The Concept of Evil in A Christian Universe in C. S. Lewis' Works

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special Faculty Committee, is accepted

by the Graduate School of the
University of Wyoming,
in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree o /.^ ltl r..°-£.lL 1;!.____
yf ■ ' / b i (, _
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D a le - . A y sy st2 .9 j._ _ i 973
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THE CONCEPT OF EVIL IN A CHRISTIAN UNIVERSE
IN C. S. LEWIS' WORKS
by
M arth a L. H u ls e b u s
A T hesis
S u b m itte d t o th e
D epartm en t o f E n g l is h and
t h e G r a d u a te School, o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y
o f Wyoming i n P a r t i a l F u l f i l l m e n t o f R eq u irem en ts
fo r th e degree o f
M a s te r o f A r t s
U n i v e r s i t y o f Wyoming
L a ra m ie , Wyoming
A u g u st, 1973
OBRARY
... DF THE
U N I V E R S I T Y OF W Y O M IN G
LARAMIE 82070
UMI Number: EP16719
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER Page
INTRODUCTION ................................................................................ 1
I. THE INTERRELATIONSHIPS OF LEWIS' BOOKS ................................................... 8
II. EVIL AS THE PERVERSION OF GOOD................................................................... 31
III. THULCANDRA, THE SILENT PLANET .............................................................. 59
IV. THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN GOOD AND E V I L .......................................................... 90
A SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY ........................................................................... 116
INTRODUCTION
The s t r u g g l e b etw een good and e v i l i s a p e r e n n i a l t o p i c i n
lite ra tu re . The c o n c e p t o f e v i l i n t h e u n i v e r s e h a s b een d i s c u s s e d
by w r i t e r s s i n c e t h e tim e o f Homer. L a te r, C h r is ti a n w r i t e r s p laced
t h i s d is c u s s io n w ith in th e co n te x t o f C h r i s t i a n i t y . M ilto n t r i e d to
" j u s t i f y t h e ways o f God t o men" i n h i s e p i c poem, P a r a d i s e L o s t .
C. S . L ew is, a M ilt o n s c h o l a r , a l s o s o u g h t i n h i s w r i t i n g t o j u s t i f y
G o d 's ways t o men. U sin g v a r i o u s g e n r e s —d o c t r i n a l books, l i t e r a r y
c ritic is m , a lle g o ry , f a n t a s y , and f i c t i o n - - L e w i s e x p l a i n e d , exam ined,
and expanded h i s C h r i s t i a n b e l i e f s .
S e v e r a l c f h i s books d e m o n s t r a te L ew ?s1 c o n v i c t i o n t h a t i n t h e
s t r u g g l e b etw een good and e v i l , good p e o p l e p o s s e s s know ledge o f good
and e v i l , b u t bad p e o p l e a r e i g n o r a n t o f b o t h . When t h e good u s e
t h e i r know ledge a s t h e b a s i s f o r a c t i o n and t h e bad w i l l f u l l y c l i n g
t o t h e i r i g n o r a n c e , t h i s d i f f e r e n c e b etw ee n them l e a d s , u l t i m a t e l y ,
t o t h e re d e m p tio n o f t h e fo rm er and t h e d am n atio n o f t h e l a t t e r .
C. S. L e w is 1 C h r i s t i a n B e h a v io r. The F ou r L oves, and A P r e f a c e to
P a r a d i s e L o s t c o u ld b e c a l l e d d o c t r i n a l b o o k s : i n them Lewis e x p l a i n s
h i s b e l i e f s and a p p l i e s them t o e v e ry d a y l i f e . The G r e a t D iv o rc e and
The S c re w ta p e L e t t e r s a r e f a n t a s i e s i n w hich Lewis t a k e s t h e r e a d e r
d i r e c t l y t o Heaven and t o H e l l . H is famous s p a c e t r i l o g y , Out o f t h e
S i l e n t P l a n e t . P e r e l a n d r a . and T h at H ideous S t r e n g t h , d e m o n s t r a te s h i s
c o n c e p ts a t work i n t h e l i v e s o f C h r i s t i a n s and n o n - C h r i s t i a n s and
2
p o r t r a y s t h e i n f l u e n c e o f Heaven and H e l l , o f God and t h e d e v i l s , on
e a rth . W i th in t h e t r i l o g y , good and e v i l become p r o g r e s s i v e l y s t r o n
ger. T h e i r b a t t l e s become more and more i m p o r ta n t i n d e t e r m i n i n g t h e
f u t u r e s o f t h e worlds i n t h e u n i v e r s e . S tu d ie d a s a u n i t , th e th r e e
s e t s o f books comment on and c l a r i f y each o t h e r .
L e w is ' c o n c e p t o f e v i l r e s t s on t h e f o u n d a t i o n o f h i s c o n c e p t o f
good. God i s t h e supreme good, a c c o r d i n g t o L ew is. A l l o f H is c r e a
t i o n i s i n n a t e l y good, b u t b e c a u s e e v e r y c r e a t u r e i s endowed w ith
free w ill, i t may cho ose t o p e r v e r t i t s e l f and become e v i l . E v il
op p o ses good, b u t i t e x i s t s o n ly a s t h e p e r v e r s i o n o f good; w i t h o u t
good t o c o r r u p t , e v i l c o u ld n o t e x i s t . God i s t h e u l t i m a t e r e a l i t y ;
Heaven i s r e a l i t y c h a r a c t e r i z e d by h u m i l i t y , lo v e , and o b e d ie n c e t o
God a s t h e h ead o f t h e h i e r a r c h y o f t h e u n i v e r s e . E v il i s u n re a l; i t
i s p o w e r f u l, b u t i t i s n o t h i n g . H e l l i s u n r e a l i t y c h a r a c t e r i z e d by
p r i d e , h a t e , and r e b e l l i o u s n e s s i n a c o m p e t i t i v e a n a r c h y .
H ell seeks to spread c o r r u p tio n th ro u g h o u t th e u n iv e rs e . Its
f i r s t v i c t i m was e a r t h . By t e m p ti n g Adam and Eve i n t o d i s o b e d i e n c e
t o t h e i r C r e a t o r , S a ta n c au sed e a r t h ' s F a l l . The p a r a d i s e o f Eden was
p e r v e r t e d i n t o w hat Lewis c a l l s t h e i s o l a t i o n o f T h u lc a n d r a , t h e name
by w hich e a r t h i s known i n H eaven. T h u lc a n d r a means " t h e s i l e n t
p l a n e t , " f o r e a r t h was c u t o f f by e v i l from a l l t h e o t h e r p l a n e t s and
H eaven. By y i e l d i n g t o t e m p t a t i o n and a l l o w i n g h i m s e l f t o be p e r
v e r t e d , man t u r n e d away from God. He can t u r n back t o Him o n ly th ro u g h
lo v e and o b e d i e n c e . God r e q u i r e s o b e d ie n c e i n o r d e r t o make men i n t o
H is s o n s . The d e v i l s t r y t o t u r n men away from God th r o u g h t e m p t a t i o n .
3
They w ant t o c o n v e r t men i n t o c a t t l e f o r fo o d . God demands o b e d ie n c e
b u t e n a b l e s men t o become t r u l y i n d i v i d u a l th r o u g h t h e i r u n io n w i t h
H is w i l l . The d e v i l s e n c o u ra g e d i s o b e d i e n c e , b u t rob men o f a l l
i n d i v i d u a l i t y by consuming them.
B ecause a l l c r e a t u r e s a r e i n h e r e n t l y good, t h e y p o s s e s s knowledge
o f b o th good and e v i l . C r e a t u r e s who become bad by p e r v e r t i n g them
s e l v e s l o s e more and more o f t h e i r know ledge o f good and e v i l a s th e y
s i n k d e e p e r and d e e p e r i n t o c o r r u p t i o n . W illfu lly c lin g in g to th e ir
i n c r e a s i n g i g n o r a n c e , bad c r e a t u r e s b l i n d th e m s e lv e s t o r e a l i t y and
d e l i b e r a t e l y c l o s e t h e d o o r by w hich th e y c o u ld be redeem ed. On t h e
o t h e r h a n d , t h e i r f a i t h and G o d 's g r a c e e n a b l e good p e o p l e t o s e e
re a lity . T h e i r r e a l i s t i c know ledge o f good and e v i l h e l p s them t o
r e s i s t te m p ta tio n . The r e s i s t a n c e , i n t u r n , g iv e s them a d d i t i o n a l
know ledge a b o u t e v i l , w i t h w hich th e y can r e s i s t f u t u r e e n t i c e m e n t .
Both know ledge o f good and e v i l and e x p e r i e n c e w ith e v i l - - b u t n o t by
d o in g i t - - a r e n e c e s s a r y f o r a man t o r e s i s t t h e d e v i l s ' t e m p t a t i o n .
The more h e r e s i s t s t e m p t a t i o n , t h e more u n p e r v e r t e d e x p e r i e n c e w ith
and know ledge o f e v i l a man h a s , and t h e more h e i s s t r e n g t h e n e d in
h i s r e s is ta n c e o f te m p tatio n . In s h o r t, t h e good man, by r e m a in in g
good, becomes b e t t e r . F o r t h e bad man, t h e s t o r y i s j u s t t h e o p p o s i t e .
By c o n t i n u a l l y y i e l d i n g t o t e m p t a t i o n , h e becomes i n c r e a s i n g l y p e r
v e r t e d , i n c r e a s i n g l y b l i n d e d t o t h e know ledge o f good and e v i l , and
in c r e a s in g ly unab le to r e s i s t f u tu r e te m p ta tio n . By r e m a in in g bad,
t h e bad man becomes w o rs e . I n t h i s way e v i l i s c o n s t a n t l y w id e n in g
t h e gap b etw een i t s e l f and good.
4
I n C h r i s t i a n th e o l o g y , C h r i s t i s t h e o n ly t r u e r e a l i s t b e c a u s e
He i s t h e o n ly man who n e v e r y i e l d e d t o t e m p t a t i o n . I n L e w is ' s p a c e
t r i l o g y , E lw in Ransom, t h e m ain c h a r a c t e r , i s a C h r i s t f i g u r e who
becomes more s i m i l a r t o C h r i s t as t h e t r i l o g y p r o g r e s s . Ransom t r i e s
t o undo t h e p e r v e r s i o n o f good i n t h e o n ly way p o s s i b l e : by g i v i n g
up even h i s m ost c h e r i s h e d s i n s , w o rk in g t o b r i n g good r e s u l t s o f
e v i l , and s u b m i t t i n g t o d e a t h i n o r d e r t o g a i n s a l v a t i o n . P e rv e rte d
good can b e redeem ed, Lewis d e m o n s t r a t e s , b u t t h e l o s s o f t h e o r i g i n a l ,
u n c o r r u p te d good i s r e a l . E v i l le a v e s s c a r s , f o r n o t e v e ry o n e who
h a s become p e r v e r t e d w i l l a c c e p t r e d e m p tio n . The o n ly a l t e r n a t i v e t o
s a l v a t i o n i s d a m n a tio n .
L e w is ' c o n c e p t o f e v i l i n a C h r i s t i a n u n i v e r s e i s n o t o r i g i n a l ;
h e i s in d e b t e d t o S t . A u g u s t in e , M i l t o n , and many o t h e r C h r i s t i a n
w rite rs. H is u s e o f t h e s p a c e t r i l o g y t o d e m o n s t r a te t h o s e i d e a s ,
how ever, i s o r i g i n a l . At t h e end o f Out o f t h e S i l e n t P l a n e t . Lewis
e x p l a i n s t h a t t h e book i s n o t r e a l l y f i c t i o n : D r. Ransom r e a l l y
e x i s t s and a c t u a l l y t r a v e l e d th r o u g h s p a c e . T h is t e c h n i q u e o f
c l a i m i n g t h a t h i s f i c t i o n i s t r u e h e l p s e x p l a i n why Lewis used t h e
genre o f f i c t i o n in th e f i r s t p la c e .
I t was D r. Ransom who f i r s t saw t h a t o u r o n ly chan ce

was t o p u b l i s h i n t h e form o f f i c t i o n w hat s h o u ld c e r t a i n l y
n o t be l i s t e n e d t o a s f a c t . He even t h o u g h t - - g r e a t l y o v e r
r a t i n g my l i t e r a r y p o w e r s - - t h a t t h i s m ig h t h a v e t h e
i n c i d e n t a l a d v a n ta g e o f r e a c h i n g a w id e r p u b l i c , and t h a t ,
c e r t a i n l y , i t would r e a c h a g r e a t many p e o p le s o o n e r th a n
'W e s to n ' [ t h e v i l l a i n o f t h e b o o k ]. To my o b j e c t i o n t h a t
i f a c c e p t e d a s f i c t i o n i t would f o r t h a t v e r y r e a s o n be
r e g a r d e d as f a l s e , h e r e p l i e d t h a t t h e r e would be
5
i n d i c a t i o n s enough f o r t h e few r e a d e r s — t h e v e r y fe w - -
who a t p r e s e n t w ere p r e p a r e d t o go f u r t h e r i n t o t h e
m a tte r.
. . . 'What we n eed f o r t h e moment [Ransom s a i d ] i s
n o t s o much a body o f b e l i e f as a body o f p e o p le f a m i l
ia r iz e d w ith c e r t a i n id e a s . I f we c o u ld even e f f e c t i n
one p e r c e n t o f o u r r e a d e r s a c h a n g e - o v e r from t h e co n
c e p t i o n o f S pace t o t h e c o n c e p t i o n o f Heaven, we s h o u ld
h a v e made a b e g i n n i n g .
In an a r t i c l e e n t i t l e d "God, S p ace, and C. S. L e w i s , " P h i l i p
Deasy s a i d , "However e l s e t h e t r i l o g y may be r e f e r r e d t o — s c i e n c e -
f i c t i o n , f a n t a s y , myth, e t c - - i t i s p r i m a r i l y a f i c t i o n o f i d e a s . "2
Lewis w r o te t h e t r i l o g y i n o r d e r t o p r o v i d e a s u i t a b l e framework f o r
h i s p r e c o n c e iv e d i d e a s . In t h e q u o te ab o v e, Lewis e x p l a i n s t h a t h e
w an ts r e a d e r s t o t h i n k o f s p a c e a s H eaven. Wayne Shumaker s a i d , "The
d e m o n s t r a t i o n o f t h e p e r m e a ti o n [ o f t h e u n i v e r s e w ith mind] was t h e
m ost b a s i c p a r t o f L e w is ' t o t a l p u r p o s e , s i n c e h i s w o rld - v ie w r e s t s
on a c o n v i c t i o n t h a t b e h in d t h e a p p a r e n t l y m e c h a n ic a l p r o c e s s e s o f
t h e u n i v e r s e a r e b o th D iv in e a w a re n e s s and D iv in e p u r p o s e s . "3 A n o th e r
c r i t i c , Chad W alsh, f e l t t h a t Lewis a c c o m p lis h e d t h i s p a r t o f h i s
purpose. He w r o te , "No one can r e a d t h e i n t e r p l a n e t a r y n o v e l s and
1 Out o f t h e S i l e n t P l a n e t (New Y o rk : The M acm illan Company,

1 9 6 5 ), p p. 1 5 3 -1 5 4 .
2 "God, S pace, and C. S. L ew is, " Commonweal. 68 (A p r -S e p t, 1 9 5 8 ),

p . 422 .
3 "The Cosmic T r i l o g y o f C. S. L e w i s , " Hudson Review. 8, No. 2

( S p r in g , 1 9 5 5 -W in te r, 1 9 5 6), p . 245. In f u t u r e r e f e r e n c e s , t h e t i t l e
w i l l be s h o r t e n e d t o "Cosmic T r i l o g y . "
6
h e n c e f o r t h t h i n k o f s p a c e a s m e re ly 'em pty s p a c e ' ; i n t h e a c t o f
r e a d i n g , s p a c e becomes g o ld e n w i t h t h e d i v i n e p r e s e n c e . " ^
Lew is used t h e d e v i c e o f s p a c e f i c t i o n t o f r e e h i m s e l f from t h e
l i m i t a t i o n s o f r e a l i t y w h ile w r iti n g in a r e a l i s t i c fa s h io n . In
s p a c e , r a t i o n a l c r e a t u r e s who a r e n o t human can e x i s t . By h a v i n g h i s
human c h a r a c t e r s i n t e r a c t w ith t h e non-human c r e a t u r e s , h e can co n
t r a s t f a l l e n m e n 's a c t i o n s w ith t h e a c t i o n s o f more p e r f e c t c r e a t u r e s .
Shumaker p o i n t e d o u t t h a t by c o n t r a s t i n g u n f a l l e n , r a t i o n a l b e in g s
w i t h " s e l f - d i v i d e d , s e l f - e x i l e d , d i s e a s e d T e l u r i a n s [L ew is] c o u ld
d r a m a t i z e t h e m eaning o f a l i e n a t i o n from t h e D iv in e W i l l " ("Cosmic
T r i l o g y , " pp. 2 4 2 - 4 3 ) . E f f e c t i v e d r a m a t i z a t i o n o f t h e m eaning o f
t h i s a l i e n a t i o n demanded t h a t t h e t r i l o g y be r e a l i s t i c , even thou gh i t
was n o t r e a l . I n t h e I n t r o d u c t i o n t o h i s book, Shadows o f I m a g i n a ti o n .
Mark R. H i l l e g a s s a i d , " I n t h e t r i l o g y [L ew is] i s a t h i s m ost s u c
c e s s f u l in 'd o m e s tic a tin g th e i n c r e d i b l e , ' in b u ild in g a s tro n g b rid g e
from o u r r e a l t o h i s im a g in a r y w o r ld s which a r e b o th s o l i d and i n t e r
n a l l y c o n s i s t e n t . "5 The v ie w s e x p r e s s e d i n t h e books n eed t o be
r e l e v a n t t o s i t u a t i o n s t h a t o r d i n a r y men would e n c o u n t e r e v e r y d a y .
The u s e o f f i c t i o n e n a b le d Lew is t o show r a t h e r th a n e x p l a i n h i s
4 "C. S. L ew is, The Man and t h e M y s te r y " i n Shadows o f

I m a g i n a t i o n : t h e F a n t a s i e s o f C. S_. L ew is, J . R. R. T o l k i e n , and
C h a r l e s W i lli a m s , ed. Mark R. H i l l e g a s ( C a r b o n d a l e : S o u th e r n I l l i n o i s
U n iv . P r e s s , 1 9 6 9 ), p . 13.
5 Shadows o f I m a g i n a t i o n : t h e F a n t a s i e s o f C. £ . L e w is ,
J . R. R. T o l k i e n , and C h a r l e s W illia m s ( C a r b o n d a le : S o u th e r n I l l i n o i s
U niv. P r e s s , 1 96 9), p . xv .
7
m eanings and t o p r o v e h i s p o i n t w i t h o u t r e s o r t i n g t o p e r s u a s i v e
a r g u m e n ts . The t r i l o g y a llo w e d Lewis t o make t h e same p o i n t t h r e e
tim e s i n t h r e e d i f f e r e n t w ays. The u n d e r l y i n g p u rp o s e o f each book
i s t h e same, even th o u g h t h e s i t u a t i o n s and s e t t i n g s d i f f e r . In each
book Lew is d e m o n s t r a t e s m e n 's a l i e n a t i o n from God a s a r e s u l t o f t h e i r
c o rru p tio n .
CHAPTER I
THE INTERRELATIONSHIPS OF LEWIS' BOOKS
E i g h t o f C. S. L e w is ' books can b e r e a d by th e m s e lv e s , b u t
stu d ie d to g e th e r a l l e ig h t can be found t o be i n t e r r e l a t e d . Each
book s h e d s l i g h t on some o r a l l o f t h e r e s t . T o g e th e r th e y form a
u n i t t h a t c l e a r l y e x p r e s s e s L e w i s ' v ie w s on good and e v i l and t h a t
shows t h e s e view s a t work i n C h r i s t i a n and n o n - C h r i s t i a n l i v e s .
C h r i s t i a n B eh av ior (1943) r e p r i n t s t h e r a d i o t a l k s Lewis g ave i n
1942 a b o u t C h r i s t i a n m o r a l i t y . I n The Four Loves (1 9 6 0 ), Lewis d i s
cu sses fo u r phases o f lo v e : a ffe c tio n , frie n d sh ip , e r o s , and c h a r i t y .
A P r e f a c e t o P a r a d i s e L o s t (1942) i s a c r i t i c i s m o f M i l t o n ' s e p i c
poem; i n i t Lewis e x p l a i n s some o f t h e o rth o d o x C h r i s t i a n d o c t r i n e s
th a t a re r e f le c te d in P a ra d ise L o s t. T hese t h r e e books e x p l a i n many
o f L e w is ' t h e o l o g i c a l c o n c e p t s .
The S c re w ta p e L e t t e r s (1944) was one o f L e w is ' f i r s t a t t e m p t s t o
p u t some o f t h o s e c o n c e p ts i n t o f a n t a s y form t h a t would a p p e a l t o a
broader read in g p u b lic . The S c re w ta p e L e t t e r s i s a c o l l e c t i o n o f
c o r r e s p o n d e n c e s u p p o s e d ly w r i t t e n by S c re w ta p e , a v e r y e x p e r i e n c e d
d e v i l , t o h i s nephew Wormwood, a n o v ic e t e m p te r a s s i g n e d t o h i s f i r s t
" t e m p t e r s h i p " on e a r t h . S c re w ta p e g iv e s Wormwood d i a b o l i c a l a d v i c e
a b o u t t h e m ost e f f e c t i v e ways o f e n t i c i n g a human " p a t i e n t " t o H e l l .
I n t h e p r o c e s s , S c re w ta p e r e v e a l s many o f t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f
H ell.
9
The G re a t D iv o rc e (1946) c o u ld be c o n s i d e r e d t h e c o u n t e r p a r t o f
The S crew tap e L e t t e r s . I n t h e fo rm er Lewis h i m s e l f t a k e s a v i s i o n a r y
dream j o u r n e y from H e l l t o t h e o u t s k i r t s o f H eaven. H is f e l l o w -
p a s s e n g e r s on t h e bus t h a t t a k e s them t o Heaven a r e a l l damned s o u l s
who may c h o o s e t o rem a in i n Heaven and f i n d e t e r n a l b l i s s . O nly one
o f them c h o o s e s t o s t a y . The r e s t r e t u r n t o H e l l , c l i n g i n g t o t h e
v a r i e d s i n s t h a t r e l e g a t e d them t o H e l l i n t h e f i r s t p l a c e . Each o f
t h e g h o s ts from H e l l i s met by a H eav en ly S p i r i t whose d u t y and
p l e a s u r e i s t o t r y t o c o n v in c e t h e g h o s t s t o s t a y i n Heaven and t o
g u id e them up t h e m o u n ta in s t o Deep H eaven, w here th e y w i l l m eet God.
The s p i r i t who a c t s a s L e w is ' g u id e i s t h e S c o tc h p h i l o s o p h e r
G eorge M acdonald whose w r i t i n g s had le d t h e a t h e i s t i c Lew is t o
C h ristia n ity . Lewis and h i s g u id e w i t n e s s many o f t h e g h o s t s ' co n
v e r s a t i o n s w i t h t h e o t h e r H ea v e n ly S p i r i t s . B e s id e s a n s w e r in g L e w is '
q u e s t i o n s a b o u t H eaven, h i s t e a c h e r e x p l a i n s why a l l b u t one o f t h e
g h o sts d e c id e to r e tu r n to H e ll. The p a i r a l s o w i t n e s s and d i s c u s s
t h e d e a t h and r e s u r r e c t i o n o f t h e one g h o s t who cho o ses Heaven o v e r
H e ll.
The S c re w ta p e L e t t e r s r e v e a l s H e l l from t h e d e v i l s ' p o i n t o f
v ie w . The G r e a t D iv o r c e p o r t r a y s Heaven and H e l l from t h e H eav en ly
S p i r i t s ' p o i n t o f v ie w . S c re w ta p e shows t h e m ethods o f t e m p t a t i o n ;
L e w is ' t e a c h e r p o i n t s o u t t h e ways t o s a l v a t i o n . N e i t h e r book i s
m a in ly c o n c e rn e d w ith humans on e a r t h . Wormwood te m p ts a human, b u t
we n e v e r s e e t h e " p a t i e n t " e x c e p t th r o u g h S c r e w t a p e 's e y e s a s h e
comments on Wormwood's p r o g r e s s o r l a c k o f p r o g r e s s . The em phasis i s
10
on t e m p t a t i o n t o H e l l ; t h e p i c t u r e t h a t t h e l e t t e r s p a i n t i s o f H e l l ,
not of e a rth . The s p i r i t s i n The G r e a t D iv o r c e h av e been i n Heaven
f o r some t i m e ; t h e g h o s ts came from H e l l . The o n ly c h a r a c t e r from
e a r t h i s Lew is h i m s e l f , b u t t h e p u r p o s e o f h i s dream i s t o r e v e a l
H eaven and H e l l t o him .
C. S . Lew is b r o u g h t h i s i d e a s o f Heaven and H e l l down t o e a r t h ,
p a r a d o x i c a l l y , by t a k i n g h i s r e a d e r s o u t i n t o s p a c e . H is famous
s p a c e t r i l o g y , Out o f t h e S i l e n t P l a n e t (1 9 3 8 ), P e r e l a n d r a (1 9 4 3 ),
and T hat H id eou s S t r e n g t h ( 1 9 4 5 ), t a k e p l a c e , r e s p e c t i v e l y , on M ars,
Venus, and E a r t h . The m ain c h a r a c t e r o f a l l t h r e e books i s Dr. E lw in
Ransom, a p h i l o l o g i s t who s tu m b le s i n t o t h e h o tb e d o f w hat e v o l v e s
i n t o t h e s t r o n g e s t and m ost d a n g e ro u s e v i l t h a t h a s e v e r t h r e a t e n e d
to d e stro y th e e a rth . I n each book Ransom i s c a l l e d on t o f i g h t t h e
e v i l t h a t grows s t r o n g e r a s t h e t r i l o g y p r o g r e s s e s . A lth o u g h Lewis
d i d n o t i n t e n d t h e c h a r a c t e r s i n t h e t r i l o g y t o be a l l e g o r i c a l , th e
t h r e e n o v e l s can be re a d a t many d i f f e r e n t l e v e l s o f m e an in g. E very
d e t a i l h a s s u g g e s t i v e power beyond i t s mere e n t e r t a i n m e n t v a l u e .
T h e r e f o r e a more d e t a i l e d summary th a n u s u a l i s r e q u i r e d t o r e p r e s e n t
t h e n o v e l s ' p u r p o s e s and t e x t u r e s c o r r e c t l y .
In Out o f t h e S i l e n t P l a n e t Ransom i n a d v e r t e n t l y becomes t h e
c a p t i v e o f W eston, a b r i l l i a n t p h y s i c i s t d e v o te d t o s p r e a d i n g h u m a n ity
th r o u g h o u t t h e u n i v e r s i t y a t t h e c o s t o f any and a l l l i f e h e m ig h t
e n c o u n t e r i n t h e p r o c e s s , and o f D ev in e, who p r o v id e d t h e money f o r
W e s to n 's e x p e r im e n ts and was d e v o te d t o a c q u i r i n g a s much w e a l t h f o r
h im s e lf as he co u ld . Weston and D evine f o r c e d Ransom t o accompany
11
them on t h e i r seco n d t r i p t o M ars, known by i t s n a t i v e s a s M a la c a n d ra .
W eston hoped t o d e s t r o y t h e M a la c a n d r ia n s i n o r d e r t o r e a d y Mars f o r
human im m ig r a tio n from e a r t h . D evine hoped t o b r i n g back huge q u a n t i
t i e s o f t h e g o ld t h a t was a b u n d a n t i n M a la c a n d r a . Ransom was t o
s e r v e a s t h e i r ransom : d u rin g t h e i r f i r s t t r i p th e s p i r i t - l i k e r u l e r
o f Mars had as k e d t o b e b r o u g h t a human. The two e x p l o r e r s h ad
i n t e r p r e t e d t h i s r e q u e s t a s a demand f o r a human t o b e s a c r i f i c e d and
h ad f l e d b a c k t o e a r t h i n s e a r c h f o r a s a c r i f i c i a l v i c t i m . Ransom
had happened t o come o n to t h e s c e n e on t h e n i g h t p r e c e d i n g W eston and
D e v i n e 's secon d d e p a r t u r e ; t h e two k i d n a p p e r s d ru g g ed him and d rag g ed
him t o t h e i r s p a c e s h i p .
On M a la c a n d ra , Ransom e s c a p e d from h i s c a p t o r s , s p e n t s e v e r a l
months i n a M a la c a n d r ia n v i l l a g e , t r a v e l l e d t o M e l d i l o r n , t h e c a p i t a l
c i t y , a t t h e command o f t h e M a la c a n d r ia n r u l e r , and f i n a l l y r e v e a l e d
t o t h e r u l e r W e s to n 's and D e v i n e 's e v i l i n t e n t i o n s . The s c i e n t i s t
and h i s p a r t n e r , i n t h e m eantim e, had been s e a r c h i n g f o r Ransom and
t r a c e d him t o t h e v i l l a g e w h ere t h e y s h o t one o f t h e M a la c a n d r ia n s .
W h ile Ransom was jo u r n e y i n g t o M e l d i l o r n , Weston and D evine became
engaged i n a b a t t l e w i t h t h e M a la c a n d r ia n s . The day t h a t Ransom had
h i s f i r s t aud ien ce w ith th e p l a n e t 's r u l e r , t h e M a la c a n d r ia n s d ra g g e d
two c a p t i v e s who had k i l l e d t h r e e members o f t h e i r s p e c i e s t o
M e ld ilo rn . The c a p t i v e s w ere Weston and D ev in e.
The two men w ere b r o u g h t b e f o r e t h e r u l e r , who a llo w e d W eston t o
d e fe n d t h e m u rd e rs on t h e g ro un ds t h a t h e r e p r e s e n t e d a g r e a t c a u s e ,
th e cause o f L if e . H aving been w arned by Ransom t h a t t h e men in t e n d e d
12
t o d e s t r o y M a la c a n d ra and r e b u i l d i t f o r e a r t h l y i n h a b i t a n t s , t h e
r u l e r t o l d Weston and D evine t h e y would h a v e t o l e a v e t h e p l a n e t t h e
f o l l o w i n g m o rn in g , even tho ug h e a r t h was no l o n g e r i n o p p o s i t i o n t o
M ars, w hich m eant t h e j o u r n e y would be d a n g e ro u s and p e r h a p s im pos
sib le , He g ave Ransom t h e c h o i c e o f s t a y i n g on M ala c a n d ra f o r t h e
r e s t o f h i s l i f e o r r e t u r n i n g t o e a r t h w i t h Weston and D e v in e . Ransom
c h o s e t h e h a z a r d o u s jo u r n e y home. To p r e v e n t f u t u r e i n v a s i o n s o f
humans, t h e M a la c a n d r ia n r u l e r f i x e d t h e s p a c e s h i p so i t would
"unbody" o r s e l f - d e s t r u c t a f t e r n i n e t y days i n s p a c e . On t h e n i n e t i
e t h day o f t h e jo u r n e y , t h e s h i p la n d e d on E n g l i s h t e r r a i n . Weston
and Devine im m e d ia te ly abandoned t h e s l e e p i n g Ransom i n t h e s h i p and
vanished in t o th e d a rk n e s s . Waking up t o t h e sound o f r a i n , Ransom
s c ra m b le d o u t o f t h e v e s s e l t h a t had c a r r i e d him t o Mars and back
and had made him t h e u n w i t t i n g b r i d g e betw een t h e w o r ld s i n t h e
s t r u g g l e b etw ee n good and e v i l .
T h is f i r s t book o f t h e t r i l o g y i n t r o d u c e d t h e Old S o l a r la n g u a g e ,
t h e to n g u e o f t h e M a la c a n d r a ia n s and o f a l l n o n - e a r t h l y i n h a b i t a n t s
of th e u n iv e rse . M a la c a n d ra was i n h a b i t e d by t h r e e r a t i o n a l s p e c i e s ,
whose Old S o l a r names w ere t h e h r o s s a . t h e s o r n s , and t h e p f i f l t r i g g i .
The h r o s s a w ere t a l l , b l a c k , s e a l - l i k e c r e a t u r e s who l i v e d in t h e
v a lle y s, f i s h e d , and made up p o e t r y . I t was a h r o s s t h a t f i r s t found
Ransom and to o k him t o i t s v i l l a g e . The t h r e e c r e a t u r e s t h a t Weston
and D evine k i l l e d w ere a l s o h r o s s a . The s o r n s w ere creamy w h i t e ,
c o v e re d w i t h f e a t h e r s , had much more h u m a n - l ik e f a c e s th a n t h e h r o s s a ,
and w ere e i g h t e e n f e e t t a l l . They l i v e d i n c a v e s i n t h e m o u n ta in s ,
13
h e r d e d m i l k - g i v i n g a n i m a ls , and w ere t h e p l a n e t ' s i n t e l l i g e n t s i a .
M a l a c a n d r a 's c r a f t s m e n w ere t h e p f i f l t r i g g i . who rained t h e " s u n ' s
b l o o d " t h a t a t t r a c t e d D ev in e, and who l i v e d i n t h e lo w e s t v a l l e y s o f
M a la c a n d r a . The p f i f l t r i g g i had s h r e w - l i k e h e a d s , m a n y -f i n g e r e d
h a n d s , and seemed t o Ransom " r a t h e r l i k e a g r a s s h o p p e r , r a t h e r l i k e
one o f A r th u r R ackham 's d w a r f s , r a t h e r l i k e a f r o g , and r a t h e r l i k e
a little , o ld t a x i d e r m i s t whom [ h e ] knew i n L o n d o n . N o n e o f t h e
th r e e r a t i o n a l sp e c ie s ru le d th e o th e r s ; a l l th re e liv e d p e a c e fu lly
t o g e t h e r u n d e r t h e r u l e o f O y a rs a , t h e a rc h o n o f M ars.
Each p l a n e t i n t h e S o l a r System h a s i t s own O y a rs a , who i s c a l l e d
by t h e name o f t h e p l a n e t when h e i s n o t on t h e p l a n e t . Thus, on
M ars, t h e r u l e r i s c a l l e d O y a rs a , b u t on Venus o r e a r t h , h e i s c a l l e d
M a la c a n d ra . The O y e re s u a r e t h e g r e a t e s t o f t h e e l d i l a . sp irit-lik e
c r e a t u r e s t h a t do n o t b r e a t h e , e a t , b r e e d , o r d i e ; t h a t communicate
d i r e c t l y w ith M a l e l d i l , t h e c r e a t o r o f t h e u n i v e r s e , and b r i n g H is
commands t o t h e h n au . t h e O ld S o l a r te rm f o r a l l s p e c i e s o f r a t i o n a l
c re a tu re s, i n c l u d i n g man; t h a t n o r m a l ly a p p e a r t o h n au a s r o d s o f
l i g h t , b u t can assum e o t h e r s h a p e s ; and t h a t a c t u a l l y r e s i d e i n Deep
Heaven, b u t a p p e a r t o t h e h n a u t o s t a y on t h e p l a n e t s . The l e s s e r
e l d i l a s e r v e and obey t h e O y eresu , who i n t u r n obey M a l e l d i l H im s e lf.
Eons b e f o r e t h e c r e a t i o n o f l i f e on e a r t h , one o f t h e m o st pow er
f u l O y eresu r e v o l t e d a g a i n s t M a l e l d i l . He had become " b e n t " o r e v i l
* 0 u t ° f t h e S i l e n t P l a n e t (New Y ork: The M acm illan Company,

