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Perelandra Chap. 9

An archived study of the second book of Lewis' theological science fiction Space Trilogy.

Perelandra Chap. 9

Postby Kanakaberaka » January 18th, 2005, 3:58 am

Synopsis : Ransom awakes on the floating island and is horrified to discover a mangled creature. After putting it out of it's misery he finds dozens more of the frog-like creatures mutilated in the same manner. Ransom follows the bloody trail where he finds the possesed Weston gleefully torturing them for no good reason. Ransom faints at the sight of the evil spirit behind Weston's actions. When he awakes he searches for and finds Weston and the Green Lady in conversation once again. Ransom can barely get a word in, mainly because the Green Lady is not used to talking to more than one person at a time. But when he finaly does, the battle against the temptation of the Green Lady begins. The evil spirit thinks he has pulled his trump card when he asks Ransom if it was a good thing that came from Eve's disobedience because Maleldil became human to save us. Ransom feels stumped. Untill he thinks of the only truthfull comeback. Ransom asks the demon if he was happy with the incarnation of Maleldil. All Weston can do is howl like a wolf as the Green Lady takes a snooze. The demon's only recourse is to taunt Ransom by repeatedly calling his name and saying "nothing" to Ransom's response.

All those mutilated Perelandran frogs gave us a glimpse into the mind of the demon controling Weston. But Ransom was not confronted with all of them at once. He notices only one unfortunate creature at first and takes pity on it. Lewis provides much detail about the sad condition of the animal. This reminds me of the saying that "One death is a tragedy, a thousands deaths is a statistic". By focusing on the torment of one creature at first we are shown the full seriousness of the demon's actions.
Of course this is just an introduction to the state of Weston's possesed mind. In it we see pure evil without appologies. There is no rationalization for it's hienous acts. Just an empty evil smile on it's face. This chapter is one of the reasons I enjoyed "Perelandra" so much. The notion that the very face of the Devil would inflame as much despair as the face of God would inspire unimaginable Joy is something Lewis illustrates so well.

Ransom's pivotal role in the three way debate seems hopeless when the demon brings up Maleldil's becoming man. Ransom remembers the doctrine of "Felix Peccatum Adne" - O happy sin of Adam. It is the idea that God makes things well in spite of human sin so that a better good than the original happens. How can Ransom refute such truth? Yet Ransom does think of one thing the demon is reluctant to talk about. Ransom asks him, "Do you rejoice that Maleldil became man? Tell her your joys, and of what profit you had when you made Maleldil and death acquaninted." Weston's demon looses all rationality and can only howl like a wounded animal at Ransom's answer. This is such a wonderful illustration of how shallow the polished arguments of the Devil really are.
As night settles in all this fallen spirit can do is annoy Ransom by calling out his name to keep him awake. This seems to me like a diabolical version of the old "Are we there yet?" inquiry made by children on long car trips.
so it goes...
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Re: Perelandra Chap. 9

Postby Guest » January 21st, 2005, 1:10 am

[From K:] Ransom remembers the doctrine of "Felix Peccatum Adne" - O happy sin of Adam. It is the idea that God makes things well in spite of human sin so that a better good than the original happens.

Or Milton's "Felix Culpa" -- the idea of the fortunate fall. This ties back to Stanley's comments on the last chapter about how things that came about as a result of the fall are ultimately not eliminated, but glorified, by God.

[From K:]
The diabolical "are we there yet".

Again, yes, like the Chinese water torture its pain is in its repetition, not in any inherent violence. Like this chapter itself, one of the tools of the Devil must be sheer frustration.
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Perelandra Chap. 9 -- Stanley's comments

Postby Stanley Anderson » January 24th, 2005, 5:15 pm

…on a night of rain Frodo smelled a sweet fragrance on the air and heard the sound of singing that came over the water. And then it seemed to him that as in his dream in the house of Bombadil, the grey rain-curtain turned all to silver glass and was rolled back, and he beheld white shores and beyond them a fair green country under a swift sunrise.
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Re: Perelandra Chap. 9 -- Stanley's comments

Postby Steve » January 25th, 2005, 12:33 pm

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Re: Perelandra Chap. 9 -- Stanley's comments

Postby Jofa » January 30th, 2005, 4:22 pm

"Someday you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again."
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Re: Perelandra Chap. 9

Postby Jofa » January 30th, 2005, 4:32 pm

"Someday you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again."
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Re: Perelandra Chap. 9

Postby loeee » February 1st, 2005, 12:41 am

I think you join by just coming in and commenting. So you seem to have joined. :D

I don't have the book with me, so can't remember the exact quote, but I was struck by the un-man not really reasoning, but only using reason the way it was using Weston's body. Argument, annoyance, brain washing, it was all the same to it. Just tools to achieve an end.
"You can't go walking through Mordor in naught but your skin."
Put on the full armor of God.
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