Shadowlands, although not written by C. S. Lewis, was excellent! I read it over spring break, and I really really enjoyed it. It is a play written by William Nicholson that depicts Lewis' life, from when he meets Joy (his future wife) until her death later in life. It was a heart-wrenching look into the life of a man that up until now I only knew as a dedicated author and intellectual genius.
I know the play was based on the actual life of Lewis, but one thing I'm very curious about is how much of the dialogue is accurate, or how close to real life it comes. One of my favorite aspects of this play was the periodical speeches that Lewis would make standing in front of the audience. At the very end of the play, one of the last lines Lewis says is, "The pain, now. is part of the happiness, then. That's the deal." I think that is a really beautiful concept. In order to really partake of happiness we have to first understand pain. If you go through your whole life never feeling hurt, never getting sad, never feeling loss or pain, than how can you truly understand what happiness is.
We also watched the movie Shadowlands this evening. I thought they did a very good job of depicting the story, very close to what I saw as I read the play. The only part I really didn't like in the movie was when Joy got angry with Lewis and yelled at him, saying they in fact weren't friends. I don't recall that happening in the script, and I wasn't a big fan. Overall though the film was a very beautiful portrayal of one of the most difficult trials a person can go through in this life.
Monday, December 5, 2011
A Grief Observed
This was a heart-wrenching, honest portrayal of the pain that C. S. Lewis went through after the death of his wife Joy. A lot of times people think that the deepest kind of love comes from having gotten married young and spending a lifetime growing and learning together. While this definitely strengthens a relationship, its not the only way sincere love can form. When I first started taking this class, I had no idea that Lewis had ever even been married. And when I learned that he hadn't married until later in life, I figured that it must have been a marriage more of convenience than of true love.
This book pulled down and demolished any of those thoughts I had. Lewis is so open and raw with his thoughts that it caused me to cringe at the thought of the pain he was going through. One thing that I was really impressed by was how through describing his own pain, Lewis was able to remind me of every single time I had had similar thoughts or feelings.
I love his opening line, "No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear." He put what I was feeling so perfectly into words, that I was shocked. I think a big part of grief is suddenly feeling alone, and not knowing what the future will bring. It is the fear of the unknown that sometimes hurts the most. Fear of being alone forever, fear that life is never going to get better, fear that you will never be the same person you were before, that instead you will live as a shadow of your former self.
I really liked this book. It is the first time that you really see Jack Lewis. Rather than C. S. Lewis the author, you see Jack the man. And nothing is hidden, it is all him, raw emotions, writhing in pain and trying to make sense of a broken world.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
The Last Battle
The ending of The Last Battle is probably one of the most powerful endings to any of C.S. Lewis' books that we have read thus far. I really enjoyed it, and was actually surprised by it. I didn't realize that all of the main characters had actually died until C.S. Lewis explicitly told us.
My favorite part of The Last Battle was the overall idea that heaven was basically the creation of a 'new' Narnia. Everything that the children loved about Narnia were still a part of heaven, only now everything was brighter, happier, and a little bit better. A big part of me is afraid of the Second Coming, because I'm afraid I won't have the time on earth to accomplish everything I want to. I have a lot of big dreams and goals. I want to finish school, become a lawyer, get married, and have a family. This book helped to remind me that when the Second Coming does happen, I will be happier than imaginable. I won't even think about the things I 'missed' out on from this mortal life.
Another cool image for me through this book was the stable. I especially found it interesting that the dwarfs were put in the stable and it was a cold, dark, and frigtening place. Emeth on the other hand saw the light, found Aslan, and continued to prosper. This reminds me of many of Lewis' other books, specifically The Great Divorce, where he asserts that going to heaven or hell are all personal choices. The dwarfs didn't have the faith and were to prideful to be able to partake of the glorious state of the New Narnia. So instead they hid in the darkness, refusing to believe anyone who told them differently.
In my personal life I always hope that I can be open to other people's opinions and ideas. Pride generally comes from refusing to see the world from anyother perspective than your own.
The last thing I'll mention from this book is on the very last page. Lewis says something about how the joy and experiences we have in this life are merely a glimmer of the life to come, where we will reside in the glory of God. I think this is a beautiful concept and it helps to take away many doubts and fears that people have. I'm always amazed at how close Lewis comes to perfect Gospel principles.
My favorite part of The Last Battle was the overall idea that heaven was basically the creation of a 'new' Narnia. Everything that the children loved about Narnia were still a part of heaven, only now everything was brighter, happier, and a little bit better. A big part of me is afraid of the Second Coming, because I'm afraid I won't have the time on earth to accomplish everything I want to. I have a lot of big dreams and goals. I want to finish school, become a lawyer, get married, and have a family. This book helped to remind me that when the Second Coming does happen, I will be happier than imaginable. I won't even think about the things I 'missed' out on from this mortal life.
