How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
As he came to the bank Ogion, waiting, reached out his hand and clasping the boy's arm whispered to him his true name: Ged. (1.48)
Ogion tells Ged his true name, but maybe this is one of those times when the wizard can see the truth of the universe, as Ged does with Vetch's sister (10.14). In other words, Ged doesn't get to choose who he really is.
Quote #2
"Have you never thought how danger must surround power as shadow does light? This sorcery is not a game we play for pleasure or for praise. Think of this: that every word, every act of our Art is said and is done either for good, or for evil. Before you speak or do you must know the price that is to pay!" (2.48)
Ogion presents the case for Balance, which is that every action has a consequence. In other words, Ged needs to think before he acts.
Quote #3
"I would keep you here with me, for what I have is what you lack, but I will not keep you against your will. Now choose between Re Albi and Roke." (2.52)
Right after Ogion gives Ged a little lesson in how choices have consequences, he presents Ged with a serious choice: stay with me or go to Roke. And, of course, Ged chooses incorrectly. But even though Ogion wants to keep Ged with him, he doesn't have the right to make that choice since it's about Ged's life, not his.
Quote #4
"You thought, as a boy, that a mage is one who can do anything. So I thought, once. So did we all. And the truth is that as a man's real power grows and his knowledge widens, ever the way he can follow grows narrower: until at last he chooses nothing, but does only and wholly what he must do ... " (4.106)
This is the Master Summoner talking to Ged about the limits on their choices. Now, this is only one character talking – and, remember, characters can be wrong – but what Master Summoner says here about the limitations of choice seems to fit in with the rest of the book. That is, Ged has fewer options precisely because he's so powerful and therefore has big responsibilities.
Quote #5
Hearing the mother's wail, and seeing the trust Pechvarry had in him, Ged did not know how he could disappoint them. (5.19)
Here, Ged feels like he can't make a choice, not just because of his power and duties, but because of his friendship with Pechvarry. Now, Ged does this thing for Pechvarry's friendship, but it's not actually the right thing for Ged to do – because Ioethe is too far gone, Ged should let him go. That's the duty that the Master Herbal taught him.
Quote #6
All night he tried to choose his way, to plan where he should go, what he should do: but each choice, each plan was blocked by a foreboding of doom. (6.21)
Facing the doom of the shadow monster, Ged feels as if he can't choose any direction. With the benefit of hindsight, we could say that the problem is that Ged is overlooking the right choice – he has to hunt the shadow, not run away from it. As in other situations, there's one right choice, which must feel to the character as if there's no choice at all.
Quote #7
"But I know this, the Old Powers of earth are not for men to use. They were never given into our hands, and in our hands they work only ruin. Ill means, ill end: I was not drawn here, but driven here, and the force that drove me works to my undoing. I cannot help you." (7.52)
We like the distinction that Ged draws here between being drawn and being driven. We're fans of it because it may be true (he's driven by the shadow monster), but it also shows the way he's thinking about choice now, which is that he thinks he doesn't have any choice: he's either pulled to the stone or pushed by the shadow. When, in fact, as Ogion will point out, he can also do some pushing of his own.
Quote #8
There was a great wish in him to stay here on Gont, and foregoing all wizardry and venture, forgetting all power and horror, to live in peace like any man on the known, dear ground of his home land. That was his wish; but his will was other. (8.3)
Ged may want to live a normal life, but he chooses not to right here (after he's scared away the shadow). And why does he choose not to? Because he feels as if he has some responsibility to fix what he messed up in Chapter 4.
Quote #9
On the dock Yarrow stood and watched them go, as sailor's wives and sisters stand on all the shores of all Earthsea watching their men go out on the sea. (9.84)
We're mostly interested in what choices Ged makes (or what choices get made for him), but let's not forget that other people also experience these same choices. For instance, Ged wants to go shadow-hunting, so Vetch chooses to go shadow-hunting (or perhaps Vetch feels compelled to go shadow-hunting). As a result, Yarrow feels compelled (or perhaps chooses) to wait and watch for them.
Quote #10
Vetch asked no question about their course, knowing that Ged did not choose it but went as he must go. (10.3)
Once again, we have the issue of choice presented directly to us: Ged doesn't seem to choose, but does only what he has to do. It seems as if Le Guin wants us to reconsider the way that we think about choice – because sometimes Ged seems more heroic when he's not choosing, doesn't he?