Page "The Word of Unbinding" Paragraph 8

Also within this story is the theme that a wizard taking the form of an animal risks becoming trapped in his own spell and not being able to change back.

In A Wizard of Earthsea Ged is trapped in the form of hawk, and would have remained a bird but for Ogion's changing him back.

This theme is reinforced by another tale of a wizard who takes the form of a bear and is unable to return to his original form.

As a bear, the wizard kills his own child.

Likewise, there is mention of " wise men who became dolphins and forgot their wisdom among the waves of the sea ".

These are examples of the limitations and risks inherent in the use of magic and the need to keep a balance, which are central to Le Guin's concept of magic.