Kingship in Narnia
Posted: February 4th, 2008, 10:40 am
Don't let the name fool you; I'm hamlet. I lost both my password and old e-mail address, and after months of frustration, I finally gave up and just signed up for a new account. You may remember me from this: http://cslewis.drzeus.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7829
I wanted to pursue the old topic of Kingship in Prince Caspian, but after consideration decided that the subject is much broader, and deeper than just one book. Heck, it spans the writings of not only CS Lewis, but the history of mankind itself.
What interests me is Kingship itself, and more particularly, Christian Kingship (or its inherent form in the subconscious of man- take your pick). But the stumbling block here is every modern preconception and prejudice besetting 'monarchy' (be it historical or fictitious,) and Christianity.
The only way I could examine the 'ideal' of kingship was to do as Lewis and Tolkien did; explore it in the realm of fantasy. This is a safe zone, where we are allowed to shed our complex 'adult' side and search out truth and beauty.
Narnia is an untainted world where the fruit of knowledge was never eaten. There, we need not get into the speculation on the fallen natures of men, instead going straight to the celebration of Aslan, the son of the Emperor Over the Sea, as King over all Kings. By knowing him there, transcending the fallen self in the form of children, we are better able to know him here.
Thoughts for future posts: anything about the character of kingship in the Narnia books- and when I say character, I mean the 'mantle' of kingship all good kings and queens (sons and daughters of Adam and Eve, native Narnians, etc.) display, perhaps gained through the sacrificing of self to an ideal- or more precisely, to Aslan, and through him, all Narnia. OR the opposite, misuse or misinterpretation of Kingship, as found in Tash, the Calormens, Miraz, the Lone Islands Governor, etc.
For the sake of Aslan, through Aslan, because of Aslan. To look through the page into his great solemn eyes and know, you will never been the same again . . . Ah, this is the legacy of Narnia indeed.
I'm not kidding, please, I would love to hear your thoughts, and to see people taking the discussion upon themselves. *I am not here for an argument, and getting after me for my personal flawed insight will get you nowhere. *If you want to post a comment praising an insight, or wanting an expansion on it, please do so! Remember, sometimes people want to say more, but don't want to double-post.
Silence
I wanted to pursue the old topic of Kingship in Prince Caspian, but after consideration decided that the subject is much broader, and deeper than just one book. Heck, it spans the writings of not only CS Lewis, but the history of mankind itself.
What interests me is Kingship itself, and more particularly, Christian Kingship (or its inherent form in the subconscious of man- take your pick). But the stumbling block here is every modern preconception and prejudice besetting 'monarchy' (be it historical or fictitious,) and Christianity.
The only way I could examine the 'ideal' of kingship was to do as Lewis and Tolkien did; explore it in the realm of fantasy. This is a safe zone, where we are allowed to shed our complex 'adult' side and search out truth and beauty.
Narnia is an untainted world where the fruit of knowledge was never eaten. There, we need not get into the speculation on the fallen natures of men, instead going straight to the celebration of Aslan, the son of the Emperor Over the Sea, as King over all Kings. By knowing him there, transcending the fallen self in the form of children, we are better able to know him here.
Thoughts for future posts: anything about the character of kingship in the Narnia books- and when I say character, I mean the 'mantle' of kingship all good kings and queens (sons and daughters of Adam and Eve, native Narnians, etc.) display, perhaps gained through the sacrificing of self to an ideal- or more precisely, to Aslan, and through him, all Narnia. OR the opposite, misuse or misinterpretation of Kingship, as found in Tash, the Calormens, Miraz, the Lone Islands Governor, etc.
For the sake of Aslan, through Aslan, because of Aslan. To look through the page into his great solemn eyes and know, you will never been the same again . . . Ah, this is the legacy of Narnia indeed.
I'm not kidding, please, I would love to hear your thoughts, and to see people taking the discussion upon themselves. *I am not here for an argument, and getting after me for my personal flawed insight will get you nowhere. *If you want to post a comment praising an insight, or wanting an expansion on it, please do so! Remember, sometimes people want to say more, but don't want to double-post.
Silence