The character of Ged (variously called Lord Sparrowhawk, the Archmage, Lord Hawk) was once the principle hero of the Earthsea Saga set before The Other Wind. His exploits during those books form the basis of events that lead up to the story of Alder, Tehanu, King Lebannen and Orm Irian.
Ged was once the greatest of all mages in Earthsea, master of the school of wizadry on Roke, and was called the Archmage. During his adventures we understand that he conquered great evil, healing the rift in the world created by another evil sorcerer, brought back to Earthsea the Ring of Elfarran and his lady wife Tenar from the Tomb of Atuan in the Kargad lands, became a dragonlord and himself explored the lands of the dead. That is all done now, and the character of Ged that we see in the story of The Other Wind is a taciturn, solemn and practical man who lives in his old masters house on the backwater island of Gont. Ged the Archmage lost all of his magical abilities in the previous stories, and now, as the Doorkeeper of Roke puts it; "Is Done With Doing." Instead, into his care is the dragon-girl Tehanu (the mysteriously scarred gitl who seems to have the ability to talk with dragons), along with his wife Tenar who was once one of the High Priestesses of the Kargad Lands.
When the Master Patterner sends Alder to seek Ged's counsel, both men are at first taken aback (as the Archmage has no power any more), but through Ged's long years of experience, he helps the troubled young sorcerer and sends him to King Lebannen's court with two questions to ask Tehanu. Whilst he himself is not as pivotal a character to the story as he used to be, by answering Ged's questions the group of main protagonists finally understand what is really ailing Alder, why the dead are calling to him and what is ailing all of Earthsea.
As a character in the book, Ged appears as very wise but a stubborn, shadowed man. He has seen many great things and appears to now distrust the grandiosity of magic and fate; instead putting his faith in the simple truths of honesty, honour, friendship and love. By stepping out and away from the story, the author is trying to show Ged's battle with his own humility as he still struggles to come to terms with his now simple life and take pleasure in it.
