Silent Planet: theme and philosophies, ch 4-5

"Things do not always happen as a man would expect." (Ch 6)

Silent Planet is the first book in an odyssey series of one man, Ransom's, journey into self discovery/ and spiritual realization much like CS Lewis' own journey from athesiasm into Christianity.

CS Lewis and JRR Tolkein were teaching fellows of languages, writinging peers and cohorts, and great friends. Tolkein was Lewis' senior. As you read this book you might find some similarities in theme.

A good book to read as resource companion would be Lewis' autobiography, My Surprise of Joy.

The goal of my posts will be to focus on Ransom's evolution as he encounters characters and beliefs that will challenge him, and the results. I will do this through quotes and as little commentary as I can offer as to open discussion and comments from my fellow readers. I invite you all to also offer quotes that impact you along with some commentary for our consideration.

Chapts. 4 and 5 are loaded with philosophies that set up the book. Below are lines I offer for your consideration and comment. Notice any religious symbolism ie. pre-existance, the war in heaven. two opposing ideas, the idea of sacrificing Ransom?

The doctrines of man vs. the power of God's love and enlightenment

"The lifelong self control of social man: the virtues which are half hypocricy or the hypocricy which is half virtue. " (ch. 4)

"Small claims must give way to great." (Ch 4.. Weston)

"It would be easier if your philosophy of life were not so insufferably narrow and individualistic" Ch 4.. Weston to Ransom.

"I consider your philosophy of life, raving lunacy. You think you are justified in doing anything absolutely anything. ( Ch 4 Ransom to Weston)

"... the tryanny of heat and light. Both were present in degree which would have been intolerable on earth, but each had a new quality. He felt vigilant, courageous and magnanimous as he had seldom felt on earth. ( ch 4. about Ransom) " I always thought space was dark and cold" (Ransom)

"Ah, there's always a native question in these things" (Devine, ch5) " He didn't give a damn for the future of the species or the meeting of two worlds"

"It is hard for a man to brood on the future when he is feeling so extremely well"
( Ch 5 about Ransom) "There, totally immersed in a bath of pure ethereal colour and of unrelenting though unwounding brightness... he felt his body and mind daily rubbed and scoured and and filled with new vitality."

"The mythology that follows in the wake of science was falling off him" (ch 5)

"... the very name "Space" seemed a blasphemous libel for this empyrean ocean of radiance in which they swam. " .... out of this ocean the worlds and all their life had come. he saw now that it was the womb of worlds. Older thinkers had been wiser when they named it simply the heavens, the heavens which declared the glory. (ch 5)

"He preferred to work as a volunteer rather than in admitted slavery."
(ch 5)

"Out of this heaven, these happy climes, they were presently to descend."
(ch 5)

"His mind, like so many minds of his generation, was richly furnished with bogies." ( ch. 5 about Ransom)

"He was to be given to them. Somehow, this seemed more horrible than being caught by them." (ch 5 about Ransom)

"Otherness- something one had never thought of." (ch 5)

"Ransom made a decision. He could face death,but not the sorns..... If escape were impossible, then it must be suicide. Ransom was a pious man. He hoped he would be forgiven." (ch 5)

What are your thoughts so far?

That last post was made by Lauren not Sean, just to be clear.

I just wanted to let you all know that I finally have the book. Unfortunately I was having some difficulty acquiring it. I'll be joining the discussions soon.

Ok, looks like I'm the first post. I'm about 2/3 into the book and so far it's very interesting.

I'd like to address the question of Super Race/ Manifest Destiny. Weston, of course embodies the idea of super race/ manifest destiny. Its pretty easy to make the paralelles between Weston and the idea of Nazi Germany's one superior race. At times Weston seems a bit archaic as this kind of blatnet verbalization of super race theory is not in current fashion with the western world and in general frowned upon in "polite" company. Instead we now have more subtle forms like abortion, wars in the name of "whatever", class distinction (economically disadvantaged, working poor, middle class, college educated, wealthy, political eliet, etc) that do the job of weeding out those pesky, less desired types. Sure these things existed in Lewis' time but today we have a more politcally correct lexicon that makes us all feel much better about the atrocities we continue to inflict on those weaker or different from us.

I found it interesting that much of Ransom's early experiences on the new planet were trying to find out the political landscape of the plant. Who was the dominating power? It really took him some time before he could even grasp the concept that different races could live together without strife or the need of competing or dominating political power.

However, Oyarsa found Devine's greed a far worse and more dangerous desire. Oyarsa said that if he had jurisdiction over Weston he would try to heal him of his narrow mindedness but he would kill Devine. Weston's misguided and ingnorant theory was from a rooted desire to improve humanity. Devine's greed served only himself.

As Ransom continues his journey he experiences increasing shame and embarrassment over humanity. When the Sorn showed Ransom the earth from the telescope it was "the bleakest moment of his travels." He even suggests to the Oyarsa that he kill him, weston and devine as humans were a threat to the peaceful existence of the plant.

Hey, any thoughts on the human names. Weston, Ransom, Devine?

Out of the Silent Planet, Ponderings

Finally,

We are able to start some ponderings as we read Out of the Silent Planet.
Some of us have now passed chapt. 4 and are well into the book. Along the way I will interject some biographical facts about CS Lewis that I think have some relevance and impact on this book.

These first questions reflect themes that flow throughout the book.

1. What is human? Note the meaning is different to the earthly characters at the beginning of the book and also to the characters on Malancandra.

2. Two philosophies regarding the importance of the individual vs the good of society is a central theme. What characters reflect these ideas? Do you agree or disagree with them. World War II was raging during the writing of this triology? For sure our world, the silent planet, was struggling with these issues.

4. Note the themes of "Manifest Destiny", and "Super Race" that are major influences in world history, are controlling ideas in Silent Planet.
And of course, there are at least two opposing views.

5. Offer some of your favorite lines from your reading so far. Great starter for discussions.

We are off an running. What did you think of Lewis description of space?
What do you like about his writing style?

Biographical: He actually went on walking tours with his writers group, the Inklings at Oxford. Note what he says about walking tours vs military marching in the beginning of the book as he tells Devine about himself. At the very beginning of this book we encounter Lewis's opinion on individualism and free will.

Looking forward to your comments.

Mom