the door Ged opened between the living world and the dead when he attempted to call the spirit of the long-dead queen Elfarran from the Dry Land. This willpower hunted Ged, attempting to possess his body and turn him into a "Gebbeth," a soulless creature serving the forces of darkness. After many adventures, Ged could name the shadow and thus understand it was a dark part of himself—his materialized evil.

Quick Facts

First appearance: A Wizard of Earthsea

Reader's Guide

The Shadow is not an external demon but a part of Ged's own nature released when he recklessly opened a door to the Dry Land. It hunts him to possess him and create a "Gebbeth." Because it is a manifestation of his own evil, it cannot be defeated by force alone. The resolution requires Ged to name the Shadow, acknowledging it as himself. This act restores his balance and marks his maturity.