Ged (Earthsea)

Ged, also known as Sparrowhawk, is the protagonist of Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea fantasy series. He is a powerful wizard and archmage whose life is chronicled across several books in the series.

Ged is born in the village of Ten Alders on the island of Gont. As a young boy, he displays a natural talent for magic, saving his village from raiders using uncontrolled and dangerous spells. He is apprenticed to the mage Ogion, who names him Ged. Dissatisfied with Ogion's patient and restrained approach, Ged journeys to the island of Roke to attend the wizarding school.

At Roke, Ged's pride and arrogance lead him to summon a shadow creature during a contest of power with another student. This act unleashes a dark entity that pursues him throughout his life. Ged's struggle to confront and ultimately integrate with this shadow self is a central theme of the Earthsea books.

His journey takes him across the archipelago, facing dragons, dark magic, and the consequences of his youthful errors. He learns humility, responsibility, and the importance of balance in the world.

Ged eventually becomes Archmage, the most powerful and respected wizard in Earthsea, a position he later relinquishes. He plays a pivotal role in restoring balance to the world, particularly concerning the misuse of magic and the blurring of the boundaries between life and death. He is known for his wisdom, his knowledge of the Old Speech (the language of True Names), and his unwavering commitment to the equilibrium of Earthsea. His later life involves confronting his own limitations and understanding the necessity of death as a natural part of the cycle of life.