The Struggle for Power

The struggle for power is seen throughout The Gods Themselves. The most obvious way this theme is shown is in the electron pump. The machine is described as giving them clean, cheap power. Although the humans that develop this power soon begin to struggle over it, it is quickly seen that there is more to the pump that what the humans realize. The electron pump will eventually destroy the Sun and the human race with it. This begins a new struggle for power that is seen in regards to the humans and the beings in the para-Universe. The beings in the para-Universe know the machine will end all life for humans, but the explosion and energy created when they are gone will feed the beings in the para-Universe.

There are other minor struggles seen in the story along with this larger one. The first real...