1 9 6 5 ), pp. 1 1 2 -1 1 3 . In f u t u r e r e f e r e n c e s t h e t i t l e w i l l be s h o r t e n e d
to P la n e t.
14
and had a l s o p e r v e r t e d some o f t h e l e s s e r e l d i l a . He t r i e d t o d e s t r o y
M a la c a n d ra and wage war a g a i n s t t h e o t h e r O y e r e s u . W ith M a l e l d i l ' s
h elp , t h e O y e re s u d e f e a t e d him and c o n f in e d him p e r m a n e n tly t o e a r t h
by b i n d i n g him i n t h e e a r t h ' s a tm o s p h e r e . T h e r e a f t e r t h e e v i l O y arsa
was known t h r o u g h o u t t h e u n i v e r s e a s t h e Bent One. He c u t o f f a l l
com m unication w i t h t h e o t h e r O y e re s u , i s o l a t i n g t h e e a r t h from Heaven,
and g i v i n g i t t h e name o f T h u lc a n d r a , t h e s i l e n t p l a n e t . When
M a l e l d i l c r e a t e d man on T h u lc a n d r a , t h e Bent One c a u s e d h i s f a l l and
began t h e p r o c e s s o f c o r r u p t i n g a l l humans.
M ala c a n d ra i s an o l d , u n f a l l e n p l a n e t . T h u lc a n d ra i s a y o u n g er,
f a lle n p la n e t. P e r e l a n d r a , known t o humans a s Venus, i s a v e r y
young p l a n e t on w hich r a t i o n a l l i f e i s j u s t e m erg in g . Lewis t e l l s
t h e s t o r y o f t h e t e m p t a t i o n o f P e r e l a n d r a i n t h e second book o f t h e
tr ilo g y , P e re la n d ra . A f t e r R ansom 's r e t u r n t o t h e e a r t h , th e e l d i l a
o f Mars o c c a s i o n a l l y v i s i t e d him . When t h e e l d i l a d i s c o v e r e d t h a t
t h e Bent One in t e n d e d t o a t t a c k Venus, O y a rs a h i m s e l f a s k e d Ransom t o
tr a v e l to P e re la n d ra to t r y to re p e l th e a tta c k . F or t h i s j o u r n e y
Ransom t r a v e l e d i n a s t a t e s i m i l a r t o su sp e n d ed a n i m a ti o n i n a
c o f f i n - l i k e box made o f an u n e a r t h l y , t r a n s l u c e n t , i c y s u b s t a n c e .
Upon l a n d i n g , Ransom d i s c o v e r e d t h a t P e r e l a n d r a was a v e r i t a b l e
p arad ise. He a l s o d i s c o v e r e d t h a t i t s two r a t i o n a l i n h a b i t a n t s , th e
Lady and t h e K ing, l i v e d i n a s t a t e o f in n o c e n c e and m a j e s t y , s i m i l a r
t o t h e s t a t e o f e a r t h ' s Adam and Eve b e f o r e t h e i r f a l l . P e re la n d ra
was a w o rld o f o cea n s and f l o a t i n g i s l a n d s , w i t h v e r y l i t t l e "fix ed
la n d " l i k e e a r t h 's c o n tin e n ts . B e fo re Ransom found t h e Lady, s h e and
15
t h e King had b e e n s e p a r a t e d . The two f l o a t i n g i s l a n d s th e y had b een
on had b e e n d r i v e n a p a r t by t h e s e a . U n t i l t h e end o f t h e book, t h e
Lady was on h e r own, u n a b l e t o f i n d t h e K ing.
Soon a f t e r Ransom found t h e Lady, h e d i s c o v e r e d how t h e Bent One
was p la n n i n g t o a t t a c k P e r e l a n d r a . W eston, t h e p h y s i c i s t who had
t a k e n Ransom t o M ars, la n d e d h i s s p a c e s h i p on P e r e l a n d r a . A fte r h is
f i r s t c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h t h e s c i e n t i s t , Ransom d i s c o v e r e d t h a t W e s to n 's
m i s s i o n was even more d i a b o l i c a l t h a n i t had b een on M a la c a n d r a .
From t h e f i r s t , Ransom had s e n s e d a s u b t l e u n f a m i l i a r i t y a b o u t
W e s to n 's f a c e and m anner. F i n a l l y h e r e a l i z e d t h a t Weston was n o t
r e a l ly h im se lf. H is body had b een ta k e n o v e r by t h e Bent One who had
u s e d Weston a s h i s v e h i c l e f o r in v a d i n g P e r e l a n d r a , The r e a l Weston
h ad been d i s p l a c e d by t h e Bent One. O c c a s i o n a l l y t h e Bent One a llo w e d
him t o r e g a i n c o n t r o l o f h i s own bod y. Those g lim p s e s o f t h e human
s o u l w i t h i n t h e d ead body w ere h o r r i f y i n g t o Ransom, f o r h e became
c o n v in c e d t h a t Weston was r e t u r n i n g from H e l l d u r i n g t h o s e b r i e f
re sp ite s. Ransom c o u ld n o t t h i n k o f W e s to n 's body a s W esto n; i n s t e a d ,
h e c a l l e d i t t h e Un-man.
The Un-man's r e a s o n f o r coming t o P e r e l a n d r a soon became a p p a r
en t. He had come, a s h e h ad on e a r t h so lo n g b e f o r e , t o tem pt t h e
Lady and t o t r y t o c a u s e P e r e l a n d r a ' s f a l l j u s t as h e had c au sed
T h u l c a n d r a 's f a l l . B efo re W e s to n 's a p p e a r a n c e , t h e Lady had r e v e a l e d
t o Ransom t h a t s h e and t h e K ing w ere f o r b i d d e n by M a l e l d i l t o s t a y
o v e r n i g h t on t h e f i x e d l a n d . The Un-man tem p ted t h e Lady t o d i s o b e y
M a l e l d i l ' s command. U n lik e e a r t h ' s Eve, P e r e l a n d r a ' s Lady d id n o t
16
y i e l d t o t h e t e m p t a t i o n r i g h t away. C o n s e q u e n tly , t h e Un-man r e p e a t
e d l y came b ack t o t h e Lady t o u s e d i f f e r e n t t a c t i c s o f p e r s u a s i o n .
The Lady r e s i s t e d h i s t e m p t a t i o n , f i n d i n g f a u l t s i n h i s a rg u m e n ts ,
b u t t h e Un-man g r a d u a l l y began t o w ear down h e r r e s i s t a n c e . Ransom,
a w are o f t h e Un-man's i n t e n t i o n s , t r i e d t o p e r s u a d e t h e Lady t h a t t h e
Un-man was e v i l . Ransom r e a l i z e d , how ever, t h a t h e was l o s i n g t h e
b a ttle , f o r h e c o u ld n o t l i e and t h e Un-man t w i s t e d h i s t r u e a r g u
m ents i n t o h a l f - t r u t h s t h a t a p p e a le d t o t h e Lady. F i n a l l y Ransom
r e a l i z e d t h a t t h e o n ly way t o s a v e t h e Lady and P e r e l a n d r a was th ro u g h
p h y s i c a l combat w i t h t h e e v i l s t r a n g e r .
W hile a l l o f P e r e l a n d r a s l e p t u n d e r a s p e l l c a s t by M a l e l d i l ,
Ransom a t t a c k e d t h e Un-man. The f i g h t was f e r o c i o u s . U sing o n ly
t h e weapons o f t e e t h and n a i l s , f e e t and f i s t s , th e r e p r e s e n ta tiv e s
o f t h e Bent One and o f M a l e l d i l t r i e d t o k i l l each o t h e r . Both
i n j u r e d e ac h o t h e r s e v e r e l y b e f o r e t h e Un-man f l e d t o t h e s e a , w here
h e m ounted a tame f i s h . Ransom f o llo w e d him . H ours l a t e r b o th w ere
sw ept u n d e r w a te r t o a s u b m a rin e c a v e . Once a g a i n t h e y b a t t l e d ; t h i s
tim e Ransom s t r a n g l e d t h e Un-man. The v i c t o r b eg an e x p l o r i n g t h e
b l a c k cav e t o f i n d an e x i t i n t o t h e s u n l i g h t . He f i n a l l y c lim b ed t o
t h e to p o f a l e d g e t h a t hung o v e r a f i e r y p i t . By t h e tim e h e
r e a c h e d t h e l e d g e , how ever, h e knew t h a t h e was b e in g f o l l o w e d . Soon
t h e body o f W eston, r e a n i m a t e d by t h e Bent One i n h a b i t i n g i t , je rk ily
c lim b ed o n to t h e l e d g e . W ith o u t w a i t i n g t o l i s t e n t o t h e Un-man's
p l e a d i n g , Ransom smashed i t s f a c e i n w i t h a r o c k , d r a g g e d t h e b ro k e n
body a c r o s s t h e l e d g e , and drop ped i t i n t o t h e f la m e s . The
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con su m p tio n o f W e s to n 's body by t h e s u b t e r r a n e a n f i r e f o r c e d t h e
Bent One t o r e t u r n t o T h u lc a n d r a , n e v e r a g a i n t o wage war on
P e re la n d ra .
Ransom 's m i s s i o n was a c c o m p lis h e d , b u t h e was n o t y e t re a d y t o
le av e P e r e la n d r a . A f t e r f i n d i n g t h e e x i t o f t h e cav e , h e l a y n e a r
t h e c a v e 's mouth on t h e to p o f a m o u n ta in f o r two o r t h r e e w eeks.
D u rin g t h a t tim e h e d id n o t h i n g b u t s l e e p and e a t t h e f r u i t t h a t hung
l i k e grape c l u s t e r s w ith in reac h o f h i s u p s tre tc h e d hands. H is body,
m u t i l a t e d by t h e Un-man's c l a w - l i k e n a i l s and t e e t h , r a p i d l y h e a l e d
u n t i l Ransom 's o n ly s o u v e n i r o f h i s b a t t l e s was a b i t e on h i s h e e l
t h a t would n o t s t o p b l e e d i n g . When he f i n a l l y awoke c o m p le te ly ,
Ransom d i s c o v e r e d t h a t h e f e l t r e j u v e n a t e d . He seemed s t r o n g e r t h a n
h e had e v e r b een and t r a v e l e d e a s i l y w i t h o u t f a t i g u e . Upon d e s c e n d i n g
t h e m o u n ta in , h e d i s c o v e r e d an empty w h i t e c o f f i n , t h e c h a r i o t t h a t
would t a k e him b ack t o e a r t h .
Two e l d i l a , t h e O y e re s u o f M alac an d ra and P e r e l a n d r a , g r e e t e d
Ransom when h e found t h e c o f f i n . They t o l d him t h a t t h e Lady and t h e
King had been r e u n i t e d and w ere now a p p r o a c h in g t h e m o u n ta in t o t a k e
t h e i r r i g h t f u l th ro n es as th e u n fa lle n r u le r s of P e re la n d ra . The King
and t h e Lady a c c e p t e d t h e a d o r a t i o n o f Ransom and t h e two e l d i l a .
R a i s i n g Ransom from h i s k n e e s , t h e King t o l d t h e e a r t h l i n g t h a t h e
was t h e s a v i o r o f P e r e l a n d r a , f o r h e had p r e v e n t e d i t s f a l l from
p arad ise . The King th e n f o r e t o l d some o f t h e t h i n g s t h a t would happ en
d u rin g th e y ears o f t h e i r r e ig n . A l l o f t h e e l d i l a o f Deep Heaven
d escen d e d o n to P e r e l a n d r a i n t h e i n t r i c a t e G r e a t Dance o f Heaven.
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When th e d an ce was o v e r , Ransom c lim b ed i n t o h i s c o f f i n - c h a r i o t t o be
c a r r i e d by t h e O y a rsa M ala c a n d ra b ack t o e a r t h . He had e x p e r i e n c e d
p a r a d i s e , had w i t n e s s e d t h e t e m p t a t i o n o f an u n f a l l e n b e i n g , had
d e f e a t e d t h e Bent One, k i l l i n g W e s to n 's body i n ' a H e l l - l i k e c a v e , and
had a s c e n d e d once a g a i n i n t o p a r a d i s e w here h e r e c e i v e d e t e r n a l y o u th
t h a t was m a rre d o n ly by an i n c u r a b l e h e e l wound.
Ransom's a d v e n t u r e s w i t h e v i l w ere n o t f i n i s h e d when h e r e t u r n e d
to e a rth . T h at H ideous S t r e n g t h t e l l s o f h i s e n c o u n t e r w i t h t h e
g r e a t e s t e v i l t h a t had e v e r t h r e a t e n e d t h e e a r t h . The N a t i o n a l
I n s t i t u t e o f C o - o r d in a t e d E x p e r im e n ts , o r N . I . C . E . , s u p p o s e d ly
in t e n d e d t o g a t h e r t h e g r e a t e s t s c i e n t i s t s o f England t o g e t h e r t o
s e a r c h f o r m a n k in d 's i l l s . I n r e a l i t y , N . I . C . E . i t s e l f was t o become
m a n k in d 's g r e a t e s t i l l . I t was ru n by two men, F r o s t and W i th e r , who
w ere u n d er t h e c o n t r o l o f e a r t h ' s d a r k e l d i l a . Through N . I . C . E . , t h e
e l d i l a hoped t o i n c a r n a t e a l i t e r a l h e l l on e a r t h , i n w hich m i n d le s s
men would u n q u e s t i o n i n g l y obey t h e d a r k e l d i l a ' s commands. A ll
" u n d e s i r a b l e e l e m e n t s " i n t h e human r a c e w ere t o be weeded o u t u n t i l
o n ly an o b e d i e n t e l i t e would r e m a in .
Ransom d i d n o t a c t u a l l y a p p e a r u n t i l h a l f - w a y th ro u g h t h e book,
b u t h e worked b e h in d t h e s c e n e s from t h e v e r y b e g i n n i n g o f T hat
H ideous S t r e n g t h . Unknown t o N . I . C . E . , Ransom s u s p e c t e d i t s t r u e
a c t i v i t i e s and a im s . A f t e r h i s r e t u r n t o e a r t h , h e became t h e
P end ragon o r k i n g o f L o g r e s , t h e s e c r e t s o c i e t y t h a t i s a l l t h a t
re m a in s o f King A r t h u r ' s r e a lm i n C am elo t. L o gres h a s d e f i e d B r i t a i n ,
t h e e v i l a s p e c t o f E n g lan d , c o n t i n u o u s l y s i n c e t h e r e i g n o f A r t h u r .
19
Each P endragon s e l e c t s h i s own s u c c e s s o r j u s t b e f o r e he d i e s ; Ransom
was t h e s e v e n t y - n i n t h P end ragon s i n c e A r t h u r h i m s e l f . Ransom 's
L o g re s c o n s i s t e d o f a s m a l l company o f men and women who, f o r v a r i o u s
r e a s o n s , g a t h e r e d a ro u n d him and rem ained t o h e l p him f i g h t t h e e v i l
e ld ila .
The two m ain c h a r a c t e r s o f T h at H id eo us S t r e n g t h a r e J a n e and
Mark S tu d d o ck , a young c o u p le whose s i x - m o n t h - o l d m a r r i a g e was
g r a d u a l l y d i s i n t e g r a t i n g th r o u g h l a c k o f l o v e . Mark was p e r s u a d e d t o
j o i n N . I . C . E . by Lord F e v e r s t o n e , whose o r i g i n a l name was D evine and
who had k id n a p p e d Ransom t o M ars. J a n e became a member o f L o g res
a f t e r sh e had had s e v e r a l c l a i r v o y a n t dream s t h a t had r e v e a l e d some
o f th e a c t i v i t i e s o f N .I.C .E . J a n e knew t h a t Mark was i n N . I . C . E . ,
b u t Mark, who was l i v i n g a t B e lb u ry , N . I . C . E . ' s h e a d q u a r t e r s , was n o t
aw are t h a t J a n e had j o i n e d L o g r e s . N . I . C . E . , how ever, knew t h a t J a n e
was h a v in g e x t r a s e n s o r y dream s and s u s p e c t e d t h a t s h e had gone t o
t h e i r en em y 's s i d e —a l t h o u g h i t d i d n o t know t h a t i t s enemy was
L o g re s , le d by Ransom. The members o f N . I . C . E . t r i e d t o p e r s u a d e
and l a t e r t o f o r c e Mark t o b r i n g h i s w i f e t o B elb u ry so h e r dream s
w ould n o t r e v e a l t h e i r s e c r e t s t o L o g r e s .
One o f J a n e ' s dreams r e v e a l e d t h e t r u e r e a s o n b e h in d t h e s e l e c
t i o n o f B e lb u ry f o r t h e N . I . C . E . h e a d q u a r t e r s . B elbury c o n t a i n e d
B r a c to n Wood, t h e b u r i a l p l a c e o f M e r l i n , King A r t h u r ' s p o w e rf u l m a g i
cian . A c c o rd in g t o t r a d i t i o n , M e r li n was b u r i e d b u t n o t d e a d ; h e was
c a p a b l e o f b e i n g b r o u g h t b a c k t o l i f e from h i s f i f t e e n - h u n d r e d - y e a r
s le e p . The d a r k e l d i l a , th r o u g h N . I . C . E . , hoped t o reaw aken M e r l i n .
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I f t h e y s u c c e e d e d th e y in t e n d e d t o u n i t e h i s n a t u r a l powers w i t h
t h e i r a n t i - n a t u r a l powers i n o r d e r t o ' d e s t r o y t h e e a r t h . What t h e y
d i d n o t c o u n t on, th o u g h , was t h e e x i s t e n c e o f L o g res and t h e p o s s i
b i l i t y t h a t M e r l i n m ig h t r e t u r n t o t h i s d e s c e n d a n t o f A r t h u r ' s r e a lm .
T h ro ugh ou t t h e book, Mark S tu ddo ck was b e i n g e n t i c e d f u r t h e r and
f u r t h e r i n t o t h e " i n n e r c i r c l e " o f N . I . C . E . , becoming more and more
c o r r u p t e d , and f a l l i n g i n c r e a s i n g l y u nd er t h e power o f t h e d a r k
e ld ila . The p r im a r y r e a s o n why F r o s t and W ith e r , N . I . C . E . ' s most
p o w e r fu l members, w anted t o c o n t r o l Mark was t o make him t a k e J a n e t o
B e lb u ry so t h e y c o u ld c o n t r o l h e r and g a i n a c c e s s t o h e r d re a m s. When
p e r s u a s i o n f a i l e d t o c o n v in c e Mark t h a t J a n e s h o u ld j o i n him a t
B e lb u ry , F r o s t and W ith e r t u r n e d t o h a r s h e r t a c t i c s . They fram ed,
a c c u s e d , and j a i l e d Mark f o r m u rd e r. B e lb u ry had i t s own p o l i c e f o r c e
w hich s p e c i a l i z e d i n " r e m e d i a l t r e a t m e n t " — t o r t u r e . F r o s t began a
p ro gram o f b r a in w a s h in g t h a t would i n i t i a t e Mark i n t o t h e c u l t o f t h e
d a r k e l d i l a and would l e a v e him c o m p le te ly i n t h e e l d i l a ' s pow er.
F r o s t and W ith e r had a l r e a d y become t h e f i r s t and o n ly i n i t i a t e s i n t o
th e c u l t.
F r o s t ' s methods w ere b a s e d on t h e a s s u m p tio n t h a t M a r k 's f e a r o f
d e a t h and h i s d e s i r e t o b e lo n g t o t h e in n e rm o s t p a r t o f t h e " i n n e r
c i r c l e " would d r i v e him t o a c c e p t t h e i n i t i a t i o n . F r o s t was c o r r e c t
i n h i s e s t i m a t i o n o f t h e power o f M a r k 's d e s i r e , b u t h e m i s c a l c u l a t e d
t h e e f f e c t s o f M a r k 's f e a r . W hile Mark was w a i t i n g , h e t h o u g h t , t o be
e x e c u te d , h i s mind s u d d e n ly d ro p p ed a l l t h e p r e t e n c e s i t had d e v e lo p e d
a l l h i s l i f e t o p r o t e c t him from a r e a l i s t i c view o f h i m s e l f . He
21
r e a l i z e d t h a t h i s l i f e l o n g e f f o r t s t o j o i n w h a te v e r s e c r e t c l i q u e had
b een " i n " a t t h e moment had a c t u a l l y k e p t him from e v e r d o in g w hat h e
w an ted t o do and from l i v i n g h i s own l i f e . More i m p o r t a n t , Mark
r e a l i z e d t h a t F r o s t , W ith e r , and a l l t h e o t h e r members o f N . I . C . E .
w ere e v i l and t h a t N . I . C . E . was a w o rld o f t r e a c h e r o u s s u b t e r f u g e .
F or t h e f i r s t tim e s i n c e h e h ad j o i n e d t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n , Mark made
h i s own d e c i s i o n i n s t e a d o f l e t t i n g h i m s e l f d r i f t w ith h i s s u r r o u n d
in g s. He c h o s e , v e h e m e n tly , t o s i d e a g a i n s t t h e e v i l and w i t h t h e
good, o r w hat h e c a l l e d t h e " s t r a i g h t " o r t h e "N o rm al." From t h e
moment o f t h a t c o n s c io u s d e c i s i o n , Mark began t o t u r n away from
B elb u ry and to w a rd s J a n e and L o g r e s .
As t h e e v i l e l d i l a had h o ped, M e r l i n d i d wake up. However,
i n s t e a d o f g o in g t o B e lb u ry , t h e m a g ic ia n h e a d e d s t r a i g h t f o r S t .
A n n e 's , w here Ransom and L o g res w ere. On h i s way t h e r e , h e e n t r a n c e d
a tram p and s t o l e h i s c l o t h e s . The tram p was l a t e r found by r e p r e
s e n t a t i v e s o f N . I . C . E . who, m i s t a k i n g him f o r M e r li n , to o k him t o
B e lb u ry . A f t e r r e a c h i n g S t . A n n e 's , M e r l i n acknow ledged Ransom as
t h e P endragon when h e s u c c e s s f u l l y answ ered t h e m a g i c i a n 's t h r e e
s e c re t q u e stio n s.
Ransom e x p l a i n e d t h e d a n g e r o f N . I . C . E . t o M e r l i n . The e v i l
e l d i l a th o u g h t t h a t th e y c o u ld commit any a t r o c i t i e s w i t h o u t b e in g
p u n is h e d b e c a u s e M a l e l d i l had made a law f o r H im s e lf , c a l l e d t h e
S e v e n th Law, w hich s a i d t h a t "He w i l l n o t sen d down t h e Powers t o mend
22
o r mar i n t h i s E a r t h u n t i l t h e end o f a l l t h i n g s . T h e e l d i l s d id
not re a liz e , th o u g h , t h a t Weston and D evine h ad b ro k en t h i s law when
t h e y had l e f t t h e e a r t h ' s a tm o s p h e r e and t r a v e l e d t o M ars, s t a n d i n g
b e f o r e M a la c a n d ra , one o f t h e P o w ers. Once t h e b a r r i e r o f t h e
S e v e n th Law had b een b ro k e n by man, M a l e l d i l c o u ld send t h e Powers
down to T h u l c a n d r a . T h is was why He was a b l e t o send O y a rsa t o t a k e
Ransom t o P e r e l a n d r a . T h is was why Ransom knew t h a t t h e Powers would
d e s c e n d on S t . Anne i t s e l f t o g i v e M e r l i n t h e a b i l i t y t o d e s t r o y
N . I . C . E . , w hich c o u ld n o t be d e f e a t e d by m ere human s t r e n g t h . The
Oy&resu V i r i t r i l b i a (M ercu ry ), P e r e l a n d r a , M a la c a n d ra , L urga ( S a t u r n ) ,
and G lund -O y arsa (J o v e ) a l l d e s c e n d e d on S t . A n n e 's t o make M e r li n
t h e t o o l f o r t h e d e s t r u c t i o n o f B e lb u ry .
W hile Ransom was t a l k i n g w i t h t h e r e a l M e r li n , F r o s t and W ith e r
w e re t r y i n g t o e s t a b l i s h com m unication w i t h t h e suppo sed M e r l i n , t h e
tr a m p . A ll o f t h e i r e f f o r t s f a i l e d . F in a lly , i n d e s p e r a t i o n th e y
a d v e r t i s e d i n t h e n ew sp ap er f o r an i n t e r p r e t e r i n C e l t i c , M e r l i n 's
n a t i v e la n g u a g e . Ransom s e n t t h e r e a l M e r l i n t o B elb ury d i s g u i s e d as
a J e s u i t p r i e s t t o an sw er t h e a d v e r t i s e m e n t . Under M e r l i n ' s s p e l l ,
t h e tram p b egan t o s p e a k C e l t i c , w hich M e r l i n t r a n s l a t e d i n t o L a t i n
f o r F r o s t and W i th e r . A c t i n g a s t r a n s l a t o r , M e r li n demanded and
r e c e i v e d a g u id e d t o u r th ro u g h B e lb u ry , e n d in g up a t a b a n q u e t f o r a
d is tin g u is h e d g u e st.
^ T h a t H ideous S t r e n g t h (New Y ork: The M acm illan Company, 1 946 ),

