Goliverse discussion

This thread will most likely contain spoilers for the entire book, since many of the religious themes are not fully explained or fleshed out until the end of the book. So be warned.

One theme I'd like to start with is Original Sin (referred to by the Malacandrians as being "bent"). This is explored by contrasting the behavior and culture of the Malacandrians with that of humans. Especially with the hrossa, we get a look at a spieces that never "fell," so to speak. We see just how much of an impact sin - and the tendency to sin, concupiscence - has on humanity, by seeing how different the hrossa, sorns, and pfifltrigi (or however their species is spelled). And the difference is clear not only in the culture, but in the language. This is most evident in Weston's speech to Oyarsa, which Ransom must translate from English to Malacandrian. When it is translated, you see just how evil and foolish Weston's ideas are.

Any other instances of this contrast that stick out?

I havent started this yet just have a question. Is this similar to Narnia as far as religious undertones?

Narnia wasn't really undertones. I felt like it was right out there.

yeah, narnia was in your face. in Out of the Silent planet you can take religious themes from it or not, depending on your preference. Kind of like Silmarillion or Lord of the Rings.

Dylan, that line you cite is a perfect example. Weston speaks in lofty terms about destiny and necessity, but when Ransom translates it, the truth is laid bare: Weston is rationalizing genocide.

OK thanks that's what i meant, Narnia really threw it in your face. I'm glad this one doesn't, the silmarillion comparison is intriguing.

Another topic along these lines: Oyarsa and the eldila. I am reminded of the Ainur/Valar/Maiar from Tolkien's works, which are similar to angels. While Tolkien's Valar are basically described as spirits that can take temporary bodies (like how angels appear to humans in the Old and New Testaments), the eldila are described in a scientific way, as creatures that move much faster than humans, or even light, so that they appear incorporeal to humans. Lewis seems to leave it up to the reader to decide whether the eldila are angels or something else entirely. In the epilogue, Ransom says that Oyarsa hasn't heard of angels, but supposes that they could be a specific warrior caste of eldila. But it is mere conjecture on his part. If he is correct, then the "Oyarsa" of earth corresponds to the Lucifer/Satan of Christian theology.

Well, one difference is the way Ransom describes "seeing" the eldila as slight variations of light. I don't know if angels on Thulcandra are visible in that same way. So perhaps they are slightly different on earth. Or perhaps since Earth is a "fallen" world, people just can't see them there. Or because humanity is fallen. That would explain why Ransom can't see them for most of the book.