Another cool image for me through this book was the stable. I especially found it interesting that the dwarfs were put in the stable and it was a cold, dark, and frigtening place. Emeth on the other hand saw the light, found Aslan, and continued to prosper. This reminds me of many of Lewis' other books, specifically The Great Divorce, where he asserts that going to heaven or hell are all personal choices. The dwarfs didn't have the faith and were to prideful to be able to partake of the glorious state of the New Narnia. So instead they hid in the darkness, refusing to believe anyone who told them differently.
In my personal life I always hope that I can be open to other people's opinions and ideas. Pride generally comes from refusing to see the world from anyother perspective than your own.
The last thing I'll mention from this book is on the very last page. Lewis says something about how the joy and experiences we have in this life are merely a glimmer of the life to come, where we will reside in the glory of God. I think this is a beautiful concept and it helps to take away many doubts and fears that people have. I'm always amazed at how close Lewis comes to perfect Gospel principles.
Monday, November 14, 2011
The Magician's Nephew
Surprisingly I have actually read this book before, but it was so long ago that I had very little memory of the events that occurred. The Magician's Nephew is basically a story of the creation and I love the symbolism that C.S. Lewis writes into these children's books.
One thing that I find really interesting is the fact that Lewis uses children in all of his books as the main hero's/characters. There are two different reasons I can see for this. 1. The Chronicles of Narnia were written for children, so naturally children should be placed in the spotlight. or 2. Lewis is trying to give deeper meaning to the book.
While I read these books I considered the scriptural idea that we are each called to "be like little children." I like to think that the reason Lewis put the children in these books is to show that sometimes, the hero of a story, needs to be innocent and youthful. The children as main characters remind us of the kind of people we should be. Children are submissive, and we also should be submissive to the call of Christ. Perhaps this is Lewis' way of reminding us to submit to Christ's will.
One thing that I find really interesting is the fact that Lewis uses children in all of his books as the main hero's/characters. There are two different reasons I can see for this. 1. The Chronicles of Narnia were written for children, so naturally children should be placed in the spotlight. or 2. Lewis is trying to give deeper meaning to the book.
While I read these books I considered the scriptural idea that we are each called to "be like little children." I like to think that the reason Lewis put the children in these books is to show that sometimes, the hero of a story, needs to be innocent and youthful. The children as main characters remind us of the kind of people we should be. Children are submissive, and we also should be submissive to the call of Christ. Perhaps this is Lewis' way of reminding us to submit to Christ's will.
Monday, November 7, 2011
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
I had even less experience with The Voyage of the Dawn Treader than I did with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I have still never seen the movie, so I am unable to make any comparisons. This was also my first time reading this book. I love how quickly this book can be read. I think it takes an incredible writer to be able to write such a symbolic novel, yet make it so user-friendly.
Honestly the religious connection in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader was a lot harder for me to see. I understand that it is a symbol of the religious journey we each take. But understanding the connections throughout the book was more difficult.
The one thing I really liked was how often Aslan showed up in different forms and on all the different islands. This was a strong reminder for me that no matter what kind of role or path I follow in life, I need Christ right next to me. When Eustace is still a dragon and is trying to shed his own skin...no matter what he does, he can't do it all on his own. It ultimately takes Aslan to help him shed his skin. And the part that comforted me was that Eustace went through pain in order to shed that skin.
As each of us are trying to become the people Christ wants us to be its going to be painful. Its going to be hard, and not always very much fun. But in the end Christ is still right there waiting for us to come out even better on the other side. It is like the "refiner's fire." We each go through different trials and hardships so that we will be ultimately worthy of Christ's love and sacrifice.
To me this is a beautiful concept, because it shows me that even when I feel like I'm struggling, God still knows my potential, and is trying me because He wants me to reach my full capacity.
Honestly the religious connection in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader was a lot harder for me to see. I understand that it is a symbol of the religious journey we each take. But understanding the connections throughout the book was more difficult.
The one thing I really liked was how often Aslan showed up in different forms and on all the different islands. This was a strong reminder for me that no matter what kind of role or path I follow in life, I need Christ right next to me. When Eustace is still a dragon and is trying to shed his own skin...no matter what he does, he can't do it all on his own. It ultimately takes Aslan to help him shed his skin. And the part that comforted me was that Eustace went through pain in order to shed that skin.
As each of us are trying to become the people Christ wants us to be its going to be painful. Its going to be hard, and not always very much fun. But in the end Christ is still right there waiting for us to come out even better on the other side. It is like the "refiner's fire." We each go through different trials and hardships so that we will be ultimately worthy of Christ's love and sacrifice.
To me this is a beautiful concept, because it shows me that even when I feel like I'm struggling, God still knows my potential, and is trying me because He wants me to reach my full capacity.
The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe
Astonishingly enough I have never before read The Chronicles of Narnia and I'm pretty sure that I'm the only one in class who hasn't. I really enjoyed reading The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. It was a lot easier to read and go through than I had originally expected . . . and I really liked the religious undertones of the book.
One thing we discussed a lot in class was how C.S. Lewis stated that this book was not an extended allegory, but rather a supposal. This basically means C.S. Lewis "supposed" that if there was a world inhabited by animals, what form would Christ come in and what kind of events would would occur. And that is where the land of Narnia was born and created.