p . 290. I n f u t u r e r e f e r e n c e s t h e t i t l e w i l l be s h o r t e n e d t o S t r e n g t h .
23
M e r l i n w ent t o work a t t h e b a n q u e t . He p u t t h e c u r s e o f Babel
o v e r a l l o f B e lb u ry , so t h a t e v e r y o n e 's s p e e c h t u r n e d i n t o n o n s e n s e
s y l l a b l e s w hich no one e l s e c o u ld u n d e r s t a n d . Then h e r e l e a s e d a l l
t h e human p r i s o n e r s , i n c l u d i n g Mark S tu d d o ck , and a l l t h e a n im a ls
t h a t had been c a p t u r e d f o r v i v i s e c t i o n . The a n im a ls h e s e n t t o t h e
b a n q u e t room w here th e y began k i l l i n g t h e d i n e r s . By t h e tim e t h e
m e n a g e r ie in v a d e d t h e b a n q u e t h a l l , i t was i n a s t a t e o f mass c o n
fu sio n . C o n fu s io n t u r n e d t o t e r r o r when a t i g e r , s n a k e , e l e p h a n t ,
and o t h e r e n ra g e d a n im a ls s t a r t e d a t t a c k i n g any human i n s i g h t . The
f e r o c i t y o f t h e a n i m a ls , how ever, was l e s s t h a n t h e v i c i o u s h a t r e d
w i t h which t h e humans t u r n e d on each o t h e r . When t h e m a s s a c r e ended
o n l y F r o s t , W ith e r , Lord F e v e r s t o n e , and two o t h e r men named
F i l o s t r a t o and S t r a i k w ere a l i v e .
W ith e r , F i l o s t r a t o , and S t r a i k e s c a p e d t o t h e room w here
F i l o s t r a t o had su c c e e d e d i n k e e p i n g t h e human head o f a g u i l l o t i n e
v ic tim a liv e . He a l s o th o u g h t t h a t h i s s c i e n t i f i c s k i l l had k e p t
t h e H e a d 's b r a i n f u n c t i o n i n g and e n a b le d t h e Head t o s p e a k . W ith e r
and F r o s t knew d i f f e r e n t l y . The Head was m e re ly a r e c e p t a c l e f o r t h e
dark e l d ila . F o r c i n g t h e i r way i n t o t h e room, S t r a i k , F i l o s t r a t o ,
and W ith e r bowed b e f o r e t h e Head, w hich t o l d them t o a d o r e i t . The
t h r e e men found th e m s e lv e s r h y t h m i c a l l y bowing and c h a n t i n g a d o r a t i o n
sy lla b le s. The Head demanded a n o t h e r h e a d . S t r a i k and W ith e r f o r c e d
F i l o s t r a t o t o a b u i l t - i n g u i l l o t i n e and d e c a p i t a t e d him . A n tic ip a tin g
a seco nd demand f o r a h e a d , W ith e r c h a s e d , s ta b b e d , and k i l l e d S t r a i k .
J u s t a s h e was r e t u r n i n g t o t h e H e a d 's room w i t h F i l o s t r a t o ' s b lo o d y
24
h e a d , W ith e r e n c o u n te r e d Ransom 's tame b e a r t h a t had b e e n c a p t u r e d
by N . I . C . E . f o r v i v i s e c t i o n . Enraged' by M e r li n , t h e b e a r k i l l e d and
m auled W i th e r and d ev o u red t h e o r i g i n a l Head.
F r o s t h ad been i g n o r a n t o f t h i s secon d m a s s a c r e , b u t d i s c o v e r e d
t h e b lo o d y b o d ie s when h e w ent t o t h e H e a d 's room. U n th in k i n g ly ,
F r o s t obeyed t h e d a r k e l d i l a who had t a k e n o v e r h i s w i l l . He s tr e w e d
flam m ables and g a s o l i n e aro u n d t h e room, lo c k e d h i m s e l f i n , and s e t
f i r e t o t h e room.
Lord F e v e r s t o n e , f o r m e r l y D ev in e, d i d n o t t r y t o r e t u r n t o t h e
H ead. He knew B e lb u ry was g o in g t o b e d e s t r o y e d , b u t h e th o u g h t he
had l e f t h i m s e l f a way o u t . He t r i e d t o r e t u r n t o B ra c to n C o ll e g e i n
Edgestow w here h e had worked b e f o r e N . I . C . E . had s e t up i t s h e a d
q u a r t e r s i n B e lb u ry . On h i s way t o Edgestow , F e v e r s t o n e was c a u g h t
i n a v e r i t a b l e H e ll o f f i r e and e a r t h q u a k e . The l a s t t h i n g h e saw
was a wave o f e a r t h r o l l i n g to w a rd s him .
Mark S tu dd ock had e s c a p e d a f t e r t h e b a n q u e t room m a s s a c r e . He
h u r r i e d t o S t . A n n e 's w here h e d i s c o v e r e d J a n e w a i t i n g f o r him . Jane
had been humbled by h e r t a l k s a b o u t lo v e and m a r r i a g e w i t h Ransom.
Mark had s e e n h i m s e l f i n a new, humble l i g h t i n t h e B elb u ry p r i s o n .
R e u n ite d i n t h e i r new -found h u m i l i t y , t h e h usban d and w i f e w ere re a d y
a t l a s t to fin d lo v e.
A f t e r M e r li n had s e t t h e f i n a l d e s t r u c t i o n o f B elb u ry i n m o tio n ,
h e had e n t e r e d t h e b ack s e a t o f F e v e r s t o n e ' s c a r and used h i s power
t o make F e v e r s t o n e d r i v e r e c k l e s s l y a c r o s s t h e f i e l d s on an o ld Roman
road . When t h e c a r c r a s h e d , b o th t h e o c c u p a n ts e scap e d u n h u r t .
25
F e v e r s t o n e saw M e r l i n s t r i d e a c r o s s t h e f i e l d s , mount a h o r s e t h a t
was i n a p a s t u r e , and v a n i s h . M e r l i n ' s work on e a r t h was f i n a l l y
fin ish e d . A c c e p tin g t h e P o w e rs' m ig h t had d r a i n e d t h e l a s t o f h i s
b o d ily s tr e n g th . A f t e r f i f t e e n h u n d re d y e a r s , h e was r e a d y f o r
d e a th 's f i n a l r e le a s e .
Ransom was a l s o r e a d y f o r r e l e a s e , b u t n o t th ro u g h d e a t h . He
h a d g a in e d e t e r n a l y o u th on P e r e l a n d r a and had n o t aged a day s i n c e
h is re tu rn to e a rth . The P e n d r a g o n 's wounded h e e l h u r t him c o n
s ta n tly . He y e a rn e d f o r t h e P e r e l a n d r a i n p a r a d i s e w i t h an a lm o s t
p a i n f u l lo n g i n g . When L o g re s h ad once a g a i n d e f e a t e d t h e d a r k e l d i l a
o f B r i t a i n , Ransom knew t h a t h i s tim e t o l e a v e had come. A ll th e
O y£resu e x c e p t P e r e l a n d r a had r e t u r n e d t o t h e i r p l a n e t s a f t e r
empowering M e r l i n . P e r e l a n d r a w a i t e d t o t a k e Ransom b ack t o h e r
p a r a d i s e w here h e would j o i n King A r t h u r and t h e f i v e o r s i x o t h e r
men who would n e v e r d i e , b u t who had b een t a k e n from e a r t h t o
P erela n d ra. Ransom knew t h a t t h e e v i l o f B r i t a i n would r i s e a g a i n ,
b u t i t would n o t be h i s t a s k t o r e p e l i t .
The books o f t h e s p a c e t r i l o g y d e m o n s t r a t e L e w i s ' c o n c e p ts o f
good and e v i l i n r e l a t i o n t o human l i v e s . In d o in g s o , t h e t r i l o g y
co m p le te s th e b a s i c r e l a t i o n s h i p betw een t h e t h r e e g ro u p s o f L e w is '
e i g h t b o o k s: t h e t h r e e d o c t r i n a l books e x p l a i n i n g L e w is ' c o n c e p ts ,
t h e two f a n t a s i e s showing H e l l and Heaven, and th e s p a c e t r i l o g y p o r
t r a y i n g t h e c o n c e p ts and Heaven and H e l l i n f l u e n c i n g m e n 's l i v e s .
O th e r r e l a t i o n s h i p s betw een t h e books can a l s o be d i s c o v e r e d . The
G re a t D iv o rc e p a i n t s a p i c t u r e o f H eaven. P e re la n d ra p a r a l l e l s t h i s
26
by show ing Ransom l i v i n g i n a H eav en ly p a r a d i s e . The S c re w ta p e
L e t t e r s p o r tr a y s th e d e v i ls in H e ll. T h at H ideous S t r e n g t h shows t h e
e f f e c t s on e a r t h o f an o r g a n i z a t i o n c l o s e l y p a t t e r n e d a f t e r
S c r e w t a p e 's H e l l . N . I . C . E . was t h e c l o s e s t T h u lc a n d r a c o u ld come t o
p r o d u c in g a h e l l w i t h o u t a c t u a l l y becom ing H e l l i t s e l f .
The r e l a t i o n s h i p s among t h e books o f t h e t r i l o g y a r e even more
in v o lv ed . In Out o f t h e S i l e n t P l a n e t t h e M a la c a n d r ia n O y a rsa p r e
d i c t e d t h a t t h e e v i l t h a t Weston and D evine s t a r t e d would a f f e c t t h e
u n iv e rse . I n P e r e l a n d r a W eston, a s t h e Un-man, t r i e d t o c o r r u p t
V enus. I n T h a t H ideo us S t r e n g t h D ev ine, now Lord F e v e r s t o n e , was a
member o f N . I . C . E . w hich t r i e d t o p e r v e r t and f i n a l l y d e s t r o y t h e
e a rth . Some e v i l , t h e k i l l i n g o f t h r e e h r o s s a , was done on
M a la c a n d ra . More e v i l was a t t e m p t e d on P e r e l a n d r a : th e f a l l o f a
p e r f e c t w o rld i s w o rse th a n t h e m urder o f t h r e e r a t i o n a l b e i n g s .
A lr e a d y a f a l l e n w o rld , T h u lc a n d r a c o u ld n o t h a v e b e e n made t o f a l l
ag ain . But t h e e v i l a t t e m p t e d on e a r t h would h av e b een t h e c o m p le tio n
o f t h e o r i g i n a l F a l l i f i t had s u c c e e d e d . The Bent One had p e r v e r t e d
t h e p a r a d i s e o f Eden i n t o t h e i s o l a t i o n o f T h u lc a n d r a ; now h e t r i e d
t o make t h a t i s o l a t i o n i n t o H e l l i n c a r n a t e . I n L e w is ' w ords,
From t h e p o i n t o f view w hich i s a c c e p t e d i n H e l l , t h e whole

h i s t o r y o f o u r E a r t h had le d up t o t h i s moment. T h e re was
now a t l a s t a r e a l ch an c e f o r f a l l e n Man t o s h ak e o f f t h a t
l i m i t a t i o n o f h i s pow ers w hich mercy had imposed upon him
a s a p r o t e c t i o n from t h e f u l l r e s u l t s o f h i s f a l l . I f th is
s u c c e e d e d , H e l l would be a t l a s t i n c a r n a t e . Bad men, w h i l e
s t i l l in t h e body, s t i l l c r a w l i n g on t h i s l i t t l e g lo b e ,
would e n t e r t h a t s t a t e w hich , h e r e t o f o r e , th e y had e n t e r e d
o n ly a f t e r d e a t h , would h av e t h e d i u t u r n i t y and power o f
27
e v i l s p i r i t s . N a tu r e , a l l o v e r t h e g lo b e o f T e l l u s , would
become t h e i r s l a v e ; and o f t h a t do m inion no end, b e f o r e
t h e end o f tim e i t s e l f , c o u ld be c e r t a i n l y f o r e s e e n .
( S t r e n g t h , pp. 20 3-204)
I n Out o f t h e S i l e n t P l a n e t O yarsa t o l d Ransom t h a t w i t h
M a l e l d i l ' s h e l p , h e had r e p a i r e d t h e damage t h e Bent One had done t o
h i s p l a n e t b e f o r e t h e e v i l O y arsa had been c o n f in e d t o T h u l c a n d r a 's
a tm o s p h e re . M a l a c a n d r a 's h n a u had h e l p e d , b u t O y arsa had i n i t i a t e d
and d i r e c t e d t h e r e p a i r w ork. When e v i l a g a i n t h r e a t e n e d Mars i n t h e
form o f Weston and D evine, O y a rs a d e f e a t e d i t on ce m ore. The h r o s s a
c a p t u r e d t h e two men, b u t O y arsa s e n t them b ack t o e a r t h and
" u n b o d ie d " t h e s p a c e s h i p . A s m a l l e v i l was r e p u l s e d by a p o w e rfu l
sp irit.
The Un-man i n P e r e l a n d r a was a g r e a t e r e v i l th a n Weston was on
M a la c a n d ra , f o r i t was t h e d a r k e l d i l embodied i n W eston. I t had a l l
t h e p s y c h o l o g i c a l power o f t h e Bent One and t h e p h y s i c a l s t r e n g t h o f
W e s to n 's body. The Lady was a b l e t o r e s i s t t h e U n-m an's t e m p t a t i o n
f o r a w h i l e , b u t s h e c o u ld n o t h a v e done so i n d e f i n i t e l y . H er r e s i s
t a n c e was a l r e a d y b e g i n n in g t o w ear down when Ransom d e c i d e d t o f i g h t
t h e Un-man. W ith o u t Ransom, t h e Lady would e v e n t u a l l y h a v e f a l l e n .
M a l a c a n d r a 's O y a rs a had s a i d t h a t h e would h a v e t r i e d t o c u r e Weston
i f t h e s c i e n t i s t had b een one o f h i s h n a u . On P e r e l a n d r a t h e Un-man
c o u ld n o t be c u r e d ; h e c o u ld o n ly be d e s t r o y e d e n t i r e l y . He was
d e s t r o y e d , n o t by an O y a rs a , b u t by a human b e i n g . Ransom, coming
from a f a l l e n p l a n e t , had had more e x p e r i e n c e w ith t e m p t a t i o n and
e v i l th a n t h e Lady h a d . T h e r e f o r e , h e was more a b l e t o r e s i s t them
28
t h a n s h e w as. He was s t r o n g e r t h a n t h e Lady, b u t h e was n o t an e l d i l .
On P e r e l a n d r a a g r e a t e r e v i l was d e s t r o y e d by a l e s s e r pow er, a human.
The Lady o f P e r e l a n d r a , t h e te m p te e , n eed ed someone s t r o n g e r
t h a n sh e was t o d e f e a t t h e t e m p t e r , a s p i r i t from a n o t h e r p l a n e t . In
T h a t H ideous S t r e n g t h th e e v i l , human members o f N . I . C . E . m a n ip u la t e d
by e a r t h ' s own d a r k e l d i l a , was r e s i s t e d by o t h e r humans, t h e s o c i e t y
o f L o g re s a s s i s t e d by t h e P o w e rs. The members o f N . I . C . E . tem pted
o t h e r humans t o become e v i l . The e n t ic e m e n t o f H ark S tu d d o ck was a
m a jo r p a r t o f T h a t H ideous S t r e n g t h . Mark p u t up l i t t l e o r no r e s i s -
t e n c e t o t h e t e m p t a t i o n t o become more and more d e e p l y i n v o l v e d i n
N . I . C . E . u n t i l h e was t h r e a t e n e d w i t h d e a t h . I n P e r e l a n d r a t h e Lady
r e s i s t e d t e m p t a t i o n a t f i r s t and d i d n o t show s i g n s o f y i e l d i n g
s l i g h t l y u n t i l n e a r t h e end o f h e r t r i a l s . I n T h at H ideous S t r e n g t h .
Mark y i e l d e d a l l t h e way u n t i l t h e moment when t h e g r e a t e s t te m p ta
t i o n , becom ing an i n i t i a t e , and t h e g r e a t e s t e v i l , g i v i n g t h e d a r k
e ld ila co n tro l of h is actio n s, fa c e d him . Then h e r e s i s t e d w i t h h i s
e n tire w ill.
The f i r s t two books o f t h e t r i l o g y p o r t r a y e d t h e c o n f l i c t betw een
good and e v i l a s an uneven s t r u g g l e . One s i d e had more s t r e n g t h th a n
th e o th e r. I n T h a t H ideous S t r e n g t h t h e b a t t l e was more e v e n l y
b alan ced . The p r o t a g o n i s t s and t h e a n t a g o n i s t s w ere a l l human n a t i v e s
o f T h u lcan d ra. Both f a c t i o n s r e l i e d on s u p e r n a t u r a l power, f o r u n l i k e
t h e b a t t l e betw ee n Ransom and t h e Un-man, n e i t h e r L o g res n o r N . I . C . E .
c o u ld d e s t r o y t h e o t h e r w i t h i t s own s t r e n g t h . Both L o g re s and
N . I . C . E , r e l i e d h e a v i l y on powers s t r o n g e r th a n t h e m s e lv e s . N .I .C .E .'s
29
power t o d e s t r o y t h e e a r t h and L o g r e s 1 power t o p r e v e n t t h a t d e s t r u c
t i o n depended on t h e a s s i s t a n c e o f e l d i l a . The d a r k e l d i l a o f e a r t h
c o n t r o l l e d N . I . C . E . ; t h e O y e re s u o f Heaven empowered M e r l i n . In
s p i t e o f t h i s a s s i s t a n c e from g r e a t e r b e i n g s , how ever, t h e p r i n c i p a l
a c t o r s i n b o th f a c t i o n s w ere humans. On T h u lc a n d r a one grou p o f
humans s u p p o r t e d by good e l d i l a d e f e a t e d a n o t h e r group o f humans
c o n t r o l l e d by e v i l e l d i l a .
E v i l seemed t o i n c r e a s e th r o u g h t h e t r i l o g y by g e o m e t r i c a l
p ro g re ssio n . I t p r o g r e s s e d two s t e p s on M a la c a n d ra , f o u r s t e p s on
P e r e l a n d r a , and s i x t e e n s t e p s on T h u l c a n d r a . As a r e s u l t , th e con
s e q u e n c e s f o r t h e e v i l c h a r a c t e r s became p r o p o r t i o n a l l y more h o r r i b l e .
Qut o f t h e S i l e n t P l a n e t no b o d i l y harm came t o Weston and D e v in e ;
th e y w ere m e re ly s h ip p e d home t o e a r t h . In P e r e l a n d r a W eston, a s t h e
Un-man, s u f f e r e d c r i p p l i n g i n j u r i e s and f i n a l l y d e a t h . I n T h at
H ideo us S t r e n g t h , a l l o f t h e e v i l c h a r a c t e r s b r o u g h t a b o u t , d i r e c t l y
or in d ire c tly , t h e i r own d e a t h s . Not o n ly w ere t h e c h a r a c t e r s them
s e l v e s k i l l e d , b u t t h e e n t i r e h e a d q u a r t e r s i n two c i t i e s w ere t o t a l l y
a n n ih ila te d .
T hese r e l a t i o n s h i p s among C. S. L e w is ' books become e v i d e n t from
a c l o s e s t u d y o f t h e w o rk s. None o f t h e c r i t i c a l a r t i c l e s t h a t I
r e a d m e n tio n e d t h e i n t e r r e l a t i o n s h i p s among t h e s e e i g h t b o o k s ; some
o f t h e c r i t i c s , how ever, d i d p o i n t o u t some o f t h e p a r a l l e l s t h a t I
w i l l be d i s c u s s i n g l a t e r . My d i s c u s s i o n s o f t h e s e p a r a l l e l s w i l l
r e l y m a in ly on t h e books th e m s e lv e s , u s i n g any c r i t i c i s m t h a t i s
a v a i l a b l e as f u r t h e r evid en ce o f th e acc u racy o f th e p a r a l l e l s .
30
P h i l i p Deasy, W. D. Norwood, J r . , and R o b e r t P la n k a l l c i t e d Ransom 's
s i m i l a r i t y t o C h r i s t i n P e r e l a n d r a and T h at H ideous S t r e n g t h . 1 w ill
be r e f e r r i n g to t h e i r c r i t i c i s m , b u t I w i l l t r a c e th e concept o f
Ransom a s a C h r i s t f i g u r e th ro u g h t h e two books more c l o s e l y th a n t h e
c r i t i c s d id .
A n o th e r c o n c e p t, t h e s i m i l a r i t y o f t h e K ing, th e Lady, and
P e r e l a n d r a i n P e r e l a n d r a t o Adam. Eve, and Eden i n M i l t o n ' s P a r a d i s e
L o s t , was m e n tio n e d b r i e f l y by Norwood. U sin g t h e t e x t o f P e r e l a n d r a
a s t h e b a s i s f o r my i d e a s , I w i l l exam ine b o th t h e s i m i l a r i t i e s and
t h e d i f f e r e n c e s betw een L e w is ' Venus and M i l t o n ' s Eden.
Norwood a l s o d i s c u s s e d t h e i d e a t h a t P e r e l a n d r a was H eaven, b u t
none o f t h e c r i t i c i s m I r e a d c o n c e rn e d t h e c o n c e p t t h a t T h u lc a n d r a
c o u ld be compared t o H e l l . The c l o s e p a r a l l e l betw een v a r i o u s a s p e c t s
o f T h u lc a n d r a and H e l l , and e s p e c i a l l y b etw een t h e N . I . C . E . o f T h at
H ideous S t r e n g t h "and t h e H e l l o f The S c re w ta p e L e t t e r s i s s u p p o r te d
e n t i r e l y by e v i d e n c e from L e w is ' w o rk s.
L e w is ' s p a c e t r i l o g y , h i s f a n t a s i e s a b o u t Heaven and H e l l , and
h i s t h r e e d o c t r i n a l books a l l r e v e a l h i s c o n c e p t o f e v i l i n a
C h ris tia n u n iv e rse . T h at c o n c e p t i s b a s e d on t h e b e l i e f t h a t e v i l i s
th e o p p o s ite , t h e a b s e n c e , and m ost i m p o r t a n t , t h e p e r v e r s i o n o f good.
T h e r e f o r e , t o u n d e r s ta n d L e w is ' t h e o r i e s a b o u t e v i l , H e l l , and S a ta n ,
we m ust f i r s t s t u d y h i s i d e a s o f good, H eaven, and God.
CHAPTER I I
EVIL AS THE PERVERSION OF GOOD
A c c o rd in g t o L ew is, God i s t h e u l t i m a t e r e a l i t y . He i s a l l
knowing, o m n i p r e s e n t, o m n ip o te n t, and t o t a l l y good. A l l o f H is
c re a tio n , i n c l u d i n g Heaven, i s good. A l l t h e r a t i o n a l b e i n g s He
c r e a t e d — t h e h n a u , i n c l u d i n g man, and t h e a n g e l s o r e l d i l a —a r e
n a t u r a l l y and i n h e r e n t l y good. A l l o f them, how ever, w ere c r e a t e d
w ith f r e e w i l l s . Hence, t h e y may w i l l f u l l y ch o o se t o p e r v e r t them
s e l v e s o r t o b e p e r v e r t e d by o t h e r s . E v i l was n o t G o d 's c r e a t i o n ,
b u t i t a r o s e b e c a u s e one o f H is c r e a t u r e s w i l l f u l l y became p e r v e r t e d
and t r i e d t o p e r v e r t o t h e r s . E v i l p e r v e r t s good, b u t i t c a n n o t
d e s t r o y good w i t h o u t d e s t r o y i n g i t s e l f , f o r e v e r y p e r v e r t e d t h i n g was
o n ce good and s t i l l re m a in s i n h e r e n t l y good. The s t r u g g l e betw een
good and e v i l i s a c t u a l l y a c o n f l i c t betw een good c r e a t u r e s w ith good
w i l l s and good c r e a t u r e s w ith e v i l w i l l s . B efo re we b e g i n t o t r a c e
t h e e v i d e n c e o f t h i s s t r u g g l e i n C. S. L e w is ' books, how ever, we need
t o examine L e w is ' b a s i c c o n c e p ts more f u l l y . F i r s t we w i l l s t u d y h i s
i d e a s a b o u t t h e goodness o f God, H eaven, and a l l c r e a t i o n . O nly th e n
w i l l we be a b l e t o u n d e r s ta n d L e w is ' p re m is e t h a t e v i l i s t h e
p e r v e r s i o n o f good and t o exam ine t h e i n f l u e n c e o f t h i s p r e m is e on
h i s w o rk s.
S c re w ta p e d e s c r i b e s God a s " t h e c o m p le te ly r e a l , e x te rn a l,
i n v i s i b l e P r e s e n c e t h e r e w i t h [a man] i n t h e room and n e v e r know able
32
by him a s h e i s known by i t . " ^ I n Out o f t h e S i l e n t P l a n e t t h e
M a la c a n d r ia n s d e s c r i b e d M a l e l d i l as "a s p i r i t w i t h o u t body, p a r t s ,
o r p a s s i o n s " Who n e v e r d i e s and does n o t b r e e d , and Who c r e a t e d t h e
w o rld and s t i l l r u l e s a l l i t s i n h a b i t a n t s (p . 6 8 ) . God, o r M a l e l d i l ,
i s beyond m a n 's c o n c e p t o f s p a c e , b e c a u s e h e e x i s t s e v ery w h ere a t
once. He i s a t t h e same tim e i n f i n i t e l y huge and i n f i n i t e l y s m a l l .
The e l d i l a i n P e r e l a n d r a p r a i s e d Him, s a y in g , "He d w e ll s ( a l l o f Him
d w e l l s ) w i t h i n t h e se e d o f t h e s m a l l e s t f lo w e r and i s n o t cram ped:
Deep Heaven i s i n s i d e Him who i s i n s i d e t h e s e e d and does n o t d i s
t e n d Him. B le s s e d be H e ! "2 B e s id e s b e i n g beyond m a n 's c o n c e p t o f
s p a c e , M a l e l d i l , l i k e t h e l e s s e r 0 y 6 r e s u , i s a l s o o u t s i d e o f m a n 's
c o n c e p t o f ti m e . Ransom, t h e h e r o o f t h e s p a c e t r i l o g y , e x p l a i n e d t o
L e w is —who a p p e a r s as a c h a r a c t e r i n P e r e l a n d r a - - t h a t t h e e l d i l a do
n o t h av e t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f w a i t i n g . T h is e x p l a n a t i o n a l s o seems t r u e
fo r M a le ld il.
God i s L ove. He c r e a t e d t h e u n i v e r s e o u t o f lo v e and r u l e s i t
t h ro u g h l o v e . Lewis s t a t e s i n The F our Loves t h a t :
I n God t h e r e i s no h u n g e r t h a t n e e d s t o be f i l l e d , o n ly
p l e n t e o u s n e s s t h a t d e s i r e s t o g i v e . The d o c t r i n e t h a t God
was u n d e r no n e c e s s i t y t o c r e a t e i s n o t a p i e c e o f d r y
s c h o la s tic sp e c u la tio n . I t i s e s s e n t i a l . W ith o u t i t we
can h a r d l y a v o id t h e c o n c e p t i o n o f w hat I can o n ly c a l l a
" m a n a g e r ia l " God; a Being whose f u n c t i o n o r n a t u r e i s t o
" r u n " t h e u n i v e r s e , who s t a n d s t o i t a s a h e a d m a s te r t o a
^ T*16 S crew tap e L e t t e r s and S c re w ta p e P ro p o se s a T o a s t (New

