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Chapter 7 - part 3

The final book in Lewis' theological science fiction Space Trilogy.

Chapter 7 - part 3

Postby Kanakaberaka » April 8th, 2010, 7:58 pm

Synopsis : As Jane rides the train back home to Edgestow she has a debate among her "four selves". When her higher self wins out, she sees all the formerly mundane things around herself in a new light. She has worked her way out to a new enlightenment thanks to the intervention of Mr. Fisher-King. And yet this newfound jubilation comes to an abrupt halt as she arrives at the Edgestow train station to find herself surrounded by turmoil.

The four selves described by Jane appear to be stages in her life. The first seems to be an innocent child who has been won over to the Director's company through sheer wonder. The second Jane expresses an adolescent sense of cynisism about Fisher-King, and hates the first Jane becase of her devotion to him. The third Jane appears to be "born again" in the sense of her childhood self being resurrected to a more mature form. Even though this Jane is more advanced than the first two, she relies on feelings of guilt to get herself to do the morally correct thing. In this case being more attentive to her husband Mark. It takes a fourth Jane to put all the pieces together and experience pure joy in what she has been commanded to do. Something eminating from the Director has rubbed off on her. And now she sees every simple thing around her in a new light. Even the small talk from a wizened old man sharing her compartment becomes a delightful speech. She looks forward to haveing buttered toast when she gets back home. She takes nothing for granted in her life at present. All anxiety about her future has been put aside.

But Jane's simple joy collides against the present reality as she arrives at the Edgestow train station. Jane has no idea what is going on. before she is warned to stay on the train, she finds herself carried away with a rioting crowd of looters! Her wish to walk back home to sandown has been hijacked by the plans of the N.I.C.E.
so it goes...
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Surprised by Jane

Postby Kanakaberaka » April 12th, 2010, 6:39 pm

Jane's interior debate among her "three selves" appears to parallel the spiritual evolution C.S. Lewis described in his book Surprised By Joy. He came from a conventional Christian background. But as he entered adolescence he became a cynic who for all practical reasons was an atheist. It was only years later, after the World War and college that Lewis began to consider that Christianity might be true. Even more interesting is that Jane's newfound spiritual outlook comes to her as she is traveling by train. Lewis has his own Christian enlightenment as he was traveling on a motorcycle with his brother.
so it goes...
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Re: Chapter 7 - part 3

Postby The Bigsleep J » April 12th, 2010, 8:26 pm

Insert supposedly witty but random absurd comment here and add water
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Re: Chapter 7 - part 3

Postby paminala » April 12th, 2010, 9:22 pm

The timing of the riot, coming just as Jane has found her peace and is coming home intent on finding a way to get Mark out of the NICE struck me as a small foreshadowing of what the NICE would do to all of the world's peace if they were not opposed.
Lewis seems to be using Jane and Mark's marriage as a microcosm of the greater environment in the story.
All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.
~ Galileo Galilei
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Re: Chapter 7 - part 3

Postby johnster » April 15th, 2010, 6:35 am

Hi, I'm new here. Chanced upon this excellent forum as I was researching the book online. Can anyone contribute to chapter synopsis and analysis?

Thanks.

John
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Jump right in!

Postby Kanakaberaka » April 15th, 2010, 7:56 pm

so it goes...
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Re: Chapter 7 - part 3

Postby Matthew Whaley » April 18th, 2010, 12:01 am

I think it's very interesting that Jane's husband, Mark, wrote the "news" and editorial articles that helped create the riot!
"Home is the place where, when you have to go there,
They have to take you in."
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boomarang

Postby Kanakaberaka » April 18th, 2010, 2:36 am

so it goes...
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Re: Chapter 7 - part 3

Postby Matthew Whaley » May 9th, 2010, 4:55 am

Jane's inner peace is a result of meeting the Director; she does nothing to earn it; unlike Mark who is being constantly challenged to do more and more things to prove he is worthy to have a position at the N.I.C.E. He is purposley harassed and kept in the dark to keep him in a constant state of anxiety so that he has no time to think of anything or anyone but himself. Screwtape would be proud.
"Home is the place where, when you have to go there,
They have to take you in."
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Re: Chapter 7 - part 3

Postby paminala » May 13th, 2010, 4:39 pm

All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.
~ Galileo Galilei
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