I personally love the symbology of Aslan as the Christ figure in the land of Narnia. A lot of times I feel like the glory of Christ is lost when reading the Bible. Christ was the son of a Carpenter, a man who lived much like everyone else at the time, but the one difference was He was perfect. But there is little visual examples of Christ's glory on earth. He was scorned, he was mocked, he was hated by the people . . . it's not hard to remember the magnificence of Christ, but it's difficult to visually see this through the Bible.
This is not the case with Aslan in the land of Narnia. Aslan is a magnificent lion. The color of fur, his long mane, they are all physical characteristics of Aslan's power and grace. Throughout the book the four Pensieve children regularly speak of the greatness of Aslan and how it can barely be described. I feel like this is a really beautiful reminder that Christ is a magnificent being that not only deserves but demands our respect and love.
I have seen the movie of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and it is very similar to the book. But I would have to agree with Professor Young when he says that the movie just rushes over the most important part of the book. I was amazed at how quickly Aslan's death is passed over in the movie and how much time they give to the great battle. I understand why they did . . . fighting sells tickets . . . but it took away the mysticism of the entire story.
I really enjoyed this book, despite it being a relatively simple children's book, it still has many important lessons for everyone to learn.
One thing we discussed a lot in class was how C.S. Lewis stated that this book was not an extended allegory, but rather a supposal. This basically means C.S. Lewis "supposed" that if there was a world inhabited by animals, what form would Christ come in and what kind of events would would occur. And that is where the land of Narnia was born and created.
I personally love the symbology of Aslan as the Christ figure in the land of Narnia. A lot of times I feel like the glory of Christ is lost when reading the Bible. Christ was the son of a Carpenter, a man who lived much like everyone else at the time, but the one difference was He was perfect. But there is little visual examples of Christ's glory on earth. He was scorned, he was mocked, he was hated by the people . . . it's not hard to remember the magnificence of Christ, but it's difficult to visually see this through the Bible.
This is not the case with Aslan in the land of Narnia. Aslan is a magnificent lion. The color of fur, his long mane, they are all physical characteristics of Aslan's power and grace. Throughout the book the four Pensieve children regularly speak of the greatness of Aslan and how it can barely be described. I feel like this is a really beautiful reminder that Christ is a magnificent being that not only deserves but demands our respect and love.
I have seen the movie of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and it is very similar to the book. But I would have to agree with Professor Young when he says that the movie just rushes over the most important part of the book. I was amazed at how quickly Aslan's death is passed over in the movie and how much time they give to the great battle. I understand why they did . . . fighting sells tickets . . . but it took away the mysticism of the entire story.
I really enjoyed this book, despite it being a relatively simple children's book, it still has many important lessons for everyone to learn.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Perelandra
Perelandra was ultimately a retelling of the Genesis story from a unique and other-worldy view. It was different from most adult fiction that I read. There was relatively little action and a lot of dialogue. Personally I feel that dialogue is a strong point for Lewis. He knows how to really mold a story based on characters and how to force his audience to develop their own opinions on sensitive subjects that he covers.
On thing that Lewis discusses a lot in this book is the idea of innocence. The Green Lady is the symbolic representation of innocence and youth through the story. She naively follows the commands of Maleldril and listens despite the fact that she doesn't understand the concepts behind the command. To me this shows an almost child-like trust. I know that we have often been told to become like little children throughout the scriptures, and the Green Lady is an example of this. I realize that she is also a symbol of Eve before the fall, but I feel like in my own life her childlike qualities have more pertinence.
The concept of childhood comes up a lot in this book. The Green Lady is always commenting on how young she is, but how she is getting older with everything she learns. Youthful innocence includes not necessarily understanding or comprehending everything that God does. I think this always plays a lot into faith. Faith isn't doing something because we can see the reason behind it, but rather it is blindly following God's command even when we don't know why we are.
Overall I enjoyed reading this book. At times it did get long because plot development was pretty slow. But it has a good message that is applicable and is a powerful reminder of the horrors of sin and temptation.
On thing that Lewis discusses a lot in this book is the idea of innocence. The Green Lady is the symbolic representation of innocence and youth through the story. She naively follows the commands of Maleldril and listens despite the fact that she doesn't understand the concepts behind the command. To me this shows an almost child-like trust. I know that we have often been told to become like little children throughout the scriptures, and the Green Lady is an example of this. I realize that she is also a symbol of Eve before the fall, but I feel like in my own life her childlike qualities have more pertinence.
The concept of childhood comes up a lot in this book. The Green Lady is always commenting on how young she is, but how she is getting older with everything she learns. Youthful innocence includes not necessarily understanding or comprehending everything that God does. I think this always plays a lot into faith. Faith isn't doing something because we can see the reason behind it, but rather it is blindly following God's command even when we don't know why we are.
Overall I enjoyed reading this book. At times it did get long because plot development was pretty slow. But it has a good message that is applicable and is a powerful reminder of the horrors of sin and temptation.
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