Y o rk : The M acm illan Company, 1 961), p . 22. In f u t u r e r e f e r e n c e s t h e
t i t l e w i l l be s h o r t e n e d t o S c r e w ta p e .
o
P e r e l a n d r a (New Y o rk : The M acm illan Company, 1 9 4 4 ), pp. 214-
215.
33
school o r a h o t e l i e r to a h o t e l . But t o b e s o v e r e i g n o f
th e u n i v e r s e i s no g r e a t m a t t e r t o God. I n H im s e lf , a t
home i n " t h e la n d o f t h e T r i n i t y , " h e i s S o v e re ig n o f a
f a r g r e a t e r r e a lm . . . . God, who n e e d s n o t h i n g , lo v e s
i n t o e x i s t e n c e w h o lly s u p e r f l u o u s c r e a t u r e s i n o r d e r t h a t
He may l o v e and p e r f e c t them. 3-
Lew is a p p l i e s t h i s c o n c e p t i n t h e l a s t c h a p t e r o f P e r e l a n d r a when
t h e e l d i l a w ere p r a i s i n g M a l e l d i l a f t e r t h e Lady had r e s i s t e d and
Ransom had d e s t r o y e d t h e e v i l t e m p t e r . The e l d i l a p r o c la im e d t h a t
M a l e l d i l h a s " im m easu rab le u s e " f o r e v e r y t h i n g He h a s c r e a t e d , for
each c r e a t i o n becomes a w a t e r c o u r s e f o r t h e o v e r f lo w in g r i v e r o f H is
lo v e . At t h e same tim e He h a s "no need a t a l l " o f a n y t h i n g He h as
made, f o r He n e e d s n o t h i n g and a l l o f c r e a t i o n adds n o t h i n g t o Him.
M a l e l d i l ' s lo v e f o r a l l c r e a t u r e s i s " b o rn n e i t h e r o f [ H is ] need n o r
o f [ t h e i r ] d e se rv in g , but a p la in b o u n ty ." The e l d i l a c o n t i n u e d ,
" A ll t h i n g s a r e by Him and f o r Him. He u t t e r s H im s e lf a l s o f o r H is
own d e l i g h t and s e e s t h a t He i s good. He i s H is own b e g o t t e n and
w hat p r o c e e d s from Him i s H im s e l f . B le s s e d be H e!" (p . 2 1 7 ) . F or th e
d e v i l S c re w ta p e , G o d 's "most r e p e l l a n t and i n e x p l i c a b l e t r a i t [ i s
t h a t ] He r e a l l y lo v e s t h e h a i r l e s s b ip e d s He h a s c r e a t e d " ( S c re w ta p e .
p . 65) and " s e t s an a b s u r d v a l u e on t h e d i s t i n c t n e s s o f e v e r y one o f
them " (S c re w ta p e . p . 5 9 ) . When M a l e l d i l d i e d on t h e c r o s s , a c c o r d i n g
to th e e l d ila , "He d i e d n o t f o r men, b u t f o r each man. I f each man
had been t h e o n ly man made, He would h a v e done no l e s s " (P e r e l a n d r a .
The F our Loves (New Y o rk : H a r c o u r t B race J o v a n o v ic h , I n c . ,

1 9 6 0 ), p p. 1 7 5 -1 76 .
34
p . 2 1 7 ). Because He i s Love, M a l e l d i l alw ay s goes above and beyond
w hat men c a l l j u s t i c e . E v e r y t h i n g He d o es i s a g i f t (P e r e l a n d r a .
p . 2 0 9 ).
Heaven i s one o f G o d 's g i f t s . H e a v e n 's b l e s s i n g s c a n n o t be
b o u g h t, b u t t h e y a r e f r e e l y g iv e n t o a l l who a s k f o r them. One o f
t h e H eav en ly S p i r i t s i n The G r e a t D iv o rc e e x p l a i n s t o a g h o s t t h a t
e v e r y t h i n g w i l l b e g iv e n t o t h e g h o s t , b u t t h a t i t h a s no n a t u r a l
r i g h t o r c l a im t o a n y t h i n g . ^ H e a v e n 's c h a r i t y , l i k e G o d 's lo v e o f
w hich i t i s a p a r t , i s an u n d e s e rv e d b o u n ty . No one i n Heaven i s
d i s t i n g u i s h e d , b u t " t h e y a r e a l l famous. They a r e a l l known, remem
b e r e d , r e c o g n i s e d by t h e o n ly Mind t h a t can g i v e a p e r f e c t ju d g m en t"
( D iv o r c e , p . 8 3 ) . The S p i r i t s i n Heaven p o s s e s s t r u e h u m i l i t y , one
o f t h e C h r i s t i a n ' s g o a l s on e a r t h . S c re w ta p e t e l l s Wormwood t h a t
t r u e h u m i l i t y does n o t c o n s i s t i n h a v i n g an u n j u s t i f i a b l y low o p in i o n
of o n e se lf. God would r a t h e r h a v e a man r e c o g n i z e and th e n f o r g e t
h i s own t a l e n t s t h a n t o t r y t o b e l i t t l e o r deny them ( S c re w ta p e .
p. 65). S c re w ta p e ad d s,
The Enemy [God] w ants [ a man], i n t h e end, t o be so f r e e

from any b i a s i n h i s own f a v o r t h a t h e can r e j o i c e i n h i s
own t a l e n t s as f r a n k l y and g r a t e f u l l y a s i n h i s n e i g h b o u r ' s
t a l e n t s - - o r i n a s u n r i s e , an e l e p h a n t , o r a w a t e r f a l l . He
w an ts each man, i n t h e lo n g r u n , t o be a b l e t o r e c o g n i s e a l l
c r e a t u r e s (ev en h i m s e l f ) a s g l o r i o u s and e x c e l l e n t t h i n g s .
( S c re w ta p e . p . 64)
^ The G r e a t D iv o r c e (New Y ork: The M acm illan Company, 1 946),

p . 95. The t i t l e w i l l be s h o r t e n e d t o D iv o rc e i n f u t u r e r e f e r e n c e s .
35
The H eav en ly S p i r i t s a r e t r u l y hum ble, f o r each one r e g a r d s h i m s e l f
m e r e ly a s a m i r r o r t h a t r e f l e c t s God’ s l i g h t and g l o r y . E very
c r e a t e d b e i n g i s " g l o r i o u s and e x c e l l e n t , " n o t by i t s own r i g h t , b u t
b e c a u s e i t r e f l e c t s G od's g l o r y and e x c e l l e n c e .
I n s p i t e o f - - o r more c o r r e c t l y , because o f - - t h e i r h u m ility , th e
H eav en ly S p i r i t s a r e f i l l e d w ith j o y . The f i r s t s p i r i t t h a t Lewis
m e e ts i n The G r e a t D iv o rc e h a s s u c h a jo c u n d , y o u t h f u l f a c e t h a t Lewis
w an ts t o dan ce f o r j o y ( p . 3 2 ) . The s p i r i t s a r e c o n s t a n t l y f i n d i n g
t h e humor i n t h e solem n o b j e c t i o n s o f t h e g h o s ts from h e l l . Joy,
m i r t h , s m i l e s , and l a u g h t e r o f t e n s h i n e from t h e s p i r i t s ’ f a c e s d u r i n g
t h e i r c o n v e rsa tio n s w ith th e g h o sts. The s p i r i t s a r e f i l l e d w i t h so
much jo y t h a t even " t h e l i t t l e fin g e r o f a g re a t s a in t " co n ta in s
enough jo y " t o waken a l l t h e dead t h i n g s o f t h e u n i v e r s e i n t o l i f e "
( D iv o rc e , p . 1 0 9 ) . Han can a l s o s h a r e t h i s j o y i f h e w i l l a c c e p t i t .
One s p i r i t t e l l s a g h o s t t h a t men a r e b o rn " f o r i n f i n i t e h a p p i n e s s "
and t h a t t h e y "can s t e p o u t i n t o i t a t any moment" (p . 6 1 ) . On
P e r e l a n d r a ' s o c e a n , Ransom s u d d e n ly b r e a t h e s t h e f r a g r a n c e o f a
flo a tin g is la n d . He f e e l s a s t r a n g e h o m e s ic k n e s s f o r t h e p l a n e t
V enus.
The c o r d o f l o n g i n g which drew him t o t h e i n v i s i b l e i s l e

seemed a t t h a t moment t o h a v e been f a s t e n e d lo n g b e f o r e
h i s coming t o P e r e l a n d r a , lo n g b e f o r e t h e e a r l i e s t tim e s
h i s memory c o u ld r e c o v e r i n h i s c h i ld h o o d , b e f o r e b i r t h ,
b e f o r e th e b i r t h o f man h i m s e l f , b e f o r e t h e o r i g i n s o f
tim e . I t was s h a r p , s w e e t, and h o l y , a l l in one, and i n
any w o rld w here m en’s n e r v e s h a v e c e a s e d t o obey t h e i r
c e n t r a l d e s i r e s would d o u b t l e s s h av e b een a p h r o d i s i a c ,
to o , b u t n o t in P e re la n d ra . (P e r e l a n d r a . p . 103)
36
W. D. Norwood, J r . i d e n t i f i e s t h i s p l e a s u r a b l e and p a i n f u l l o n g i n g as
j o y and d e f i n e s i t a s " t h e d e s i r e f o r t h a t b e s i d e w hich a l l e l s e i s
i n s i g n i f i c a n t —h e a v e n , t h e p l a c e w here e t h i c a l and a e s t h e t i c m e r g e ."
A man, a c c o r d i n g t o Norwood, does n o t t r y t o g r a t i f y j o y b u t t o

• •
reaw aken i t . I t s v e r y e x i s t e n c e a s an em o tio n , how ever, p r e s u p p o s e s
t h a t i t h a s an o b j e c t w hich d e t e r m in e s t h e a c t u a l n a t u r e o f t h e jo y .
T h is o b j e c t u l t i m a t e l y i s H eaven. The f a c t t h a t a man f e e l s j o y do es
n o t n e c e s s a r i l y p r o v e t h e e x i s t e n c e o f H eaven, b u t " i t a t l e a s t
su p p o rts b e l i e f in i t . " I n t h e same way, t h e f r a g r a n c e from t h e
f l o a t i n g i s l a n d " i s some e v i d e n c e t h a t t h e i s l a n d i s o u t t h e r e . " ^
J o y , h u m i l i t y , and c h a r i t y a r e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f H eaven, b u t
H eaven i s more t h a n a f e e l i n g o r a s t a t e o f mind, " H e a v e n ," s a i d
L e w is ' T e a c h e r - S p i r i t i n The G r e a t D iv o rc e , " is r e a l i t y i t s e l f . A ll
t h a t i s f u l l y r e a l i s H e a v e n ly . F o r a l l t h a t can be sh ak en w i l l be
sh a k e n and o n ly t h e u n s h a k a b le r e m a in s " (p . 6 9 ) . L e w is ' f i r s t im p r e s
s i o n when h e l e f t t h e bus t h a t to o k him from H e l l t o t h e o u t s k i r t s
o f Heaven was t h a t h e and a l l t h e p e o p l e from t h e bus seemed l i k e
in s u b s ta n t ia l g h o sts. The c o u n t r y s i d e t o w hich t h e y had come seemed
t o be made o f a d i f f e r e n t , more s o l i d s u b s t a n c e th a n t h a t w hich t h e y
had l e f t . The g r a s s c u t t h e g h o s t s ' f e e t l i k e s h a r p r o c k s . W ater was
s o l i d enough f o r them t o w a lk on. D a i s i e s seemed a s h a r d a s d iam on ds;
a s i n g l e l e a f w eighed a s much as a bag o f c o a l . Even t h e d aw n 's ra y s
" U n ify in g Themes i n C. S. L e w is ' T r i l o g y , " C r i t i q u e : S tu d ie s

