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?