That Hideous Strength Ending

[miken51734]

I'm confused by the last couple of pages of That Hideous Strength. Mark is lead into the Lodge by a woman and then Jane comes in later to find Mark's clothes scattered.

Who was the woman? Jane? Venus?

Also, while I'm at it, Ransom said that his successor as Pendragon would be named that night as he departs. Any ideas who that would be?

[rfitz3]

[jo]

[David]

[jo]

[westsands410]

[Erekose]

[WolfVanZandt]

Actually, I thought the woman that met mark was Mrs. Dimble. She was wearing the flame colored dress.

[Monica]

[The Pfifltrigg]

It's been a while since I read it, and didn't remember that part right off: however, the association of "earthly Venus" and "Mark's clothes scattered everywhere" (not Lewis' words) make it sound overtly erotic, like he went in and was seduced by Venus "herself" before Jane got home. I think the impression Lewis intended (and the one I got), was the disgarded clothes not of a brothel, but of a bachelor pad, waiting for a wifely touch (or as likely, scold ).

[VixenMage]

I agree with The Pfifltrigg... Doesn't Jane think that "it was just like Mark" to leave his clothes scattered everywhere, and that it was clearly time she came home, presumably to be able to straighten the muddle he'd made out of his life out, both literally, with his clothes being scattered, and figuratively, with the way he'd gone so astray?

[WolfVanZandt]

[Monica]

[Stanley Anderson]

[Stanley Anderson]