i n Modern F i c t i o n . Volume 9 ( 1 9 6 6 -6 7 ) , Number 2, pp. 7 4 -7 5 . H e re
a f t e r t h e t i t l e w i l l be s h o r t e n e d t o " U n ify in g T hem es."
37
f e l l l i k e b l o c k s on t h e g h o s t s ' h e a d s . The i n h a b i t a n t s o f Heaven
w ere a l s o more s o l i d th a n t h e g h o s t s . B ir d s b e n t t h e g r a s s and
s c a t t e r e d t h e dew as th e y s t a l k e d worms; f i s h swam i n t h e s t r e a m s ;
u n i c o r n s th u n d e r e d o v e r t h e t u r f ; t h e H eav en ly S p i r i t s th e m s e lv e s
w alked e a s i l y on t h e g r a s s and h ad r e a l , s u b s t a n t i a l b o d i e s . I f th e
g h o s ts c h o s e t o rem ain i n H eaven, th e y would become more s o l i d a s th e y
p r o g r e s s e d to w ard t h e m o u n ta in s o f Deep H eaven. At f i r s t , how ever,
t h e g r a s s would h u r t t h e i r f e e t , fo r " r e a l i t y i s h a rsh to th e f e e t o f
shadow s" (p . 4 2 ) .
I n The G r e a t D iv o r c e Lewis l e a r n e d t h e r e a l i t y o f H eaven.
S im ila rly , i n Out o f t h e S i l e n t P l a n e t Ransom d i s c o v e r e d t h e r e a l i t y
of space. The p h i l o l o g i s t had supposed t h a t s p a c e was a v o i d : dark,
c o l d , d ead , and em pty. He found i n s t e a d t h a t i t was " t h e womb o f
w o r l d s " r a d i a n t w ith l i g h t and h e a t , and f i l l e d w ith v i b r a n t l i f e .
"S p a c e " no l o n g e r seemed t h e c o r r e c t a p p e l l a t i o n f o r i t ; "th e heavens"
seemed much more a p p r o p r i a t e (P l a n e t , p . 3 2 ) . Now h e v i s u a l i z e d t h e
p l a n e t s , n o t a s o a s e s o f l i g h t i n a f a th o m le s s v o i d , b u t a s d a r k gaps
in th e b r ig h tn e s s of th e l i v i n g heavens. Even t h e l i g h t o f t h e
f
h e a v e n s , w hich made e a r t h seem d a r k by co m p a riso n , how ever, was i t s e l f
j
d a r k compared t o t h e i n c o n c e i v a b l e g l o r y o f God. B e fo re h i s s p a c e
jo u r n e y Ransom would h a v e im agined a s p a c e s h i p a s a t i n y i s l a n d o f
l i f e in a g i g a n t i c s e a o f jd e a th . D u rin g t h e r e t u r n t r i p t o t h e
e a r t h , th o u g h , h e f e l t t h a t t h e l i f e was a l l o u t s i d e t h e i r s p a c e s h i p ,
w a itin g to break in , "and t h a t , i f i t k i l l e d them, i t would k i l l them
by e x c e s s o f i t s v i t a l i t y " (p . 1 4 6 ). The "un b o d y in g " o f t h e i r s h i p
38
w hich would k i l l them i f t h e i r j o u r n e y l a s t e d more th a n n i n e t y day s
seemed a lm o s t d e s i r a b l e t o Ransom, f o r i t would s e t them f r e e i n t h e
h e a v e n s ' o cea n o f l i f e .
Compared w i t h t h e l i f e te e m in g i n t h e h e a v e n s , t h e human r a c e
lo o k e d i n f i n i t e s i m a l l y s m a l l and i n s i g n i f i c a n t t o Rartsom0 However,
i t i s a s much a p a r t o f t h e h i e r a r c h y o f t h e u n i v e r s e as Heaven
itse lf. E v e r y t h i n g t h a t God c r e a t e d h a s a p l a c e i n t h e h i e r a r c h y o f
w hich He i s t h e h e a d . Lew is e x p l a i n s t h e o r d e r o f t h i s h i e r a r c h y i n
A P reface to P arad ise L o s t. " E v e r y th i n g e x c e p t God h a s some n a t u r a l
s u p e r i o r ; e v e r y t h i n g e x c e p t unformed m a t t e r h a s some n a t u r a l i n f e r i o r .
The g o o d n ess, h a p p i n e s s , and d i g n i t y o f e v e r y b e in g c o n s i s t s i n
o b e y in g i t s n a t u r a l s u p e r i o r and r u l i n g i t s n a t u r a l i n f e r i o r s . "6
The o r d e r o f t h e h i e r a r c h y can be d e s t r o y e d e i t h e r by n a t u r a l e q u a l s
r u l i n g o r o b e y in g eac h o t h e r o r by n a t u r a l i n f e r i o r s r e f u s i n g t o obey
t h e i r s u p e rio rs or n a tu r a l s u p e rio rs re fu s in g to r u le t h e i r i n f e r i o r s .
The f i r s t c a u s e o f d i s o r d e r i s t y r a n n y o r s e r v i l i t y ; t h e second i s
r e b e l l i o n o r r e m i s s n e s s (p . 7 6 ) . M a la c a n d ra , t h e p l a n e t M ars, i s
r u le d ac c o rd in g to th e h ie r a r c h y o f th e u n iv e rs e . The a n im a ls a r e
r u l e d by t h e t h r e e s p e c i e s o f r a t i o n a l h n a u , who obey t h e O y a rs a , who
i n t u r n r e c e i v e s o r d e r s from M a l e l d i l H im s e l f . E v i l and u n h a p p in e s s
do n o t e x i s t on M a la c a n d ra .
On t h e o t h e r h an d , T h u lc a n d r a h a s no su ch h i e r a r c h y . Men a r e
r u l e d by o t h e r men, t h e i r e q u a l s . The r u l e r s do n o t obey an O yarsa
fi
A P r e f a c e t o P a r a d i s e L o s t (London: O xford U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s ,
1 9 4 2 ), p . 73. The t i t l e w i l l be s h o r t e n e d t o P r e f a c e i n f u t u r e
referen ces.
39
or M a le ld il. I n s t e a d , each man, w h e th e r s u b j e c t o r t y r a n t , t r i e s to
be a l i t t l e O y a rs a h i m s e l f (P l a n e t , p . 1 0 2 ) . E a rth i s f i l l e d w ith
e v i l and u n h a p p in e s s b e c a u s e man h a s d e s t r o y e d t h e h i e r a r c h i a l o r d e r .
The r e s u l t o f t h e f a i l u r e t o keep t h e o r d e r i s " d i s e a s e o r m o n s t r o s i t y
i n t h e scheme o f t h i n g s u n t i l t h e p e c c a n t b e i n g i s e i t h e r d e s t r o y e d
or c o rre c te d . One o r t h e o t h e r i t w i l l c e r t a i n l y b e ; f o r by s t e p p i n g
o u t o f i t s p l a c e i n t h e s y s te m (w h e th e r i t s t e p up l i k e a r e b e l l i o u s
a n g e l o r down l i k e an u x o r io u s h u s b a n d ) i t h a s made t h e v e r y n a t u r e
o f t h i n g s i t s enemy. I t c a n n o t s u c c e e d " (P r e f a c e , p . 7 4 ) .
The h i e r a r c h i a l o r d e r i £ " t h e v e r y n a t u r e o f t h i n g s , " f o r a l l
t h i n g s n a t u r a l l y acknow ledge God a s t h e i r c r e a t o r . E v ery c r e a t e d
b e i n g s e e k s i t s p r o p e r p l a c e i n G o d 's h i e r a r c h y ; i t i s o n ly when a
c r e a t u r e becomes p e r v e r t e d t h a t i t r e f u s e s t o obey i t s s u p e r i o r s —
and u l t i m a t e l y , G o d--and t o r u l e i t s i n f e r i o r s . The h i e r a r c h y a s s u r e s
o r d e r i n t h e u n i v e r s e , w hich i s i n t r i n s i c a l l y good b e c a u s e i t was
c r e a t e d o r " b e g o t t e n " by God, Who i s t o t a l l y good.
The c o n c e p t o f t h e u n i v e r s a l h i e r a r c h y i s one o f t h e d o c t r i n e s
o f t h e C h r i s t i a n C hurch. Lewis exam ines s e v e r a l o f t h e C h u r c h 's
d o c t r i n e s i n a P r e f a c e t o P a r a d i s e L o s t (pp. 6 6 -6 7 ) and a p p l i e s them
to th e u n iv e rse he c r e a te s in h i s space tr i l o g y . The f o l l o w i n g a r e
c o n c e p ts t h a t Lewis d i s c u s s e s . God c r e a t e d a l l t h i n g s good; e v i l
e x i s t s o n ly a s a p e r v e r s i o n o r d e p r i v a t i o n o f good. Because e v e r y
t h i n g was c r e a t e d by God and i s good, no c r e a t u r e can h a v e a bad
n atu re. I t can cho ose t o h a v e an e v i l w i l l , b u t i t i s n o t i n n a t e l y
e v il. Good can e x i s t w i t h o u t e v i l , b u t e v i l c a n n o t e x i s t w i t h o u t good
40
b e c a u s e e v i l i_s good t h a t h a s been c o r r u p t e d . Good and bad a n g e l s o r
good and bad men h a v e t h e same n a t u r e , c r e a t e d by God; bad a n g e l s o r
men, how ever, h a v e e v i l w i l l s w hich t h e y th e m s e lv e s h a v e d e s e c r a t e d .
In O ut o f t h e S i l e n t P l a n e t M a la c a n d ra , o r M ars, i s an u n f a l l e n
w o r ld . C r e a t e d by M a l e l d i l , i t and a l l i t s i n h a b i t a n t s a r e good.
A ltho ugh Ransom makes t h e h n au o f M a lac an d ra u n d e r s ta n d t h e t h e o r e t
i c a l concept o f e v i l , th e y h a v e had no e x p e r i e n c e w ith i t ; t h e i r good
is not p erv erted . T h e i r la n g u a g e c o n t a i n s no word f o r b a d ; b e n t i s
t h e c l o s e s t t h e y come t o i t . When Ransom t r i e d t o e x p l a i n t o h i s
h r o s s f r i e n d t h a t h i s c a p t o r s , Weston and D ev in e, w ere e v i l men, t h e
hro ss re p lie d , "How c o u ld t h e l i f e o f a h n a u be b e n t ? " (P l a n e t .
p. 7 3 ) . The h n a u on M a la c a n d ra a r e h ap p y ; t h e t h r e e r a t i o n a l s p e c i e s
l i v e p e a c e f u l l y t o g e t h e r ; w ar o r e v i l w i t h i n a s p e c i e s i s unknown;
M a l e l d i l ' s w ord, th r o u g h O y a rs a , i s law ; a lm o s t a l l t h e hn au l i v e
t h e i r e x p e c te d l i f e - s p a n ; and d e a t h i s n o t f e a r e d , f o r i t means b e i n g
u n i t e d w ith M a l e l d i l . Thus a l l c r e a t i o n i s n a t u r a l l y good on
M a la c a n d ra , fo r e v i l has never co rru p te d i t .
Any c r e a t e d b e in g i s good, and t h e r e f o r e happy, i f i t i s
d e d i c a t e d t o God; i t i s bad, and c o n s e q u e n t l y m i s e r a b l e , i f i t tu rn s
from God and t r i e s t o e x i s t f o r i t s e l f . A c r e a t u r e 's attem p t to e x i s t
on i t s own and t o be i n t e r e s t e d i n i t s e l f i n s t e a d o f i n God i s t h e s i n
of p rid e . P r i d e , Lewis s a y s i n C h r i s t i a n B eh av io r, i s t h e o p p o s i t e o f
h u m ility . I t i s "th e e s s e n t i a l v ic e , t h e u tm o st e v i l . . . i t was
th r o u g h P r i d e t h a t t h e d e v i l became t h e d e v i l : P rid e le a d s to every
41
o th e r v ic e : i t i s t h e c o m p le te a n t i- G o d s t a t e o f m in d ." ? P rid e
p r e v e n t s t h e c r e a t u r e from a c k n o w le d g in g God a s i n f i n i t e l y s u p e r i o r
and i t s e l f a s i n f e r i o r . W ith o u t t h i s a d m is s i o n , any know ledge o f God
i s i m p o s s i b l e (p. 4 4 ) . God d o es n o t f o r b i d p r i d e b e c a u s e He demands
a d m is s io n o f H is s u p e r i o r i t y ; r a t h e r , He f o r b i d s i t b e c a u s e p r i d e
p r e v e n t s H is s u b j e c t from knowing Him (p . 4 6 ) . " P r i d e alw ay s means
e n m ity — i t i s e n m ity . And n o t o n ly e n m ity betw een man and man, b u t
e n m ity t o God" (p . 4 4 ) .
P r i d e was t h e s i n w hich c a u s e d S a t a n ' s f a l l from H eaven. S a ta n
r e f u s e d t o a c c e p t and r e j o i c e i n t h e h u m i l i t y w i t h which t h e o t h e r
a n g e l s w o rsh ip p e d and obeyed t h e L o rd . S a t a n , as an a r c h a n g e l , was
h i g h e r i n t h e h i e r a r c h y th a n many o f t h e o t h e r a n g e l s , b u t h e ch o s e
t o f o r g e t t o Whom h e owed h i s pow er. He c o n v in c e d h i m s e l f t h a t h e
had t h e power and t h e r i g h t t o com pete w i t h God. Hence h e e x h i b i t e d
p r i d e by c o n s i d e r i n g h i m s e l f above God; h e b ro k e t h e h i e r a r c h i a l o r d e r
by r e f u s i n g t o obey h i s n a t u r a l s u p e r i o r . In o rd e r to c a r r y out h i s
r e b e l l i o n , S a ta n co n v in c e d some o f t h e o t h e r a n g e l s t h a t God had no
r i g h t t o r u l e them, t h u s i n c r e a s i n g t h e d e g r a d a t i o n o f good. S a ta n
waged war on M ic h a e l and t h e o t h e r a r c h a n g e l s , t r y i n g t o g a i n c o n t r o l
over h is e q u a ls. I n d o in g s o , h e b ro k e t h e h i e r a r c h i a l o r d e r th r o u g h
t h e secon d method by which i t c o u ld be d i s r u p t e d : by a t t e m p t i n g t o
r u l e h i s e q u a l s as a t y r a n t .
^ C h r i s t i a n B eh av io r (London: G e o f f r e y B le s , The C e n te n a r y
P r e s s , 1 94 3), p . 4 2 . In f u t u r e r e f e r e n c e s t h e t i t l e w i l l be s h o r t e n e d
t o B e h a v io r.
42
The o r i g i n o f W e s to n 's e v i l i n Out o f t h e S i l e n t P l a n e t was a l s o
p rid e . H aving become a g r e a t p h y s i c i s t who h ad d i s c o v e r e d a means t o
t r a v e l i n s p a c e , h e f e l t h e t r u l y r e p r e s e n t e d t h e b e s t o r d e r o f men.
H is d e v o t i o n t o h u m a n ity was n o t e v i l u n t i l h e made i t t h e r u l i n g
p a s s i o n t o w hich h e s a c r i f i c e d a l l e l s e . H is p r i d e i n h i m s e l f a s a
member o f t h e human r a c e c au sed h i s d i s r e g a r d f o r t h e v a l u e o f any
non-human r a t i o n a l c r e a t u r e ' s l i f e . He hoped t o a n n i h i l a t e t h e hn au
on M ala c a n d ra i n o r d e r t o make room f o r human im m ig ra n ts from e a r t h .
S e t t i n g h i s own human r a c e up a s a god, h e b e l i e v e d i t was t h e suprem e
r a c e and t h a t t h e s p r e a d o f h u m a n ity was t h e supreme good. In th e
name o f t h a t "good" h e would w i l l i n g l y commit any e v i l . Once a g a i n a
good c r e a t u r e became bad th r o u g h p e r v e r s i o n . Weston was c o r r u p t e d by
h i s p r i d e i n h i m s e l f and h i s r a c e and by h i s w o rsh ip o f h u m a n ity a s
an i d o l .
A c c o rd in g t o o r th o d o x C h r i s t i a n d o c t r i n e , p r i d e was a l s o t h e
c a u s e o f E v e 's f a l l on e a r t h . S a ta n a p p e a le d t o Eve f i r s t th r o u g h
f l a t t e r y , m aking h e r prou d o f h e r own b e a u t y a s though i t w ere n o t
m e r e ly a r e f l e c t i o n o f G o d 's g l o r y . More i m p o r t a n t , S a ta n a p p e a le d
t o E v e 's s e l f - i n t e r e s t , t r y i n g t o c o n v in c e h e r t h a t h e r n a t u r a l
i n f e r i o r i t y t o Adam and h e r s u b s e r v i e n c e t o God w ere n o t n a t u r a l .
S a t a n p e r s u a d e d h e r t o d i s o b e y G o d 's command n o t t o e a t t h e f r u i t o f
t h e T re e o f Knowledge o f Good and E v i l by t e l l i n g h e r t h a t t h e f r u i t
was f o r b i d d e n i n o r d e r t o k e e p h e r s e r v i l e and i n f e r i o r t o God. L ik e
S a t a n , Eve was tem p ted by p r i d e t o t r y t o r i s e above h e r p l a c e i n t h e
h ie ra rc h y . H er f i r s t th o u g h t was t o become Adam's e q u a l ; n e x t sh e
43
c o n s i d e r e d becom ing h i s s u p e r i o r ; f i n a l l y s h e supp osed t h a t s h e c o u ld
become G o d 's e q u a l . P r i d e c a u s e d t h e F a l l , b u t t h e F a l l a c t u a l l y co n
s i s t e d o f d iso b ed ie n c e : Eve d i s r e g a r d e d G o d 's command f o r b i d d i n g t h e
e a tin g of th e f r u i t (P reface, p. 69).
On P e r e l a n d r a , Weston became t h e Un-man, a c r e a t u r e w hich was
W e s to n 's d ead body c o n t r o l l e d by t h e Bent O n e - - T h u l c a n d r a 's e v i l
e l d i l o r e a r t h ' s S a ta n . On e a r t h , S a ta n h ad tem pted Eve by i n v a d in g
t h e body o f a s e r p e n t and e n t i c i n g h e r t o e a t f o r b i d d e n f r u i t ; on
Venus, t h e Bent One te m p ted t h e Lady by t a k i n g o v e r W e s to n 's body and
t r y i n g t o p e r s u a d e h e r t o l i v e on t h e f o r b i d d e n F ix ed Land. The
Un-man t r i e d t o i n s t i l l p r i d e i n t h e L ady. He t o l d h e r s t o r i e s w hich
g l o r i f i e d t h e fem a le s e x and d i s p a r a g e d t h e m ale s e x , a t t e m p t i n g t o
make h e r f e e l s u p e r i o r t o t h e K in g. He t r i e d t o t e a c h h e r v a n i t y and
f i l l e d h e r im a g i n a t i o n w i t h v i s i o n s o f g l o r i f i e d s u f f e r i n g f o r t h e
s a k e o f t h e K ing and t h e i r f u t u r e c h i l d r e n . U sin g e v e r y p s y c h o l o g i c a l
t a c t i c h e knew, t h e Un-man e n d e a v o re d t o in d u c e t h e Lady t o d is o b e y
M a l e l d i l th ro u g h p r i d e .
As was p r e v i o u s l y n o t e d , Lewis s t a t e d t h a t p r i d e l e a d s t o a l l
th e o th e r s in s . A f t e r e a t i n g t h e a p p l e , Eve t u r n e d from God, f o r h e r
new -found p r i d e k e p t h e r from knowing Him. E v e 's p r i d e le d t o Adam's
u x o r i o u s n e s s , f o r h e p r e f e r r e d t o f a l l w ith h e r th a n t o c h a s t i s e h e r
and obey God. F in a lly ,
s i n c e t h e F a l l c o n s i s t e d i n m a n 's D is o b e d ie n c e t o h i s
s u p e r i o r , i t was p u n is h e d by m a n 's l o s s o f A u t h o r i t y o v e r
h i s i n f e r i o r s ; t h a t i s , c h i e f l y , o v e r h i s p a s s i o n s and
h i s p h y s i c a l o rg a n is m . . . . Man h a s c a l l e d f o r a n a r c h y :
44
God l e t s him h av e i t . Thus i n M i l t o n God say s t h a t man’s

powers a r e ' l a p s e d , ' ' f o r f e i t , ' and ' e n t h r a l l e d ' (P. L. I l l ,
1 7 6 ). I n Book IX we a r e t o l d t h a t a f t e r t h e F a l l u n d e r
s t a n d i n g c e a s e d t o r u l e and t h e w i l l d i d n o t l i s t e n t o
u n d e r s t a n d i n g , b o th b e i n g s u b j e c t e d t o u s u r p i n g a p p e t i t e
(IX, 1127 e t s e q ) . When Reason i s d is o b e y e d ' u p s t a r t
P a s s i o n s c a t c h t h e g o v e rn m e n t' (X II, 8 8 ) . °
Adam's a p p e t i t e and p a s s i o n s became t y r a n n i c a l im m e d ia te ly a f t e r t h e
F a ll, f o r h e f e l t l u s t f o r t h e f i r s t tim e and began t o t h i n k o f Eve
a s a t h i n g i n s t e a d o f a s h i s m a te .
The e n t i r e C h r i s t i a n c o n c e p t o f t h e p r i d e and f a l l s o f S a ta n and
man p o r t r a y s w h at Lewis c a l l s " t h e g r e a t change from h app y dep en d e n ce
t o m i s e r a b l e s e l f - a s s e r t i o n and t h e n c e e i t h e r , as i n S a ta n , to f i n a l
iso la tio n , o r , a s i n Adam, t o r e c o n c i l e m e n t and a d i f f e r e n t h a p p i n e s s "
(P r e f a c e , p . 1 3 2 ) . What had b een c r e a t e d good, w o r s h i p p in g God and
r e j o i c i n g i n i t s h u m i l i t y , w i l l f u l l y d e p ra v e d i t s e l f , t r i e d t o deny
G o d 's r u l e , and g r o v e l l e d i n t h e m i s e r y o f i t s p r i d e .
F a l l e n man i s t y r a n n i z e d by h i s p a s s i o n s i n s t e a d o f b e i n g r u l e d
by h i s r e a s o n . Ransom d i s c o v e r e d t h a t w h at man c o n s i d e r s u n a t t a i n a b l e
i d e a l s w ere t h e i n s t i n c t s obeyed u n q u e s t i o n i n g l y by t h e h r o s s a . T hese
n a t i v e s o f M a la c a n d ra w ere n a t u r a l l y c o n t i n e n t and i n s t i n c t i v e l y
monogamous. They l i m i t e d t h e i r b r e e d i n g t o keep t h e p o p u l a t i o n w i t h i n
t h e bounds o f t h e i r food s u p p ly . They c o n s i d e r e d t h e h n a k r a , a
h u ge-m outhed b l a c k b e a s t t h a t d ev o u red h r o s s a , a s b o th t h e i r enemy and
t h e i r belo v ed : t h e y lon g e d t o k i l l i t b u t t h e y a l s o f e l t i t s j o y i n
i t s e x i s t e n c e , hung im ages o f i t i n t h e i r h o u s e s and u sed i t s image as
^ P r e f a c e , pp. 6 9 -7 0 .
45
th e sig n o f t h e i r s p e c ie s (P la n e t, p. 7 5 ). I n h a b i t a n t s o f an u n f a l l e n
p l a n e t , t h e h r o s s a ' s m inds and s o u l s r u l e d t h e i r b o d ie s and p a s s i o n s ,
j u s t a s O y arsa r u l e d them.
T h at H ideou s S t r e n g t h p a i n t s a p i c t u r e t h a t i s j u s t t h e o p p o s i t e
o f t h e M a la c a n d r ia n b l i s s . The N a t i o n a l I n s t i t u t e o f C o - o r d in a t e d
E x p e r im e n ts , known— i r o n i c a l l y —a s N . I . C . E . , a t te m p t e d t o t a k e o v e r
t h e e a r t h th r o u g h a n a r c h y . The d i r e c t o r s o f N . I . C . E . w an ted t o
r e c o n d i t i o n mankind i n o r d e r t o e l i m i n a t e m a n 's s e n s e o f m o r a l i t y .
E m otions, s u p p o s e d ly t h e b a s i s f o r m o r a l i t y , w ere t o be d e s t r o y e d .
M o tiv e s , w hich N . I . C . E . s c i e n t i s t s c a l l e d t h e b y - p r o d u c ts o f a c t i o n s ,
w e re t o be e l i m i n a t e d ( S t r e n g t h , p . 2 9 6 ) . Once men had b een pu rged
o f t h e i r a b i l i t y t o ju d g e good and b ad , t h e y would b e r e a d y t o become
v e s s e l s and r o b o t s f o r t h e m inds o f t h e d a r k e l d i l a , th e m a sters of
t h e N . I . C . E . d i r e c t o r s , who w ere th e m s e lv e s i n i t i a t e s c o n t r o l l e d by
t h e e v i l p o w ers. The d a r k e l d i l a knew t h a t th e y c o u ld g a i n c o n t r o l o f
t h e e a r t h th r o u g h N . I . C . E . o n ly by s p r e a d i n g a n a r c h y . The o p p o s i t e
o f t h e h i e r a r c h y , a n a r c h y ackn ow led ges no one a s s u p e r i o r o r i n f e r i o r .
No one r u l e s ; no one o b e y s . The r e s u l t i s c h a o s . The a n a r c h y t h a t
N . I . C . E . e n c o u ra g e d , however, c au sed n o t o n l y chaos among men, b u t a l s o
c h ao s w i t h i n men. I n G od 's h i e r a r c h y , t h e s o u l r u l e s t h e body; u n d e r
s t a n d i n g g o v e rn s t h e w i l l ; r e a s o n d i c t a t e s t o t h e p a s s i o n s . The d a r k
e l d i l a t r i e d t o d e s t r o y m e n 's s o u l s , u n d e r s t a n d i n g , and r e a s o n , c a u s in g
t h e c h a o t i c t y r a n n y o f t h e i r b o d i e s , w i l l s , and p a s s i o n s . T hese i n n e r
t y r a n t s would n o t be a b l e t o r u l e men f o r lo n g , how ever, f o r t h e d a r k
e l d i l a would soon g a i n c o m p le te c o n t r o l o f e ac h o f t h e i r v i c t i m s .
46
Adam c a l l e d f o r a n a r c h y and l o s t c o n t r o l o v e r h i s p a s s i o n s ; t h e
N . l . C . E . i n i t i a t e s demanded a n a r c h y and f o r f e i t e d c o n t r o l o v e r t h e i r
r e a s o n and w i l l . T h e i r s o u l s r e f u s e d t o r u l e t h e i r b o d i e s , so t h e i r
b o d ie s c a p t u r e d c o n t r o l and d e p r iv e d t h e s o u l s o f t h e power t o r u l e .
The i n i t i a t e s t r i e d t o make a man l i t e r a l l y i n t o an im m o rta l, p o w e rf u l
god t h a t would e v e n t u a l l y d e s t r o y a l l t h e e le m e n ts o f mankind w hich
i t c o n sid ere d u n d e s ira b le . I n s t e a d , N . l . C . E . i t s e l f was d e s t r o y e d by
t h e pow ers i t had r a i s e d . N . l . C . E . p u r p o s e l y o v e r th re w t h e n a t u r a l
h i e r a r c h y th ro u g h b o th r e m i s s n e s s and ty r a n n y , s e t i t s e l f a g a i n s t
" t h e v e r y n a t u r e o f t h i n g s , " c r e a t e d a " m o n s t r o s i t y i n t h e scheme o f
t h i n g s " and c o n s e q u e n t l y was d e s t r o y e d ( P r e f a c e , p. 7 4 ) .
A ll e v i l i s n o t as s p e c ta c u la r as N .l.C .E . A f t e r t a s t i n g an
i n d e s c r i b a b l y d e l i c i o u s P e r e l a n d r i a n gourd w hich gave him an a lm o s t
o rg a s m ic p l e a s u r e , Ransom was te m p ted t o t a s t e a n o t h e r o n e . He was
r e s t r a i n e d , how ever, by a f e e l i n g t h a t r e p e a t i n g t h e p l e a s u r e a f t e r
h i s h u n g e r h ad b een s a t i s f i e d would somehow be wrong. L a te r he
a c c i d e n t a l l y r e c e i v e d a d e l i c i o u s l y r e f r e s h i n g shower from t h e
" b u b b l e - t r e e s " and was s i m i l a r l y te m p ted t o r e p e a t and r e s t r a i n e d from
re p e a tin g th e p le a s u re . T h in k in g a b o u t t h e s t r a n g e f e e l i n g t h a t had
made him r e s i s t t h e t e m p t a t i o n , h e w ondered,
T h is i t c h t o h a v e t h i n g s o v e r a g a i n , as i f l i f e w ere a f i l m
t h a t c o u ld be u n r o l l e d tw ic e o r even made t o work b a c k
w ards . . . was i t p o s s i b l y t h e r o o t o f a l l e v i l ? No: o f
c o u r s e t h e lo v e o f money was c a l l e d t h a t . But money i t s e l f —
p e rh a p s one v a l u e d i t c h i e f l y a s a d e f e n c e a g a i n s t c h a n c e , a
s e c u r i t y f o r b e i n g a b l e t o h a v e t h i n g s o v e r a g a i n , a means
fo r a r r e s t i n g th e film . (P e r e l a n d r a , p . 48)
47
The d e s i r e t o r e p e a t p l e a s u r e s , n o t j u s t tw ic e , b u t o v e r and o v e r
a g a i n , i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f p e o p l e who i n d u l g e i n " s i n s o f t h e f l e s h . "
D ev in e, W e s to n 's p a r t n e r i n t h e k i d n a p p in g o f Ransom and i n t h e p r o
p o sed e x p l o i t a t i o n and d e s t r u c t i o n o f M a la c a n d ra , c o n t i n u a l l y s o u g h t
sen su al p le a su re s. He t r a v e l e d th ro u g h s p a c e w i t h "a f l a s k o f s p i r i t s
ev er in h i s hand" (P la n e t, p. 3 9 ). U n lik e W eston, D evin e h ad no
dream s o f c o n q u e r in g M a la c a n d ra f o r f u t u r e g e n e r a t i o n s o f e a r t h men.
H is m o tiv e f o r r e t u r n i n g t o M ala c a n d ra was much s i m p l e r : th e p la n e t
h a d an e a s i l y a c c e s s i b l e ab und an ce o f g o ld . He a c c e p te d W e s to n 's
p h i l o s o p h i c a l m o tiv e s and d i a b o l i c a l m ethods s o l e l y b e c a u s e th e y
would p r o d u c e t h e b y - p r o d u c t h e w an ted , t h e m in in g o f M a l a c a n d r a 's
g o ld . E a r l y i n t h e i r j o u r n e y tow ard t h e p l a n e t , D evine c o n f id e d t o
Ransom some o f " t h e t h i n g s h e would do when h e g o t b a c k t o E a r t h :
o c e a n - g o in g y a c h t s , t h e most e x p e n s iv e women and a b i g p l a c e on t h e
R iv ie ra f ig u re d l a r g e ly in h i s p la n s " (P la n e t, p. 3 0 ). D u rin g t h i s
p a r t o f t h e i r j o u r n e y Ransom f e l t t h a t D evine was "much t h e more
o d i o u s " o f h i s two c a p t o r s (P l a n e t , p . 3 3 ) . On t h e ev e o f t h e r e t u r n
t r i p t o e a r t h , D evine d i s c o v e r e d t h a t t h e M a la c a n d r ia n s p ro d u ced an
a lc o h o lic beverage. T h is d i s c o v e r y a l t e r e d h i s e n t i r e view o f t h e
p la n e t. He s p e n t t h e e v e n in g g e t t i n g d r u n k . When Weston and D evine
w e re b r o u g h t b e f o r e O y arsa as c a p t i v e s and m u rd e r e rs o f t h r e e h r o s s a ,
O y a rs a l i s t e n e d t o t h e i r e x p l a n a t i o n s . Weston d e f e n d e d h i s a c t i o n s
on t h e g ro u n d s o f t h e s u p e r i o r r i g h t s o f t h e human r a c e . D evine
m e r e ly a s k e d t o be g iv e n some g o l d . O y a rs a t o l d Weston t h a t
T h u l c a n d r a 's e v i l l o r d had " b e n t " t h e p h y s i c i s t , "b u t t h i s T h in One
48
[D ev in e] who s i t s on t h e ground [th e e v i l l o r d ] h a s b ro k e n , fo r he
h a s l e f t him n o t h i n g b u t g r e e d . He i s now o n ly a t a l k i n g a n im a l and
i n my w o r ld h e c o u ld do no more ev il t h a n a n a n im a l. I f he w ere m ine,
I would unmake h i s body f o r t h e hnau in i t is alread y dead”
( P la n e t, p . 139).
D evine was " b ro k e n " and e v i l , b u t h e c o u ld do l i t t l e harm on
M a la c a n d ra . In C h r i s t i a n B eh av io r Lewis s a y s ,
The s i n s o f t h e f l e s h a r e b ad, b u t th e y a r e t h e l e a s t bad

o f a l l s i n s . A ll th e w orst p le a su re s a r e p u re ly s p i r i t u a l :
t h e p l e a s u r e o f p u t t i n g o t h e r p e o p le i n t h e wrong, o f
b o s s i n g and p a t r o n i z i n g and s p o i l i n g s p o r t , and b a c k - b i t i n g ;
t h e p l e a s u r e s o f power, o f h a t r e d . You s e e , t h e r e a r e two
t h i n g s i n s i d e me, co m p etin g w i t h t h e human s e l f which I must
t r y t o become. They a r e t h e Animal s e l f , and t h e D i a b o l i c a l
se lf. The D i a b o l i c a l s e l f i s th e w o rse o f th e two. T h at i s
why a c o l d , s e l f - r i g h t e o u s p r i g who goes r e g u l a r l y t o
c h u rc h may be f a r n e a r e r t o h e l l th a n a p r o s t i t u t e . B ut, o f
c o u r s e , i t i s b e t t e r t o be n e i t h e r (p p. 2 9 - 3 0 ) .
The f a c t t h a t s p i r i t u a l s i n s a r e w o rse th a n p h y s i c a l ones i s
em p hasized i n The G r e a t D i v o r c e . E very one o f t h e g h o s ts e x c e p t Lewis
h i m s e l f was i n H e l l b e c a u s e o f h i s s p i r i t u a l s i n s . L ew is, who dreamed
t h e w hole v i s i o n , found h i m s e l f i n H e l l as an o b s e r v e r . One m u r d e re r
d o e s a p p e a r i n t h e book—b u t h e was i n Heaven b e c a u se he gave h i m s e l f
up t o God a f t e r c o m m ittin g t h e m u rd er. The g h o s t s ' s p i r i t u a l s i n s
a l l o rig in a te d in p rid e : each g h o s t was p r i m a r i l y c o n c e rn e d a b o u t
h i m s e l f i n s t e a d o f o t h e r s o r God. A l l b u t one o f t h e g h o s ts c h o s e t o
k e e p on b e i n g p ro u d , t o c o n t i n u e s p i r i t u a l l y s i n n i n g , and t o r e t u r n t o
H e ll. Each g h o s t h ad i t s own e x c u s e f o r r e j e c t i n g H eaven. The
H a r d - B i t t e n G host e x p e c te d " t h e management" o f Heaven t o p l a n
49
e v e r y t h i n g f o r him . He w anted t o t a k e no r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r
i n i t i a t i n g an y a c t i o n s o f h i s own. C y n ic a l a b o u t Heaven i t s e l f , h e
demanded t h a t t h e g r a s s be made s o f t e r s o h e would n o t h a v e t o e n d u re
t h e h a r d e n i n g p r o c e s s th ro u g h w hich h e would become more s o l i d and
a b l e t o w alk e a s i l y i n Heaven (p p . 5 6 - 5 7 ) .
The H a r d - B i t t e n Ghost d i s p l a y e d j u s t one a s p e c t o f t h e s e l f i s h
ness o f th e g h o sts. A fem a le g h o s t r e f u s e d t o s t a y i n Heaven b e c a u s e
t h e s o l i d s p i r i t s c o u ld s e e th r o u g h h e r i n s u b s t a n t i a l body. T h in k in g
o n ly o f h e r s e l f , s h e r e j e c t e d e t e r n a l j o y o u t o f p e t t y v a n i t y .
A n o th e r fe m a le g h o s t grum bled so c o n s t a n t l y t h a t t h e s p i r i t who had
come t o l e a d h e r t o t h e m o u n ta in s o f Deep Heaven co u ld n o t s a y a word
to h er. L e w is ' T e a c h e r - S p i r i t e x p l a i n e d t h a t t h e g h o s t had c e a s e d t o
b e a g ru m b le r and h ad become a g ru m b le. She had l o s t t h e power t o
c r i t i c i z e h e r own mood and h ad a c t u a l l y become t h a t mood. An
a r t i s t - g h o s t f l e d from Heaven when h e l e a r n e d t h a t h e was no l o n g e r
remembered on e a r t h . He r e t u r n e d t o h e l l t o s t a r t a p e r i o d i c a l t h a t
would drum up p u b l i c i t y f o r h i m s e l f on e a r t h . E a r t h l y r e p u t a t i o n and
fame w ere more i m p o r ta n t t o him th a n e t e r n a l h a p p i n e s s in H eaven.
B e s id e s f o r f e i t i n g j o y f o r th e m s e lv e s , some o f t h e g h o s t s w anted
to d e p riv e o th e r people o f h a p p in e ss . A g h o s t who had l o s t h e r young
so n had made h e r f a m i ly m i s e r a b l e by l i v i n g i n t h e s o r r o w f u l p a s t .
When sh e a r r i v e d i n Heaven s h e demanded t o s e e h e r so n s o s h e c o u ld
a g a i n sm o th er him w i t h a f f e c t i o n . H er a t t e n d i n g s p i r i t t r i e d t o make
h e r r e a l i z e t h a t sh e n eeded t o l e a r n t h e t r u e lo v e o f God b e f o r e sh e
c o u ld r e a l l y lo v e h e r s o n . R e f u s in g t o p u t h e r s e l f i n t h e b ackground
50
lo n g enough t o r e a l l y l o v e , t h e m o t h e r - g h o s t r e t u r n e d t o H e l l .
A n o th e r g h o s t who had d r i v e n h e r hu sb an d t o a n e rv o u s breakdow n and
f i n a l l y t o d e a t h , came t o Heaven t o t r y t o r e g a i n c o n t r o l o f him .
She begged h e r a t t e n d i n g s p i r i t t o p u t h e r h usb an d b a c k i n h e r
c u s to d y . She c r i e d ,
P le a se , p le a se ! I 'm so m i s e r a b l e . I m ust h a v e someone t o —

