Power and responsibility
Ged learned from a young age that he could do magic and thus he was aware of the fact that he was more powerful than many other children his age and many adults. He first proved his power when he saved his village from a group of raiders and he also realized that his power could earn him respect if he uses it correctly. What Ged did not try to do however was to learn that power also meant a great responsibility. Ged’s mentors tried to teach him that if he uses his powers in an abusive manner, then he will have to suffer the consequences of his actions. On numerous occasions, Ged had to deal with the consequences of using his powers incorrectly but still, he did not fully comprehend the idea that magic is dangerous until his childhood.
The danger of wanting to impress
Ged is a young man who tries to find his place in a world dominated by powerful and dangerous characters. In comparison with other characters, Ged lacks the discipline to become a great wizard and thus he gets into trouble for the sole reason of wanting to impress those around him. The reason why Ged sometimes acts irrationally is not that he is an irrational character, but because he wants to impress those around him. Because of this, he lets other characters rile him up and he acts in erratic ways.
The importance of friendship
Ged is a lonely person, who has trouble connecting with other characters. He often finds himself trapped in a lonely place from which he cannot escape. When the shadow tries to kill him, Ged tries to deal with the situation on his own, without asking for help. For a long time, he is unsuccessful in his quest of finding and defeating the shadow but when he becomes willing to accept the help the others want to give him, Ged prevails. Thus, one of the major themes in the novel is the idea that in life, people need friends to succeed. Also, when faced with challenges, it is wiser to ask for help than to try and deal with the problem on our own.