t o do t h i n g s t o . I t ' s s im p ly f r i g h t f u l down t h e r e . No one
m inds a b o u t me a t a l l . I c a n ' t a l t e r them. I t ' s d r e a d f u l
t o s e e them a l l s i t t i n g a b o u t and n o t b e a b l e t o do a n y t h i n g
w i t h them. G ive him b ack t o me. Why s h o u ld h e h a v e e v e r y
t h i n g h i s own way? I t ' s no good f o r him . I t i s n ' t r i g h t .
I t is n 't f a ir . I w ant R o b e r t . What r i g h t have you t o keep
him from me? I h a t e you. How can I pay him o u t i f you w o n 't
l e t me h a v e him? (p . 89)
The g h o s t d i d n o t r e c e i v e h e r h u s b a n d . I n s t e a d she s u d d e n ly snapped
l i k e a d y in g c a n d l e flam e and v a n i s h e d .
The w i f e ' s s e l f - i n t e r e s t h ad made h e r h u sb an d m i s e r a b l e on e a r t h ,
b u t c o u ld n o t r e a c h him i n H eaven. A n o th e r g h o s t c o n f r o n te d h i s dead
w i f e who was now a j o y f u l H eav en ly S p i r i t . The g h o s t was a d w arf who
h e l d a c h a i n c o n n e c te d t o t h e c o l l a r o f a t a l l , th in , g h o st. Lewis
c a l l e d t h e l a t t e r " t h e T r a g e d ia n " b e c a u s e i t s t r u c k m e lo d r a m a tic p o se s
and spok e f o r t h e d w a r f . The d w arf and t h e T r a g e d ia n " b o th w ere t h e
re m a in s o f w hat h ad once b een a p e r s o n " (p . 1 1 1 ) . The d w a r f - T r a g e d i a n
c o u ld n o t a c c e p t t h e f a c t t h a t h i s w i f e had n o t been m i s e r a b l e i n
H eaven, m i s s i n g him . A l l h i s l i f e h e had u sed o t h e r p e o p l e ' s p i t y t o
e m o t i o n a l l y b l a c k m a i l them. He made h i m s e l f w r e tc h e d and, th r o u g h
t h e i r p i t y , t r i e d t o make o t h e r s s h a r e h i s m i s e r y . H is s a i n t l y w i f e
o f f e r e d him j o y i n H eaven. The t e m p t a t i o n t o j o y a lm o s t overcam e t h e
51
d w a rf, b u t h e s t r u g g l e d a g a i n s t i t , c lu tc h in g h i s l i f e l i n e ch ain to
th e T rag e d ian . U n w i lli n g t o a c c e p t j o y and u n a b l e t o s p r e a d m i s e r y ,
t h e d w a r f s h r a n k s m a l l e r and s m a l l e r u n t i l h e d i s a p p e a r e d . A f t e r him
v a n i s h e d t h e T r a g e d ia n .
The d w a r f - T r a g e d i a n had used p i t y a s a means o f e m o tio n a l b l a c k
m a il. The b e re a v e d m o th er had t r i e d t o s m o th e r h e r son w ith
m o th e r-lo v e . P i t y and m o t h e r - l o v e , ho w ev er, a r e n o t h a r m f u l i n them
se lv e s. They a r e e m o tio n s n a t u r a l t o man. I t i s o n ly when th e y
become t h e c o n t r o l l i n g p a s s i o n s , t h e gods o r i d o l s o f a p e r s o n , t h a t
n a t u r a l em o tio n s become p e r v e r t e d . "When n a t u r a l t h i n g s lo o k most
d e v i n e , t h e demonic i s j u s t round t h e c o r n e r " (L o v e s . p p . 1 4 4 -1 4 5 ) .
W hether t h e " n a t u r a l t h i n g " i s l o v e o r a d e l i c i o u s gourd on
P e r e l a n d r a o r g o ld on M a la c a n d ra , i t was c r e a t e d good and can be
debased in t o e v i l . W. D. Norwood, J r . w r o te , "Used and view ed a p p r o
p ria te ly , [a n a t u r a l t h i n g ] . . . i s o f God and i s good; m isu s e d and
s e e n a s a god i n i t s e l f , i t i s an i d o l and i t s s e r v i c e d a m n a tio n "
( " U n i f y in g T h em es," p . 7 6 ) .
Love o f k i n d r e d i s n a t u r a l and good when i t i s u sed p r o p e r l y .
*n Qu t o f t h e S i l e n t P l a n e t Weston p r o s t i t u t e d t h i s n a t u r a l lo v e i n t o
a m urdero us i d o l . The s p r e a d o f h u m a n ity became such a f e t i s h t o him
t h a t h e was w i l l i n g t o k i l l a l l t h e r a t i o n a l c r e a t u r e s on M a la c a n d ra
i n o r d e r t o l e t humans l i v e l o n g e r . He dreamed o f h a v i n g t h e
d e s c e n d a n ts o f men i n h a b i t e v e r y p l a c e i n t h e u n i v e r s e t h a t was
in h a b ita b le . H is u l t i m a t e g o a l was t o make m ankind, n o t i n d i v i d u a l
men, im m o r ta l. To a c h i e v e t h i s g o a l h e would s a c r i f i c e a n y t h i n g ,
52
i n c l u d i n g i n d i v i d u a l men. A t t h e b e g i n n in g o f t h e j o u r n e y t o
M a la c a n d ra , Weston e x p l a i n e d why h e f e l t j u s t i f i e d i n d r u g g in g Ransom
and k i d n a p p in g him .
. . . I a d m it t h a t we h a v e had t o i n f r i n g e your r i g h t s .
My o n ly d e f e n c e i s t h a t s m a ll c la im s m ust g i v e way t o g r e a t .
As f a r as we know, we a r e d o in g w hat h a s n e v e r been done i n
t h e h i s t o r y o f man, p e rh a p s n e v e r i n t h e h i s t o r y o f t h e
u n i v e r s e . We h a v e l e a r n e d how t o jump o f f t h e s p e c k o f .
m a t t e r on w hich o u r s p e c i e s b e g a n ; i n f i n i t y , and t h e r e f o r e
p e r h a p s e t e r n i t y , i s b e i n g p u t i n t o t h e h an d s o f t h e human
r a c e . You c a n n o t be so s m a ll-m in d e d a s t o t h i n k t h a t t h e
r i g h t s o r t h e l i f e o f an i n d i v i d u a l o r o f a m i l l i o n
i n d i v i d u a l s a r e o f t h e s l i g h t e s t im p o r ta n c e i n co m p ariso n
w ith t h i s . (P l a n e t , p . 27)
Ransom d i s a g r e e d , s a y i n g h e b e l i e v e d even v i v i s e c t i o n was w rong. He
co n tin u ed ,
' I c o n s i d e r y o u r p h il o s o p h y o f l i f e r a v i n g lu n a c y . I
su p p o se a l l t h a t s t u f f a b o u t i n f i n i t y and e t e r n i t y means
t h a t you t h i n k you a r e j u s t i f i e d i n d o in g a n y t h i n g —
a b s o l u t e l y a n y t h i n g - - h e r e and now, on t h e o f f ch an c e t h a t
some c r e a t u r e s o r o t h e r d e s c e n d e d from man a s we know him
may c ra w l a b o u t a few c e n t u r i e s l o n g e r i n some p a r t o f t h e
u n iv e rs e .1
*Yes— a n y t h i n g w h a t e v e r , ' r e t u r n e d t h e s c i e n t i s t
s t e r n l y , 'a n d a l l e d u c a te d o p i n i o n - - f o r I do n o t c a l l
c l a s s i c s and h i s t o r y and su ch t r a s h e d u c a t i o n - - i s e n t i r e l y
on my s i d e . 1 (p . 27)
Weston d e m o n s t r a te d h i s co ntem pt f o r i n d i v i d u a l r i g h t s from t h e
moment t h a t Ransom f i r s t m et him . Ransom p ro m ise d an o ld l a d y h e
e n c o u n t e r e d on h i s w alk t h a t h e would c a l l f o r h e r i d i o t son who
worked f o r W eston. U n ab le t o g e t p a s t t h e lo c k e d g a t e , Ransom c ra w le d
th r o u g h t h e h ed g e s u r r o u n d i n g t h e s c i e n t i s t ' s h o u s e . H e a r in g sounds
o f a s c u f f l e from b eh in d t h e h o u s e , h e i n v e s t i g a t e d and d i s c o v e r e d
53
Weston and D evine s t r u g g l i n g w i t h t h e i d i o t boy. They h ad been t r y i n g
t o f o r c e him i n t o w hat Ransom l a t e r d i s c o v e r e d was t h e s p a c e s h i p .
W eston and D evine w ere r e a d y t o r e t u r n t o M ars, i n t e n d i n g t o p r e s e n t
t h e boy f o r t h e s a c r i f i c e t h e y th o u g h t O y a rsa had demanded. Ransom 's
sudden a p p e a r a n c e , how ever, changed t h e i r p l a n s . Weston w an ted t o
g e t r i d o f Ransom and t a k e t h e boy on t h e g rou nds t h a t h e was " i n c a p a
b l e o f s e r v i n g h u m a n ity and o n ly to o l i k e l y t o p r o p a g a t e i d i o c y . He
was t h e s o r t o f boy who i n a c i v i l i z e d community would b e a u t o m a t
i c a l l y han ded o v e r t o a s t a t e l a b o r a t o r y f o r e x p e r i m e n t a l p u r p o s e s "
(p . 1 9 ) . D evine a r g u e d , ho w ever, t h a t t h e b o y 's d i s a p p e a r a n c e m ig h t
a t t r a c t t h e a t t e n t i o n o f S c o t l a n d Y ard . He a d v o c a te d t a k i n g Ransom as
t h e i r c a p t i v e , s i n c e Ransom h ad t o l d D evine t h a t h e was on a w a lk in g
t o u r th ro u g h E n g lan d , h ad no r e l a t i v e s e x c e p t a s i s t e r i n I n d i a , and
h ad l e f t n o t i c e o f h i s d e s t i n a t i o n and tim e o f a r r i v a l w ith no one.
W eston f i n a l l y y i e l d e d t o D e v i n e 's p e r s u a s i o n , s a y in g , "W ell, I d o n ' t
lik e i t . He i s , a f t e r a l l , human. The boy was r e a l l y a l m o s t a —a
p re p a ra tio n . S t i l l , h e ' s o n ly an i n d i v i d u a l , and p r o b a b ly a q u i t e
u s e l e s s o n e " (p . 1 9 ) .
W e s to n 's d e v o t i o n t o h i s c a u s e and d i s r e g a r d f o r i n d i v i d u a l
r i g h t s o r l i f e was r e v e a l e d even more s t r o n g l y on M a la c a n d ra . Soon
a f t e r Ransom, o b e y in g O y a r s a 's command, a r r i v e d i n M e l d i l o r n , t h e
h r o s s a b r o u g h t Weston and D evine t o O y a rsa a s p r i s o n e r s . O y arsa t o l d
W eston t h a t h e was w is e i n s c i e n t i f i c know ledge, " b u t i n a l l o t h e r
t h i n g s you h a v e t h e mind o f an a n im a l" (p . 1 3 4 ). He a llo w e d Weston
t o defend h i s k i l l i n g o f th e th r e e h r o s s a . W e s to n 's s p e e c h ,
54
t r a n s l a t e d by Ransom—a t e c h n i q u e t h a t a llo w e d Lewis t o show W e s to n 's
p e r v e r te d i d e a l s in t h e i r t r u e p e r s p e c t i v e - - j u s t i f i e d h i s cau se. He
t o l d O y a rs a t h a t h e was a c r u s a d e r f o r t h e c a u s e o f L i f e . He
d eclared , " L i f e i s g r e a t e r th a n any s y s te m o f m o r a l i t y ; h e r c la im s
are a b so lu te. I t i s n o t by t r i b a l ta b o o s and copy-book maxims t h a t
s h e h a s p u r s u e d h e r r e l e n t l e s s m arch from t h e amoeba t o man and from
man t o c i v i l i z a t i o n " (p . 1 3 6 ) . Ransom c o u ld n o t f i n d a s a t i s f a c t o r y
way t o t r a n s l a t e W e s to n 's f i r s t c l a u s e i n t o Old S o l a r . He t r a n s
l a t e d t h e r e s t o f t h e s p e e c h a s " t h e o n ly good t h i n g i s t h a t t h e r e
s h o u ld be v e r y many c r e a t u r e s a l i v e . He s a y s t h e r e w ere many o t h e r
a n i m a ls b e f o r e t h e f i r s t men and t h e l a t e r ones were b e t t e r t h a n t h e
e a r l i e r o n e s ; b u t h e s a y s t h e a n im a ls w ere n o t b o rn b e c a u s e o f w hat
i s s a i d t o t h e young a b o u t b e n t and good a c t i o n by t h e i r e l d e r s .
And h e s a y s t h e s e a n im a ls d i d n o t f e e l any p i t y " (p. 1 3 6 ).
A f t e r h e a r i n g him o u t , O y arsa t r i e d t o f i n d o u t why Weston p la c e d
su c h a h i g h v a l u e on t h e human r a c e . H is q u e s t i o n s f a i l e d t o draw any
s a t i s f a c t o r y answ er from t h e s c i e n t i s t .
'S t r a n g e ! ' s a id O yarsa. 'You do n o t lo v e any one o f you r

r a c e —you would h a v e l e t me k i l l Ransom. You do n o t lo v e
t h e mind o f y o u r r a c e , n o r t h e body. Any k in d o f c r e a t u r e
w i l l p l e a s e you i f o n ly i t i s b e g o t t e n by yo ur k in d a s th e y
now a r e . I t seems t o me, T h ic k one, t h a t w hat you r e a l l y
lo v e i s no co m p leted c r e a t u r e , b u t t h e v e r y s e e d i t s e l f :
f o r t h a t i s a l l t h a t i s l e f t . ' (p . 138)
Lew is e x p l a i n e d W e s to n 's o b s e s s i o n i n d i f f e r e n t words i n P e r e l a n d r a :
I t i s t h e i d e a t h a t h u m a n ity , h a v i n g now s u f f i c i e n t l y
c o r r u p t e d t h e p l a n e t w here i t a r o s e , m ust a t a l l c o s t s
55
c o n tr iv e to seed i t s e l f over a l a r g e r a r e a : t h a t th e v a s t
a s t r o n o m i c a l d i s t a n c e s w hich a r e God’s q u a r a n t i n e r e g u l a
t i o n s , m ust somehow be overcom e. T h is f o r a s t a r t . But
beyond t h i s l i e s t h e sw eet p o i s o n o f t h e f a l s e i n f i n i t e —
t h e w i l d dream t h a t p l a n e t a f t e r p l a n e t , s y ste m a f t e r
s y ste m , i n t h e end g a l a x y a f t e r g a l a x y , can be f o r c e d t o
s u s t a i n , ev ery w h ere and f o r e v e r , t h e s o r t o f l i f e which
i s c o n t a i n e d i n t h e l o i n s o f ou r own s p e c i e s - - a dream
b e g o t t e n by t h e h a t r e d o f d e a t h upon t h e f e a r o f t r u e
i m m o r t a l i t y , f o n d le d i n s e c r e t by th o u s a n d s o f i g n o r a n t
men and h u n d re d s who a r e n o t i g n o r a n t . (pp . 8 1 -82 )
However W e s to n 's o b s e s s i o n i s e x p l a i n e d , t h e c a u s e o f i t rem a in s
t h e same. O y a rs a s a i d t h a t t h e Bent One o f T h u lc a n d r a made men
d i s r e g a r d t h e laws t h a t a l l h n a u know e x c e p t f o r t h e law o f l o v e o f
k in d re d . T h is law h e e l e v a t e d t o t h e s t a t u s o f "a l i t t l e b l i n d
O yarsa i n [ t h e i r ] b r a i n , " which demanded o b e d ie n c e t o i t s e l f and
d is o b e d te n c .e t o a l l o t h e r laws (P l a n e t . p . 1 3 8 ) . W eston, u n l i k e
D evine who was b ro k e n by h i s g r e e d , was o n ly b e n t . He was n o t b ro k e n
b e c a u s e "a b e n t hn au can do more e v i l t h a n a b ro k e n o n e " (p . 1 3 9 ).
I f t h e two men h ad b een M a la c a n d r ia n h n au , O y arsa would h a v e k i l l e d
D ev in e, b u t h e would h a v e t r i e d t o c u r e Weston (p . 1 3 9 ). Weston,
how ever, d i d n o t w ant t o be c u r e d . He t o l d O y arsa t h a t hep re fe rre d
t h e Bent One t o M a l e l d i l : t h e B ent One a c t i v e l y d r i v e s men t o f i n d a
way t o a v o id d e a t h , b u t M a l e l d i l " m e r e ly " g i v e s them p e a c e o f mind
w i t h which t o a c c e p t d e a t h (p . 1 4 0 ).
The l u r e by w hich t h e Bent One c a u g h t Weston was t h e p ro m is e o f
an e s c a p e from d e a t h . No such p ro m ise can be t r u e ; d e a t h c a n n o t be
a v o id ed. E v i l o f f e r s a f a l s e p ro m ise b e c a u s e i t i s i t s e l f f a l s e . In
s e v e r a l o f h i s books Lewis p o i n t s o u t t h e u n r e a l i t y o f e v i l and o f t h e
56
s e a t o f e v il, H e ll. The i n h a b i t a n t s o f H e l l who to o k t h e bus t o
Heaven i n The G r e a t D iv o rc e w ere g h o s t s : th e y w ere shadows u n a b l e to
cope w i t h t h e r e a l i t y o f H eaven. L e w is ' T e a c h e r - S p i r i t t o l d him,
"The w hole d i f f i c u l t y o f u n d e r s t a n d i n g H e l l i s t h a t t h e t h i n g t o be
u n d e r s to o d i s so n e a r l y N o th in g " (p . 7 5 ) . L a te r he e x p lain ed th a t
t h e bus and a l l i t s p a s s e n g e r s had grown c o n s i d e r a b l y a s t h e y
ap p ro a c h e d Heaven from H e l l . What had seemed t o Lewis t o be an a b y ss
to w ered o v e r by c l i f f s had a c t u a l l y b een an a lm o s t i n v i s i b l e c r a c k i n
H e a v e n 's s u r f a c e . " A ll H e l l , " h i s T e a c h e r e x p l a i n e d , " i s s m a l l e r th a n
one p e b b le o f y o u r e a r t h l y w o r l d : b u t i t i s s m a l l e r th a n one atom o f
t h i s w o r ld , t h e R e a l W orld. Look a t yon b u t t e r f l y . I f i t sw allow ed
a l l H e l l , H e l l would n o t be b i g enough t o do i t any harm o r t o h a v e
any t a s t e " (p . 1 2 3 ). Because H e l l i t s e l f i s u n r e a l , t h e m i s e r i e s i t
causes a re a ls o u n re a l. L e w is ' T e a c h e r c o n t i n u e d ,
. . . a l l l o n e l i n e s s , a n g e r s , h a t r e d s , e n v i e s and i t c h i n g s
t h a t [ H e l l ] c o n t a i n s , i f r o l l e d i n t o one s i n g l e e x p e r i e n c e
and p u t i n t o t h e s c a l e a g a i n s t t h e l e a s t moment o f t h e jo y
t h a t i s f e l t by t h e l e a s t i n Heaven, would h av e no w e ig h t
t h a t c o u ld be r e g i s t e r e d a t a l l . Bad c a n n o t s u c c e e d even
i n b e i n g bad a s t r u l y a s good i s good. (p . 123)
Even t h e d e v i l S c re w ta p e a t l e a s t p a r t i a l l y a d m itt e d t h e n o t h i n g
ness of e v il. He w r o te , "The C h r i s t i a n s d e s c r i b e t h e Enemy a s one
'w i t h o u t whom N o th in g i s s t r o n g . ' And N o th in g i s v e r y s t r o n g "
(S c re w ta p e . p . 5 6 ) . E v il i s stro n g , but i t is a ls o n o th in g . Mark
S tu d d o ck , one o f t h e main c h a r a c t e r s i n T h at H ideous S t r e n g t h , d i s
c o v e re d how s t r o n g t h a t "N o th in g " i s . "He lo o k e d b ack on h i s l i f e n o t
57
w i t h shame, b u t w i t h a k i n d o f d i s g u s t a t i t s d r e a r i n e s s . . . . When
had h e e v e r done what h e w an ted? Mixed w ith t h e p e o p l e whom h e l i k e d ?
Or even e a t e n and d ru n k what to o k h i s fa n c y ? The c o n c e n t r a t e d
i n s i p i d i t y o f i t a l l f i l l e d him w i t h s e l f - p i t y " (S t r e n g t h .
pp. 246-247).
M a r k 's l i f e was f i l l e d w i t h n o t h i n g n e s s , b u t h e was n o t n o t h i n g
h im se lf. However,
. . . a damned s o u l i s n e a r l y n o t h i n g : i t i s s h ru n k , s h u t
up i n i t s e l f . Good b e a t s upon t h e damned i n c e s s a n t l y as
sound waves b e a t on t h e e a r s o f t h e d e a f , b u t t h e y c a n n o t
re c e iv e i t . T h e ir f i s t s a r e clen ch ed , t h e i r t e e t h a re
clen ch ed , t h e i r eyes f a s t s h u t. F i r s t th e y w i l l n o t, in
t h e end t h e y c a n n o t , open t h e i r h a n d s f o r g i f t s , o r t h e i r
mouths f o r fo o d , o r t h e i r eyes t o s e e . (D iv o r c e , p . 123)
In A P r e f a c e t o P a r a d i s e L o s t Lew is e x p l a i n s t h a t , b e c a u s e
S a t a n ' s n a t u r e i s good b u t h i s w i l l i s d e p ra v e d , h e e x i s t s o n ly a s
lo n g a s some good rem a in s i n him t o be c o r r u p t e d . I f a l l t h e good
w ere f i n a l l y t o b e p e r v e r t e d , S a ta n would c e a s e t o e x i s t , f o r h e would
h a v e no b e i n g (p . 6 7 ) . I n a d d i t i o n , w i t h o u t God, a g a i n s t Whom h e
r e v o l t e d , S a ta n c o u ld n o t e x i s t , fo r
. . . a c re a tu re re v o ltin g ag a in st a c re a to r is re v o ltin g
a g a i n s t t h e s o u r c e o f h i s own p o w ers— i n c l u d i n g even h i s
power t o r e v o l t . Hence t h e s t r i f e i s m ost a c c u r a t e l y
d e s c r i b e d a s 'H e a v 'n r u i n i n g from H e a n 'n ' (VI, 8 6 8 ), f o r
o n ly i n so f a r a s h e a l s o i s 'H e a v e n '—d i s e a s e d , p e r v e r t e d ,
t w i s t e d , b u t s t i l l a n a t i v e o f H e a v e n --d o e s S a ta n e x i s t a t
a ll. I t i s l i k e t h e s c e n t o f a f lo w e r t r y i n g t o d e s t r o y
th e f l o w e r . As a c o n s e q u e n c e t h e same r e b e l l i o n which
means m i s e r y f o r t h e f e e l i n g s and c o r r u p t i o n f o r t h e w i l l ,
means N onsense f o r t h e i n t e l l e c t . (P r e f a c e , p p. 9 6 -9 7 )
58
Thus, S a ta n , t h e damned s o u l s , e v i l , and H e l l i t s e l f a r e a l l
n o th in g . U n re a lity i s th e essen ce o f H ell j u s t as r e a l i t y i s th e
e s s e n c e o f H eaven. I n h i s P r e f a c e t o The S crew tap e L e t t e r s Lewis
e x p l a i n s t h a t h e d oes n o t b e l i e v e i n " t h e D e v i l " as t h e s e l f - e x i s t e n t
o p p o s i t e o f God. "T h e re i s no u n c r e a t e d b e i n g e x c e p t God. God h a s
no o p p o s i t e . No b e in g c o u ld a t t a i n a ' p e r f e c t b a d n e s s ' o p p o s i t e t o
t h e p e r f e c t g o odn ess o f God; f o r when you h a v e ta k e n away e v e r y k in d
o f good t h i n g ( i n t e l l i g e n c e , w i l l , memory, e n e rg y , and e x i s t e n c e
i t s e l f ) t h e r e would be none o f him l e f t " ( p . v i i ) . Lewis goes on t o
e x p l a i n , how ev er, t h a t h e does b e l i e v e i n d e v i l s as f a l l e n a n g e l s ,
i n h e r e n t l y good, b u t w i t h e v i l w i l l s th r o u g h w hich t h e y d e b a s e d t h e i r
own n a t u r e s . S a ta n , t h e f a l l e n a r c h a n g e l and t y r a n t o f H e l l , i s t h e
o p p o s i t e , n o t o f God, b u t o f M ic h a e l, one o f t h e u n f a l l e n a r c h a n g e l s
i n Heaven (p . v i i ) .
Thus, e v i l i s t h e o p p o s i t e o f good, b u t even t h e m ost d e p ra v e d
d e v i l c a n n o t b e t h e o p p o s i t e o f G o d 's p e r f e c t g o o d n e s s . S a ta n and
h i s c o h o r t s can be e v i l o n ly t o t h e e x t e n t t o which th e y w ere once
good. S a ta n , a f a l l e n a r c h a n g e l , h ad more c a p a c i t y f o r g o o d n e s s —
and t h e r e f o r e , more c a p a c i t y f o r t h e d e p r i v a t i o n o f t h a t g o o d n e s s —
t h a n t h e o t h e r d e v i l s who a r e f a l l e n a n g e l s . S a t a n ' s power i n H e l l
and on e a r t h o r t h e o t h e r p l a n e t s l i e s i n h i s a b i l i t y t o s p r e a d e v i l
by p e r v e r t i n g o t h e r i n n a t e l y good c r e a t u r e s .
CHAPTER I I I
THULCANDRA, THE SILENT PLANET
Man, l i k e a l l o f G o d 's c r e a t u r e s , i s i n h e r e n t l y good and
p o s s e s s e s a f r e e w i l l w i t h w hich h e can ch o o se t o become e v i l . The
p la n e t e a rth , l i k e M a la c a n d ra , P e r e l a n d r a , and t h e o t h e r p l a n e t s , was
o r i g i n a l l y a p e r f e c t w o r ld . U n lik e t h e o t h e r s , th o u g h , e a r t h f e l l
t h r o u g h t h e t e m p t a t i o n and t h e y i e l d i n g o f man. Because o f t h e F a l l ,
men became d i f f e r e n t from a l l o t h e r s p e c i e s o f h n a u . E a r th 's in h a b i
t a n t s b eg an t o l i s t e n more t o S a ta n , o r t h e Bent One, t h a n t o God.
S e p a r a t e d from God s p i r i t u a l l y , e a r t h became i s o l a t e d from t h e o t h e r
w o r ld s and H eaven, Tt became T b n l ca n d. r *, t h e s i l e n t p l a n e t .
Lewis r e v e a l s t h e n a t u r e o f T h u lc a n d r a i n h i s s p a c e t r i l o g y , b u t
some o f h i s o t h e r b o ok s, e s p e c i a l l y The S c re w ta p e L e t t e r s , a l s o shed
l i g h t on t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f T h u lc a n d r a and i t s human i n h a b i t a n t s .
F a l l e n men, i s o l a t e d from t h e r e s t o f t h e u n i v e r s e , v a i n l y s u p p o se
t h a t t h e y a r e t h e o n ly r a t i o n a l c r e a t u r e s a l i v e . When W eston, D evine,
and Ransom e n c o u n t e r e d o t h e r s p e c i e s o f h n a u on M a la c a n d ra , th e y
o b j e c t e d t o a c c e p t i n g t h e i d e a o f r a t i o n a l a n im a ls i n non-human form .
H av in g l i v e d i n a w o rld where o n ly one s p e c i e s o f h n a u e x i s t s , th e y
c o u l d n o t e a s i l y comprehend how t h r e e s e p a r a t e s p e c i e s c o u ld l i v e
t o g e t h e r p e a c e f u l l y w i t h o u t h a v i n g one d o m in a te th e o t h e r s .
A second c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f men i s t h e i r i s o l a t i o n from God.
L e w is ' books c o n t r a s t m a n 's i d e a l r e l a t i o n s h i p w ith God w i t h w h a t, a l l
60
to o o fte n , i t r e a l l y i s . U s u a l l y t h e c a u s e o f a m a n 's e s tr a n g e m e n t
from God i s h i s y i e l d i n g t o t h e t e m p t a t i o n s o f t h e d e v i l s o r t h e
dark e l d i l a . The S c re w ta p e L e t t e r s e x p l a i n s many o f t h e d e v i l s '
m ethods o f e n t i c e m e n t ; T h at H ideous S t r e n g t h shows men y i e l d i n g t o
some o f t h o s e t e m p t a t i o n s .
S a ta n , o r t h e Bent O n e 's , dream i s t o e x te n d H e ll t h r o u g h o u t t h e
u n iv e rse . The f i r s t s t e p i n t h e acc o m p lish m en t o f t h i s g o a l was t h e
p e r v e r s i o n o f e a r t h w i t h Adam and E v e 's f a l l . N ext, t h e Bent One
a t t e m p t e d t o s p r e a d H e l l ' s i n f l u e n c e t o P e r e l a n d r a , v i a W eston, t h e
Un-man. F in a lly , t h e e v i l e l d i l a t r i e d t o make T h u lc a n d ra i t s e l f i n t o
a H e ll in c a rn a te . I n t h i s p r o c e s s , T h u lc a n d r a r e g r e s s e d from a p a r a
d i s e t o a f a l l e n w o r ld , t o t h e l a u n c h in g pad f o r t h e a t t e m p t e d p e r v e r
s i o n o f o t h e r w o r ld s , and f i n a l l y t o a w o u ld -b e v e r i t a b l e h e l l . The
w hole r e g r e s s i o n c o u ld n e v e r h a v e begun i f man had n o t w i l l f u l l y
c o r r u p t e d h i m s e l f by y i e l d i n g t o t e m p t a t i o n .
S c re w ta p e e x p l a i n e d one o f t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f human n a t u r e
t o Wormwood by s a y in g ,
Humans a r e a m p h ib ia n s —h a l f s p i r i t and h a l f a n i m a l. . . .
As s p i r i t s th e y b e lo n g t o t h e e t e r n a l w o r ld , b u t a s a n im a ls
th e y i n h a b i t ti m e . T h is means t h a t w h i l e t h e i r s p i r i t s can
b e d i r e c t e d t o an e t e r n a l o b j e c t , t h e i r b o d i e s , p a s s i o n s , and
i m a g i n a t i o n s a r e i n c o n t i n u a l ch an g e , f o r t o be i n tim e means
t o c h an g e . T h e i r n e a r e s t a p p ro a c h t o c o n s ta n c y , t h e r e f o r e ,
i s u n d u l a t i o n - - t h e r e p e a t e d r e t u r n t o a l e v e l from w hich t h e y
r e p e a t e d l y f a l l b ack , a s e r i e s o f tr o u g h s and p e a k s .
( S c re w ta p e . pp. 3 6 -3 7 )
61
T h is human d u a l is m o f t h e s p i r i t v e r s u s t h e a n im a l, o f b e i n g
d e s t i n e d f o r e t e r n i t y b u t l i v i n g i n tim e , can e a s i l y work t o t h e
d e v i l s ' ad v an tag e. S crew tap e e x p l a i n e d how t h e a d v a n ta g e c o u ld be
won.
Now, j u s t a s we p i c k o u t and e x a g g e r a t e t h e p l e a s u r e
o f e a t i n g t o p ro d u ce g l u t t o n y , so we p i c k o u t t h i s n a t u r a l
p l e a s a n t n e s s o f change and t w i s t i t i n t o a demand f o r
a b s o l u t e n o v e l t y . T h is demand i s e n t i r e l y ou r workman
s h ip . . . O nly by o u r i n c e s s a n t e f f o r t s i s t h e demand f o r
i n f i n i t e , o r u n r h y th m ic a l , change k e p t up.
( S c re w ta p e . pp. 116-117)
Weston c o u ld n o t a c c e p t t h e norm al u n d u l a t i o n o f l i f e w hich l e a d s
u l t i m a t e l y and i n e v i t a b l y t o t h e f i n a l chan ge from l i f e t o d eath . H is
demand f o r n o v e l t y to o k t h e form o f s e e k i n g an e s c a p e from d e a t h . Not
c o n t e n t t o s t a y on e a r t h , h e le a p e d from p l a n e t t o p l a n e t s e a r c h i n g
f o r a way t o g i v e t h e human r a c e e t e r n i t y w i t h o u t t h e p a i n o f d e a t h .
I n P e r e l a n d r a h e r e v e a l e d t h a t h i s c o n c e rn f o r t h e human r a c e masked
h i s own i n d i v i d u a l f e a r o f d e a t h . " I t ' s s o i m p o r ta n t t o l i v e a s lo n g
a s you c a n , " h e t o l d Ransom. " A ll t h e good t h i n g s a r e now --a t h i n
l i t t l e r i n d o f w hat we c a l l l i f e , p u t on f o r show, and t h e n - - t h e r e a l
u n i v e r s e f o r e v e r and e v e r . To t h i c k e n t h e r i n d by one c e n t i m e t r e —
t o l i v e f o r one week, one day, one h a l f - h o u r l o n g e r - - t h a t ' s t h e o n ly
t h i n g t h a t m a t t e r s " (P e r e l a n d r a . pp. 1 6 7 - 1 6 8 ) . Urged t o a c t i o n by t h e
d a r k e l d i l a ' s f a l s e p ro m ise o f an e s c a p e from d e a t h , Weston was

v
r e s t l e s s l y d isc o n te n te d a l l h is l i f e , u n t i l d eath i t s e l f f i n a l l y
consumed h i s f e a r .
62
The M a la c a n d r ia n h n au , on Che o t h e r h an d , f e l t no f e a r o f d e a t h .
They w ere c o n f i d e n t o f an a f t e r l i f e t h a t was b e t t e r t h a n l i f e , f o r in
i t t h e y would be u n i t e d w ith M a l e l d i l . U n f a l l e n and n o t i s o l a t e d
from M a l e l d i l o r t h e r e s t o f c r e a t i o n , th e y w ere c o n t e n t t o l i v e each
day u n t i l l i f e ended a t i t s a p p o i n t e d tim e .
A second c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f f a l l e n h u m a n ity i s i t s e n s la v e m e n t
t o " t h e p r e s s u r e o f t h e o r d i n a r y " ( S c re w ta p e . p . 9 ) . Men w i l l more
e a s i l y b e l i e v e t h e r e a l i t y o f so m e th in g t h a t i s f a m i l i a r th a n o f some
th in g th a t is u n fa m ilia r. As S c re w ta p e s a i d , "Thanks t o p r o c e s s e s
w hich we s e t a t work i n them c e n t u r i e s ago, t h e y f i n d i t a l l b u t
im p o ssib le to b e lie v e in th e u n f a m ilia r w h ile th e f a m i li a r i s b e fo re
t h e i r e y e " (S c re w ta p e . p . 1 0 ) . Weston and D evine d e m o n s tr a te d t h i s
i n a b i l i t y on M a la c a n d ra . They would n o t b e l i e v e t h a t t h e h r o s s a and
s o r n s t h e y e n c o u n t e r e d w ere r a t i o n a l b e i n g s b e c a u se t h e two k in d s o f
h n a u w ere inhuman. Even a f t e r h e a r i n g O y a rsa sp e a k , th e y d i s b e l i e v e d
i n h i s e x i s t e n c e b e c a u s e th e y c o u ld n o t s e e h im . D evine b e l i e v e d
O y a rs a was r e a l when h e saw t h e d e m o n s t r a t i o n o f t h e g r e a t e l d i l ' s
power t o "unbody" t h e dead h r o s s a . W eston, who h ad n o t s e e n t h e
" u n b o d y in g ," p e r s i s t e d i n h i s c o n v i c t i o n t h a t O y a r s a 's v o i c e was
m e r e ly a v e n t r i l o q u i s t ' s s t u n t . Even Ransom th o u g h t a t f i r s t t h a t
t h e e l d i l a w ere f ig m e n ts o f a young h r o s s ' im a g i n a t i o n b e c a u s e h e
c o u ld n o t s e e o r h e a r them when h e f i r s t a r r i v e d i n t h e h r o s s v i l l a g e .
A c c o rd in g t o S c re w ta p e , e v e r y human h a s some b e n e v o le n c e and
some m a l i c e i n him . Men l i k e and d i s l i k e o t h e r men and p u r p o s e l y h u r t
them a s w e l l a s h e l p them. The o n ly m a l i c e t h a t t h e u n f a l l e n h r o s s a
63
f e e l , how ever, i s to w ard s t h e i r one enemy, t h e h n a k r a , t h e h r o s s -
e a t i n g m o n s te r . No h r o s s would e v e r d i s l i k e , much l e s s h u r t o r
b e tra y , an o th e r h ro ss or a n o th er hnau. Even t h e i r h a t r e d and f e a r
o f t h e h n a k r a i s tem p ered by t h e i r l o v e f o r i t as a f r e e c r e a t u r e o f
M a le l d il 's .
E a r t h ' s f a l l s e p a r a t e d man n o t o n ly from o t h e r men and from God,
b u t a l s o from h i m s e l f . S c re w ta p e d e s c r i b e d man a s a s e r i e s o f c o n
c e n t r i c c i r c l e s , w ith h i s w i l l , or h e a r t , a t th e c e n te r, h i s i n t e l l e c t
i n t h e m id d le , and h i s f a n t a s y on t h e o u t s i d e ( S c re w ta p e . p . 3 1 ) .
V ic e s can be e n t e r t a i n e d i n t h e f a n t a s y w i t h o u t c a u s in g d a m n a tio n ;
v i r t u e s can b e p a i n t e d by t h e f a n t a s y w i t h o u t a s s u r i n g s a l v a t i o n .
U n t i l i t i s a c c e p te d by t h e w i l l o r t h e h e a r t , a v i c e i s n o t d a n g e ro u s
and a v i r t u e i s n o t r e d e m p tiv e . U n f a l l e n c r e a t u r e s do n o t h a v e t h i s
s p l i t in t h e i r p e r s o n a l i t i e s . The w i l l , i n t e l l e c t , and f a n t a s y o f
P e r e l a n d r a ' s Lady w ere u n i t e d i n o b e d ie n c e t o M a l e l d i l . When t h e
Un-man f i r s t t r i e d t o c o n v in c e h e r t o make up s t o r i e s a b o u t l i v i n g on
t h e f o r b i d d e n F ix ed Land, t h e Lady c o u ld n o t even im ag in e d i s o b e y i n g
M a le ld il.
Men, i s o l a t e d on T h u lc a n d ra th r o u g h t h e i r own d i s o b e d i e n c e , h a v e
d i f f i c u l t y c o n s i d e r i n g any non-human c r e a t u r e a s r a t i o n a l . When
Ransom r e a l i z e d t h a t t h e f i r s t h r o s s h e e n c o u n t e r e d was r a t i o n a l , h e
f e l t m in g le d a t t r a c t i o n and r e p u l s i o n . I f h e th o u g h t o f t h e h r o s s as
a man,
i t became a b o m in a b le — a man s e v e n f e e t h i g h , w ith a sn ak y

body, c o v e r e d , f a c e and a l l , w i t h t h i c k b l a c k a n im a l h a i r ,
64
and w h is k e r e d l i k e a c a t . But s t a r t i n g from t h e o t h e r

end you had an a n im a l w i t h e v e r y t h i n g an a n im a l o ugh t t o
h a v e - - g l o s s y c o a t , l i q u i d e y e , sw eet b r e a t h and w h i t e s t
t e e t h - - a n d added t o a l l t h e s e , as tho ugh P a r a d i s e had
n e v e r been l o s t and e a r l i e s t dream s w ere t r u e , t h e charm
o f s p e e c h and r e a s o n . N o th in g c o u ld be more d i s g u s t i n g
th a n t h e one i m p r e s s i o n ; n o t h i n g more d e l i g h t f u l th a n
th e o th e r. I t a l l depended on t h e p o i n t o f v ie w .
( P l a n e t , p . 58)
Even when Ransom th o u g h t o f t h e h r o s s a s a d e l i g h t f u l a n i m a l, h e was
n o t r e a lly ac c e p tin g i t as i t s e l f . He c o u ld o n ly e n v i s i o n t h e h r o s s
a s a d i s g u s t i n g man o r a d e l i g h t f u l a n i m a l ; h e co u ld n o t c o n s i d e r i t
as a member o f a d i f f e r e n t , b u t e q u a l k in d o f h n au .
Ransom a l s o c o u ld n o t u n d e r s t a n d how t h r e e v e r y d i f f e r e n t s p e c i e s
o f h n a u c o u ld l i v e p e a c e f u l l y and e q u a l l y on M a la c a n d ra . Even when
t h e h r o s s a t o l d him t h a t O yarsa r u l e d a l l t h r e e s p e c i e s . Ransom was
d e te r m in e d t h a t t h e i n t e l l e c t u a l s o r n s m ust d o m in ate t h e p o e t i c h r o s s a
and t h e c r a f t s m e n p f i f l t r i g g i . T h u l c a n d r a 's one k in d o f h n a u a r e v e r y
c o m p e t i t i v e ; Ransom p r o j e c t e d t h i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o n to t h e hnau o f
M a la c a n d ra . In r e a l i t y each o f t h e t h r e e s p e c i e s had i t s own s p e c i a l
t a l e n t s , b u t a l l t h r e e o c c u p ie d t h e same l e v e l i n t h e M a la c a n d r ia n
h i e r a r c h y , w i t h "no un easy f e e l i n g s tow ard each o t h e r " (P l a n e t .
p . 1 1 7 ).
Once Ransom had a c c e p t e d t h e s t r a n g e n e s s and e q u a l i t y o f t h e
t h r e e k i n d s o f h n a u , h e began t o r e a l i z e t h a t t h e s e c r e a t u r e s w ere
a c t u a l l y s u p e r i o r t o men, f o r th e y had n e v e r f a l l e n . I n an a r t i c l e
e n t i t l e d "Out o f t h e S i l e n t P l a n e t a s Cosmic V o y a g e ," Mark R. H i l l e g a s
w r o te ,
65
In t h e h r o s s a . whom Ransom comes t o lo v e a f t e r h e

h a s throw n o f f h i s i n i t i a l f e a r .of a l i e n c r e a t u r e s , we
s e e w hat men m ig h t h a v e been h ad P a r a d i s e n e v e r been
l o s t . N a t u r a l l y c o n t i n e n t and monogamous, n e v e r o v e r
b r e e d i n g o r e x c e e d in g t h e i r s u p p ly o f fo o d , th e y do n o t
k i l l o t h e r h n a u ; n e i t h e r do th e y c o v e t each o t h e r ' s
p ro p e rty . I n s t e a d , th e y l e a d s im p l e , p a s t o r a l l i v e s
f r e e from t h e a n x i e t i e s o f a t e c h n o l o g i c a l l y complex
d i v i l i z a t i o n , and th e y d i e w i t h o u t f e a r knowing t h e r e
i s a l i f e t o come. They a r e t h e g r e a t p o e t s and s i n g e r s
o f M a la c a n d ra .1
H i l l e g a s c o n t in u e d by co m paring t h e p f i f l t r i g g i t o men, s a y i n g t h a t
M a l a c a n d r a 's c r a f t s m e n " a r e b e t t e r t h a n men; t h e i r c o n c e p t o f w ork—
s o m e th in g one d oes b e c a u s e h e lo v e s i t - - p u t s us t o shame" (p . 5 7 ) .
Ransom d i d n o t w ant t o b e p u t t o shame by t h e h r o s s a . When th e y
formed a p a r t y t o h u n t t h e h n a k r a t h a t h ad in v a d e d t h e i r v a l l e y , th e y
assumed t h a t - Ransom would j o i n i n t h e h u n t . Ransom found h i m s e l f
c o u r a g e o u s l y vow ing t o do h i s b e s t , f o r " w h a te v e r h a p p en e d , h e m ust
show t h a t t h e human s p e c i e s a l s o was h n a u " (P l a n e t , p. 7 7 )• The man
was t o r i d e i n t h e b o a t o f Whin and H y o i, t h e h r o s s who had f i r s t
found h im . T h e i r b o a t o u t r a n t h e r e s t o f t h e h u n t i n g p a r t y and met
t h e h n a k r a a s i t sped u n d e rw a te r w i t h t h e c u r r e n t . W hile Whin p a d d le d
t h e b o a t , Hyoi and Ransom s p e a r e d t h e b e a s t t o d e a t h th r o u g h i t s
enormous open m outh. J o y f u l l y and t r i u m p h a n t l y , t h e t h r e e h u n t e r s
embraced one a n o t h e r on t h e s h o r e . Ransom f e l t t h a t
1 "Out o f t h e S i l e n t P l a n e t a s Cosmic Voyage" i n The Shadows o f

I m a g i n a t i o n : t h e F a n t a s i e s o f C. S . L ew is. J . R. R. T o l k i e n , and
C h a r l e s W illia m s ( C a r b o n d a le : S o u th e r n I l l i n o i s U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s ,
1 9 6 9 ), p . 56.
66
h e was one o f them. T h at d i f f i c u l t y w hich t h e y , a c c u s

tomed t o more th a n one r a t i o n a l s p e c i e s , had p e rh a p s n e v e r
fe lt, was now overcom e. They w ere a l l h n a u . They had
s to o d s h o u l d e r t o s h o u l d e r i n t h e f a c e o f an enemy, and
t h e s h a p e s o f t h e i r h e a d s no l o n g e r m a t t e r e d . And h e , even
Ransom, h ad come th r o u g h i t and n o t been d i s g r a c e d . He had
grown up. ( p . 81)
No s o o n e r had Ransom p ro v ed t h a t h e was in d e e d h n a u , th a n m a n 's
b e n t n e s s v i o l e n t l y made i t s e l f a p p a r e n t . Weston and D ev in e, who had
f i n a l l y t r a c k e d Ransom t o t h e h r o s s v i l l a g e , s h o t Hyoi from t h e
s a f e t y o f t h e n e a r b y woods. S tric k e n w ith th e g u i l t t h a t h i s p resen ce
h ad b r o u g h t t h e two m u r d e r e r s t o t h e h r o s s v i l l a g e and had c au sed
H y o i 's f a t a l wound, Ransop t r i e d t o e x p l a i n t o h i s d y in g f r i e n d t h a t
men a r e e v i l . W ith h i s l a s t b r e a t h , Hyoi f o r g a v e Ransom by c a l l i n g
him "hman, h n a k r a - p u n t " —man, h n a k r a - s l a y e r (p . 8 ? ) . Ransom had t o
confess to Whin t h a t , u n l i k e t h e M a la c a n d r ia n h nau, some men would
w i ll i n g ly k i l l a n o th e r hnau. He t r i e d t o im p re s s on Whin how c o r r u p t
a l l men, i n c l u d i n g h i m s e l f , a r e . Whin, how ever, r e f u s e d t o k i l l o r
p u n is h Ransom f o r h i s in v o lv e m e n t i n H y o i 's m u rd e r. The dead h r o s s
had known, and t h e l i v i n g h r o s s s t i l l knew, w hat O yarsa would l a t e r
t e l l t h e men: man may be b e n t , b u t "m an's mind . . . i s a s t h e mind
o f a l l o t h e r h n a u - - i s n o t M a l e l d i l maker o f them a l l ? " (p . 1 3 8 ) .
Man was made by M a l e l d i l , b u t h e t u r n e d from Him when h e became
p erv erted . Any human e x i s t s a s h i m s e l f - - p h i l o l o g i s t , s c i e n t i s t ,
t r e a s u r e - h u n t e r , b u s in e s s m a n , f a t h e r - - " o n l y b e c a u s e [h e ] f i r s t e x i s t s
a s G o d 's c r e a t u r e . T h at r e l a t i o n i s o l d e r and c l o s e r " t h a n any
r e l a t i o n b etw een two humans (D iv o r c e , p . 9 2 ) . The r e l a t i o n betw een
67
man and God i s a l s o b a s i c t o e v e r y o t h e r human r e l a t i o n s h i p . No man
can t r u l y lo v e a n o t h e r f e l l o w - c r e a t u r e u n t i l h e f i r s t lo v e s God
( D iv o rc e , p . 9 2 ) . When one o f t h e fe m a le g h o s t s i n The G r e a t D iv o rc e
p r o c la im e d t h a t m o t h e r - l o v e i s " t h e h i g h e s t and h o l i e s t f e e l i n g i n
human n a t u r e , " t h e H eav en ly S p i r i t w i t h h e r e x p l a i n e d , "No n a t u r a l
f e e l i n g s a r e h i g h o r low, h o l y o r u n h o ly , i n th e m s e lv e s . They a r e
a l l h o l y when G o d 's hand i s on t h e r e i n . They a l l go bad when t h e y
s e t up on t h e i r own and make th e m s e lv e s i n t o f a l s e g o d s " (p. 9 3 ) .
L e w is ' T e a c h e r - S p i r i t expanded t h i s c o n c e p t t o a p p l y n o t o n ly t o
human f e e l i n g s , b u t t o a l l t h i n g s . He s a i d , "T here i s b u t one good;
t h a t i s God. E v e r y t h i n g e l s e i s good when i t lo o k s t o Him and bad
when i t t u r n s from Him" ( p . 9 8 ) .
God c r e a t e d men w i t h f r e e w i l l s i n o r d e r t h a t t h e y m ig h t
w i l l i n g l y lo o k t o Him. S c re w ta p e t o l d Wormwood t h a t God "w ants s e r
v a n t s who can f i n a l l y become s o n s " ( S c re w ta p e . p. 3 8 ) . S o n s h ip ,
how ever, demands " u n io n o r u n i t y w i t h God i n w i l l , " w hich i n t u r n
r e q u i r e s t h a t men model th e m s e lv e s a f t e r
t h e J e s u s , n o t o n ly o f C a lv a r y , b u t o f t h e w orkshop, t h e
r o a d s , t h e crow ds, t h e l a c k o f a l l p e a c e and p r i v a c y , t h e
i n t e r r u p t i o n s . For t h i s , so s tr a n g e l y u n lik e a n y th in g
we can a t t r i b u t e t o t h e D iv in e l i f e i n i t s e l f , i s a p p a r
e n t l y n o t o n ly l i k e , b u t i s , t h e D iv in e l i f e o p e r a t i n g
un der human c o n d i t i o n s . (L oves, p . 17)
M odeling o n e s e l f a f t e r J e s u s means t h a t a p e r s o n w i l l f o ll o w C h r i s t ' s
command t o lo v e h i s n e i g h b o r as h i m s e l f . B ut, Lewis s a i d i n C h r i s t i a n
B e h a v io r, " I c a n ' t l e a r n t o lo v e my n e ig h b o u r as m y s e lf t i l l I l e a r n
68
t o lo v e God; and I c a n ' t l e a r n t o lo v e God e x c e p t by l e a r n i n g t o
obey H im ," (p . 2 0 ) . I n o r d e r t o obey God, one m ust subdue h i s own
s e l f - w i l l and s e e k t o l e a r n G o d 's w i l l . O nly by l o s i n g h i m s e l f i n
t h i s way w i l l h e f i n d h i s t r u e i n d i v i d u a l i t y i n God ( S c re w ta p e .
p. 59).
*n Tha t H ideous S t r e n g t h . J a n e S tu d d o ck e x e m p l i f i e s t h a t s tu b b o r n
s e l f - w i l l t h a t k e e p s a human from l o v i n g God and o t h e r humans. A fte r
o n ly s i x months o f m a r r i a g e , s h e and H ark w ere d r i f t i n g a p a r t from
la c k o f lo v e . From t h e d ay o f t h e i r w edding , J a n e had t r i e d t o r e t a i n
h e r own l i f e w i t h i n h e r s h a r e d l i f e w i t h Mark. She f e l t t h a t m a r r i a g e
"had p ro v ed t o be t h e d o o r o u t o f a w o r ld o f work and c o m ra d esh ip and
l a u g h t e r and in n u m e ra b le t h i n g s t o do, i n t o so m eth in g l i k e s o l i t a r y
c o n f in e m e n t" (p . 1 3 ) . She s c o f f e d a t t h e w edding vow s' p h r a s e
p r o m is in g o b e d ie n c e t o h e r h u s b a n d . O b ed ien c e t o God was o u t o f t h e
q u e s t i o n ; s h e had dropped h e r c h i ld h o o d b e l i e f i n a Supreme Being
when sh e had l e f t c h i ld h o o d . E x ce p t f o r h e r wedding d ay , J a n e had
n o t b een i n a c h u rc h f o r y e a r s .
J a n e ' s f i r s t i n k l i n g t h a t o t h e r p e o p le s t i l l b e l i e v e d i n t h e
im p o r ta n c e o f o b e d ie n c e came from C a m illa and A r th u r D e n n is to n , a
h a p p i l y m a r r i e d c o u p le who w ere members o f L o g r e s . J a n e had p r e v i
o u s l y a p p e a le d t o G race Ironw ood, R ansom 's d o c t o r i n L o g r e s , f o r h e l p
i n g e t t i n g r i d o f h e r t e r r i f y i n g t e l e p a t h i c dream s. M iss Ironwood
h ad n o t been a b l e t o p r e v e n t J a n e ' s d ream s, b u t u rg ed h e r t o j o i n
L o g re s b e f o r e t h e enemy, N . l . C . E . , t r i e d to g ain c o n tro l o f h e r .
J a n e had h e s i t a t e d a t t h e r e q u ir e m e n t o f o b e d ie n c e t o Ransom, th e
69
P en d rag o n . C a m illa and A r t h u r D e n n is to n v i s i t e d J a n e t o t r y t o
c o n v in c e h e r t o j o i n t h e i r s i d e . When J a n e seemed t o a c q u i e s c e , t h e
c o u p l e t o l d h e r t h a t sh e would h a v e t o a s k M a rk 's p e r m i s s i o n t o become
p a r t of L ogres. J a n e im m e d ia te ly o b j e c t e d t o t h e i d e a o f a s k i n g h e r
h u s b a n d 's p e r m i s s i o n a b o u t a n y t h i n g .
L a t e r , when J a n e d id s e e k r e f u g e i n L o g re s a t S t . A n n e 's —w i t h o u t
M a r k 's p e r m i s s i o n o r know ledge, f o r t h e N . l . C . E . p o l i c e had en co u n
t e r e d h e r and t o r t u r e d h e r b e f o r e b e i n g f o r c e d by c i r c u m s t a n c e s t o l e t
h e r g o - - s h e h ad s e v e r a l c o n v e r s a t i o n s w i t h t h e P en drago n a b o u t lo v e ,
m a r r i a g e , and o b e d i e n c e . Ransom, whom h i s company c a l l e d s im p ly " t h e
D i r e c t o r , " t o l d J a n e what h i s " M a s t e r s " - - t h e O y eresu and, u l t i m a t e l y ,
M a l e l d i l —would s a y a b o u t h e r a t t i t u d e to w ard m a r r i a g e and h e r l a c k
o f lo v e f o r Mark. "They would s a y . . . t h a t you do n o t f a i l i n
o b e d ie n c e th r o u g h l a c k o f lo v e , b u t h a v e l o s t lo v e b e c a u s e you n e v e r
a t te m p t e d o b e d i e n c e " (p . 1 4 7 ) . J a n e s a i d t h a t sh e t h o u g h t lo v e and
m a r r i a g e w ere b a s e d on e q u a l i t y and f r e e c o m p a n io n s h ip . The D i r e c t o r
re p lie d , "No one h a s e v e r t o l d you t h a t o b e d i e n c e - - h u m i l i t y - - i s an
e r o tic n e c e ssity . You a r e p u t t i n g e q u a l i t y j u s t where i t s h o u ld n o t
b e " (p . 1 4 8 ). F o r t h e f i r s t tim e i n h e r l i f e , J a n e found h e r s e l f
o b e y in g a man--Ransom—w i t h o u t even t h i n k i n g a b o u t r e b e l l i n g . A fter
h e r f i r s t m e e tin g w i t h Ransom, J a n e was
s im p ly r e c e p t i v e o f t h e D i r e c t o r , r e c a l l i n g e v e r y word and
e v e r y l o o k , and d e l i g h t i n g i n them . . . ta k e n u t t e r l y o f f
h e r g u a r d , sh a k e n o u t o f t h e m odest l i t t l e o u t f i t o f c o n
te m p o r a r y i d e a s w hich had h i t h e r t o made h e r p o r t i o n o f
wisdom, and swept away on t h e f l o o d t i d e o f an e x p e r i e n c e
w hich sh e d id n o t u n d e r s t a n d and c o u ld n o t c o n t r o l . ( p . 150)
70
H aving opened h e r s e l f up t o o b e d i e n c e , J a n e e x p e r i e n c e d t h e f i r s t
t a s t e o f lo v e . She f e l l i n lo v e w i t h Ransom a t f i r s t s i g h t , but h er
lo v e f o r him b r o u g h t h e r more j o y th a n s h e h ad even known b e f o r e . In
a d d i t i o n , h e r lo v e f o r t h e D i r e c t o r was n o t a d u l t e r o u s . "At t h e v e r y
moment when h e r mind was m ost f i l l e d w i t h a n o t h e r man t h e r e a r o s e ,
c lo u d e d w i t h some u n d e f in e d e m o tio n , a r e s o l u t i o n t o g i v e Mark much
more th a n s h e h ad e v e r g iv e n him b e f o r e , and a f e e l i n g t h a t i n so
d o in g s h e would b e r e a l l y g i v i n g i t t o t h e D i r e c t o r " ( p . 1 5 1 ) . J a n e 's
e y e s w ere opened t o t h e b e a u t y and d e l i g h t o f t h e w o rld aro u n d h e r .
She a l s o
r e j o i c e d i n t h e c o n s c i o u s n e s s o f h e r own b e a u t y . . . .
And . . . t h e r e was l i t t l e v a n i t y i n t h i s . For b e a u t y was
made f a r o t h e r s . Her b e a u t y b e l o n g e d t o t h e D i r e c t o r , Tt.
b e lo n g e d t o him so c o m p le te ly t h a t h e c o u ld even d e c i d e n o t
t o keep i t f o r h i m s e l f b u t t o o r d e r t h a t i t be g iv e n t o
a n o t h e r , by an a c t o f o b e d ie n c e lo w e r, and t h e r e f o r e h i g h e r ,
more u n c o n d i t i o n a l and t h e r e f o r e more d e l i g h t i n g , th a n i f
h e had demanded i t f o r h i m s e l f . (p . 152)
Ransom was M a l e l d i l ' s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e on e a r t h . J a n e ' s lo v e f o r
him was h e r f i r s t s t e p i n l e a r n i n g t o lo v e God; h e r o b e d i e n c e t o him
would l e a d , e v e n t u a l l y , t o h e r o b e d ie n c e t o God H im s e lf . The l o n g e r
J a n e s t a y e d a t S t . A n n e 's , t h e more e a s i l y and e a g e r l y she obeyed
th e D ire c to r. M e r l i n ' s f i r s t a p p e a r a n c e a t S t . A n n e 's s t a r t l e d t h e
members o f L o g r e s . Most o f them e x p r e s s e d t h e i r d o u b t o f M e r l i n ' s
goodness. When Ransom a s k e d i f any o f them s t i l l t r u s t e d him , o n ly
J a n e answ ered s u d d e n ly t h a t sh e d i d . B e fo re M e r l i n ' s a p p e a r a n c e ,
Ransom s e n t two o f t h e men and J a n e t o f i n d him , f o r J a n e h ad s e e n i n
71
a dream t h e d r u i d aw akening and l e a v i n g h i s tomb. As h e g av e t h e
t r i o th e ir in s tru c tio n s , t h e D i r e c t o r a s k e d J a n e i f s h e would p l a c e
h e r s e l f i n o b e d ie n c e t o M a l e l d i l .
" S i r , " s a i d J a n e , " I know n o t h i n g o f M a l e l d i l . But

I p l a c e m y s e l f i n o b e d ie n c e t o y o u . "
" I t i s enough f o r t h e p r e s e n t , " s a i d t h e D i r e c t o r .
"T h is i s th e c o u r t e s y o f Deep H e a v e n : t h a t when you mean
w e l l , He alw ay s t a k e s you t o h a v e m eant b e t t e r th a n you
knew. I t w i l l n o t be enough f o r a lw a y s . He i s v e r y
j e a l o u s . He w i l l h a v e you f o r no one b u t H im s e lf i n t h e
end. But f o r t o n i g h t , i t i s e n o u g h ." (p p. 229-230)
Thus, by p r o m i s i n g co m p le te t r u s t and o b e d ie n c e t o t h e P en d rag o n ,
J a n e t u r n e d tow ard o b e d ie n c e t o M a l e l d i l . She was l e a r n i n g t o lo v e
God by l e a r n i n g t o obey Him; th r o u g h t h i s lo v e s h e found t h e h u m i l i t y
t h a t would e n a b l e h e r t o lo v e Mark. J a n e had begun t o e x p e r i e n c e t h e
m eaning o f s o n s h i p t o God.
A so n o f God m ust f o r f e i t h i s s t u b b o r n s e l f - w i l l , b u t u n i t i n g
h i s w i l l w i t h God’ s l e a d s him t o h i s t r u e i n d i v i d u a l i t y . God lo v e s
men, Lewis s a y s i n C h r i s t i a n B e h a v io r. "Not f o r any n i c e , a t t r a c t i v e
q u a l i t i e s we t h i n k we h a v e , b u t j u s t b e c a u s e we a r e th e th in g s c a lle d
se lv e s. F or r e a l l y t h e r e i s n o t h i n g e l s e i n us t o l o v e : c re a tu re s
l i k e us who a c t u a l l y f i n d h a t r e d such a p l e a s u r e t h a t t o g i v e i t up
i s l i k e g i v i n g up b e e r o r t o b a c c o . . . . " (p . 4 1 ) . Because God
lo v e s m e n 's s e l v e s , h e ju d g e s them a c c o r d i n g t o t h e i r s e l v e s . "Human
b e i n g s ju d g e one a n o t h e r by t h e i r e x t e r n a l a c t i o n s . God ju d g e s them
by t h e i r m o ra l c h o i c e s " (B e h a v io r , p . 2 3 ) . Lewis e x p l a i n s w hat a
m o ra l c h o i c e i s i n t h i s way: "However much you improve t h e m a n 's raw
72
m a t e r i a l , y o u 'v e s t i l l g o t so m e th in g e l s e : th e r e a l , f r e e ch o ice of
t h e man, on t h e m a t e r i a l p r e s e n t e d t o him , e i t h e r t o p u t h i s own
a d v a n ta g e f i r s t o r t o p u t i t l a s t . And t h i s f r e e c h o i c e i s t h e o n ly
t h i n g t h a t m o r a l i t y i s co n c e rn e d w i t h " (p . 2 3 ) . Most b e l i e v e r s i n
God r e a l i z e , a t l e a s t s u b c o n s c i o u s l y , t h a t He do es ju d g e them on
t h e i r m o ra l c h o i c e s . Most o f them a l s o r e a l i z e t h a t th e y a r e n o t as
good a s th e y c o u ld b e ; c o n s e q u e n t l y th e y f e e l g u i l t y and a r e r e l u c t a n t
t o b a r e t h e i r s o u l s t o God i n p r a y e r . S c re w ta p e t o l d Wormwood,
A l l humans a t n e a r l y a l l tim e s h a v e some such r e l u c t a n c e ;

b u t when t h i n k i n g o f Him i n v o l v e s f a c i n g and i n t e n s i f y i n g
a w hole v agu e c lo u d o f h a l f - c o n s c i o u s g u i l t , t h i s
r e l u c t a n c e i s i n c r e a s e d t e n f o l d . They h a t e e v e r y id e a
t h a t s u g g e s t s him , j u s t a s men in f i n a n c i a l em barrass
ment h a t e t h e v e r y s i g h t o f a bankbook. In t h i s s t a t e
yo ur p a t i e n t . . . w i l l w ant h i s p r a y e r s t o be u n r e a l , f o r
h e w i l l d r e a d n o t h i n g so much a s e f f e c t i v e c o n t a c t w ith
t h e Enemy. H is aim w i l l be t o l e t s l e e p i n g worms l i e .
( S c re w ta p e . pp . 5 4 -5 5 )
S c re w ta p e and t h e o t h e r d e v i l s t r y t o l e a d men t o t h e p o i n t w here th e y
d r e a d e f f e c t i v e c o n t a c t w i t h God. I n t h i s s t a t e o f mind, men are rip e
fo r te m p ta tio n .
I f men y i e l d c o n t i n u o u s l y t o t e m p t a t i o n and c e a s e l o o k i n g t o God
at a ll, th e y a r e r u s h i n g down t h e ro ad t o H e l l . S c re w ta p e e x p l a i n e d
th a t t h e d e v i l ' s m o tiv e s f o r l u r i n g men t o H e l l a r e j u s t t h e o p p o s i t e
o f G od's r e a s o n s f o r w a n tin g men t o j o i n Him i n Heaven. Hew r o te ,
To us a human i s p r i m a r i l y f o o d ; o u r aim i s t h e a b s o r p t i o n
o f i t s w i l l i n t o o u r s , t h e i n c r e a s e o f o u r own a r e a o f
s e l f h o o d a t i t s e x p e n s e . But t h e o b e d ie n c e which t h e
Enemy demands o f men i s q u i t e a d i f f e r e n t t h i n g . One must
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f a c e t h e f a c t t h a t a l l t h e t a l k a b o u t H is lo v e f o r men,
and H is s e r v i c e b e i n g p e r f e c t freedom , i s n o t ( a s one
would g l a d l y b e l i e v e ) mere p ro p a g a n d a , b u t an a p p a l l i n g
t r u t h . He r e a l l y does w ant t o f i l l t h e u n i v e r s e w i t h a
l o t o f l i t t l e r e p l i c a s o f H im s e l f — c r e a t u r e s whose l i f e ,
on i t s m i n i a t u r e s c a l e , w i l l be q u a l i t a t i v e l y l i k e H is
own, n o t b e c a u s e He h a s a b s o r b e d them b u t b e c a u s e t h e i r
w i l l s f r e e l y conform t o H is . We w ant c a t t l e who can
f i n a l l y become f o o d ; He w an ts s e r v a n t s who can f i n a l l y
become s o n s . We w ant t o s u c k i n , He w an ts t o g i v e o u t .
We a r e empty and would be f i l l e d ; He i s f u l l and flow s
o v e r . Our war aim i s a w o rld i n w hich Our F a t h e r Below
h a s drawn a l l o t h e r t h i n g s i n t o h i m s e l f : t h e Enemy w an ts
a w o rld f u l l o f b e i n g s u n i t e d t o Him b u t s t i l l d i s t i n c t .
( S c re w ta p e . p p . 3 7 -3 8 )
In o r d e r t o g e t t h e i r c a t t l e f o r fo o d , S c re w ta p e and t h e o t h e r
d e v i l s m ust p r e v e n t a t a l l c o s t s t h e f r e e c o n f o r m a tio n o f m e n 's w i l l s
w i t h G o d 's w i l l . They can c a p t u r e t h e i r c a t t l e o n ly by p e r v e r t i n g
t h e w i l l s o f i n n a t e l y good men. L ik e a l l o f G o d 's c r e a t i o n , men w i l l
be good a s lo n g a s th e y lo o k t o God. Only by t u r n i n g from Him can
t h e y c o r r u p t th e m s e lv e s and become b a d . The ro a d t o c o r r u p t i o n i s
marked by t h e ro a d s i g n s o f t e m p t a t i o n .
The S c re w ta p e L e t t e r s i l l u s t r a t e s e v e r a l o f t h e d e v i l s ' m ethods
f o r e n t i c i n g men t o t u r n away from God. S c re w ta p e rem inded Wormwood
t h a t any s i n , no m a t t e r how s m a l l , can b e u sed t o edge men away from
God. "Whenever [humans] a r e a t t e n d i n g t o t h e Enemy H i m s e l f , " t h e
m aster d e v il s a id , "we a r e d e f e a t e d , b u t t h e r e a r e ways o f p r e v e n t i n g
them from d o in g s o . The s i m p l e s t i s t o t u r n t h e i r g aze away from Him
to w a rd s t h e m s e l v e s " (p p . 2 0 - 2 1 ) . One way t o t u r n m e n 's g aze to w ards
t h e m s e lv e s , S c re w ta p e s a i d , i s t o make them c o n c e n t r a t e on t h e i r i n n e r
l i f e - - t o make them t r y t o f e e l c h a r i t a b l e o r co u ra g e o u s o r k i n d - -
74
i n s t e a d o f d o in g v i r t u o u s d e e d s . Good th o u g h t s w i t h o u t a c t i o n w i l l
e v e n t u a l l y push t h e " o b j e c t i o n a b l e " v i r t u e s o utw ard from t h e w i l l , o r
h e a r t , t o t h e i n t e l l e c t and f i n a l l y t o t h e f a n t a s y , w here t h e v i r t u e s
can do no "harm" by s a v i n g t h e human " p a t i e n t " from H e l l . On t h e
o t h e r h an d , t h e d e v i l s s t r i v e t o t r a n s f o r m even t h e s m a l l e s t v i c e i n t o
a b a r r i e r betw een t h e p a t i e n t and God by f o r c i n g i t inw ard from t h e
f a n t a s y t o t h e i n t e l l e c t u n t i l f i n a l l y i t i s embraced by t h e w i l l , o r
h eart. The t a s k o f a d e v i l , S c re w ta p e em p h asized , i s n o t t o t e a c h ,
but to fu d d le . D e v il s do n o t p u t i d e a s i n t o m e n 's minds a s much as
t h e y keep know ledge o u t .
One o f t h e d e v i l s 1 m ethods f o r c o m b a ttin g t h e i n f l u e n c e o f t h e
C h r i s t i a n Church i s t o make i t seem t o be a c l i q u e d e v o te d t o a c a u s e
f o r w hich i t s members m ust f i g h t t h e r e s t o f t h e w o r ld . The Church
h e rse lf, S c re w ta p e s a i d , c a n n o t be th u s p e r v e r t e d , b u t s m a l l f a c t i o n s
w i t h i n h e r can be c r e a t e d . The i n d i v i d u a l s i n t h e s e f a c t i o n s can be
made t o r e g a r d each o t h e r w i t h m u tu a l a d m i r a t i o n and t o f e e l " to w ard s
t h e o u t e r w o rld a g r e a t d e a l o f p r i d e and h a t r e d which i s e n t e r t a i n e d
w i t h o u t shame b e c a u s e t h e 'C a u s e ' i s i t s s p o n s o r and i s th o u g h t t o be
i m p e r s o n a l " ( S c re w ta p e . p . 3 4 ) . I f " t h e i d e a o f b e lo n g in g t o an i n n e r
r in g , of b ein g in a s e c r e t , i s v e r y s w e e t" t o a human, t h e d e v i l s w i l l
" p la y on t h a t n e r v e " ( p . 1 1 3 ). "The g r e a t t h i n g , " S c re w ta p e t o l d
Wormwood, " i s t o make C h r i s t i a n i t y a m y s te ry r e l i g i o n i n w hich [ t h e
human] f e e l s h i m s e l f one o f t h e i n i t i a t e s " (p . 1 1 3 ).
S e c r e t c l i q u e s h a v e g r e a t a p p e a l o u t s i d e , as w e l l a s i n s i d e , th e
C h urch. I n T h a t H ideous S t r e n g t h Mark S tu ddo ck was l u r e d i n t o e v i l by
75
t h e trem en dou s a t t r a c t i o n t h a t t h e s e c r e t i n n e r r i n g o f N . I . C . E .
h e l d f o r h im . A l l h i s l i f e , Mark had t r i e d a t a l l c o s t s t o a v o id
b e i n g an o u t s i d e r . The lo o k on t h e f a c e o f o u t s i d e r s was " t h e symbol
of a l l h is w orst fe a rs , f o r t o be one who m ust w ear t h a t lo o k w as, i n
h i s s c a l e o f v a l u e s , t h e g r e a t e s t e v i l " ( S t r e n g t h , p. 1 0 9 ). The
members o f N . I . C . E . , e s p e c i a l l y F r o s t , M a r k 's t u t o r i n h i s i n i t i a t i o n ,
p la y e d on t h i s f e a r . A f t e r Mark h ad sw allow ed enough o f t h e s w e et
b a i t o f b e i n g i n t h e s e c r e t i n n e r r i n g o f N . I . C . E . t o be c o n s i d e r e d
ho o k ed , F r o s t to o k him i n t o s p e a k t o t h e H ead. As h e w a i t e d t o e n t e r
t h e H e a d 's room, Mark f e l t an " e x c i t i n g h o r r o r " p r e s s i n g upon him .
T h is h o r r o r was composed o f f e a r , h o p e , and "a n o t w h o lly d i s a g r e e a b l e
t h r i l l a t t h e th o u g h t o f s h a r i n g so s tu p e n d o u s a s e c r e t " (p . 1 7 9 ) .
O nly t h e i n i t i a t e s o f N . I . C . E . knew o f t h e e x i s t e n c e o f t h e Head and
o f t h e " m a c r o b e s " - - t h e i r name f o r t h e d a r k e l d i l a —who r e a l l y
c o n tro lle d i t .
S e e in g t h e Head was one s t e p i n M a rk 's i n i t i a t i o n i n t o t h e i n n e r
rin g . A l a t e r s t e p was h i s a r r e s t f o r s u p p o s e d ly m u rd e r in g t h e s c i e n
t i s t who l e f t N . I . C . E . As F r o s t had e x p e c te d , Mark was in d e e d o v e r
come by t h e f e a r o f d e a t h i n t h e B elb u ry p r i s o n . C o n tr a r y t o F r o s t ' s
a n t i c i p a t i o n , th o u g h , t h i s f e a r e n a b le d Mark t o s e e N . I . C . E . i n i t s
t r u e l i g h t and t o r e s o l v e t o f i g h t i t . When F r o s t s t a r t e d t h e n e x t
p h a s e o f i n i t i a t i o n , Mark th o u g h t h e c o u ld r e s i s t any t e m p t a t i o n h i s
t u t o r c o u ld o f f e r . F r o s t t o l d him t h e s e c r e t o f t h e e x i s t e n c e o f t h e
m a cro b es, whom N . I . C . E . d e s c r i b e d a s o rg a n is m s w ith super-hum an
76
perm anence, e n e r g y , and i n t e l l i g e n c e . S u p p o s e d ly , t h e m acrobes had
u n i t e d w i t h t h e N . I . C . E . i n i t i a t e s i n o r d e r t o remake t h e human r a c e :
s e l e c t i n g a few humans who would c o o p e r a t e w i t h them, th e y would
g ra d u a lly d e s tr o y th e r e s t o f th e r a c e . Through r e c o n d i t i o n i n g o f
th e e l i t e , " t h e i n d i v i d u a l [would l i t e r a l l y ] become a l l h e a d . The
human r a c e [w ould] become a l l T e c h n o c ra c y " (p . 2 5 9 ).
Mark h ad been c o n f i d e n t i n t h e new -found s t r e n g t h o f h i s
re so lu tio n . But h e had n o t r e a l i z e d t h e e x t e n t o f h i s d e s i r e t o know
su ch a suprem e s e c r e t . " S ud denly l i k e a t h i n g t h a t le a p e d t o him
a c r o s s i n f i n i t e d i s t a n c e s w ith t h e sp eed o f l i g h t , d e s i r e ( s a l t ,
b l a c k , ra v e n o u s , u n a n s w e ra b le d e s i r e ) to o k him by t h e t h r o a t . " It
p aled th e a t t r a c t i o n s o f a l l p re v io u s p a s s io n s . Lust i t s e l f - - i n i t s
d a r k e s t form one o f t h e s t r o n g e s t o f p a s s i o n s - - w a s a s e r p e n t w hich,
" f a c e d w i t h t h e t r u e d ra g o n , became a f a n g l e s s w orm ." The m acrob es,
o r dark e l d i l a , th e m s e lv e s w ere i n M a rk s ’ c e l l w i t h him , b r e a t h i n g
" d e a th on t h e human r a c e and a l l j o y . Not d e s p i t e t h i s b u t b e c a u s e
of th is , t h e t e r r i b l e g r a v i t a t i o n su cked and tu g g e d and f a s c i n a t e d
him to w ard s them " (p p . 2 6 8 - 2 6 9 ) . M a r k 's d e s i r e t o become an i n s i d e r
a t a l l c o s t s came p e r i l o u s l y c l o s e t o making him an i n s i d e r - - a t a l l
c o sts.
A n o th e r method o f e n t i c i n g men away from God i s t o t u r n t h e i r
m inds from e t e r n i t y . Man l i v e s i n tim e , b u t " t h e P r e s e n t i s t h e p o i n t
a t which tim e to u c h e s e t e r n i t y . Of t h e p r e s e n t moment, and o f i t
o n ly , humans h a v e an e x p e r i e n c e a n a lo g o u s t o t h e w hole e x p e r i e n c e
w hich o u r Enemy h a s o f r e a l i t y a s a w h o le; i n i t a l o n e freedom and
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a c t u a l i t y a r e o f f e r e d them " (S c re w ta p e . p. 6 8 ) . God w an ts men t o
m e d i t a t e on e t e r n i t y o r t o l i v e i n t h e p r e s e n t . The d e v i l s , c o n s e
q u e n t l y , w an t men t o l i v e i n t h e p a s t o r t h e f u t u r e . Because i t i s
known and i s u n ch an g in g , t h e p a s t a l s o somewhat re s e m b le s e t e r n i t y .
The f u t u r e , h ow ever, i s l e a s t l i k e e t e r n i t y , f o r i t i s unknown, b u t
men a r e b i o l o g i c a l l y d e s t i n e d f o r i t . H ence, i t c a u s e s h o p es and
f e a r s t h a t c a n h a v e no d e f i n i t e b a s i s i n r e a l i t y . The d e v i l s , th e n ,
t r y t o make men c o n c e n t r a t e on t h e f u t u r e , fo r i t i s l e a s t li k e th e
r e a l i t y o f Heaven and m ost l i k e t h e n o t h i n g n e s s o f H e l l .
I n Out o f t h e S i l e n t P l a n e t and P e r e l a n d r a Weston y i e l d e d to th e
t e m p t a t i o n t o c o n c e n t r a t e on th e fu tu r e . S crew tap e c o u ld h a v e been
d e s c r i b i n g W eston when h e w r o t e ,
we w an t a man h a g r i d d e n by t h e F u t u r e —h a u n te d by v i s i o n s
o f an im minent h e a v e n o r h e l l upon e a r t h - - r e a d y t o b r e a k
t h e Enem y's commands i n t h e P r e s e n t i f by so d o in g we make
him t h i n k h e can a t t a i n t h e one o r a v e r t t h e o t h e r - -
d e p e n d e n t f o r h i s f a i t h on t h e s u c c e s s o r f a i l u r e o f
schemes whose end h e w i l l n o t l i v e t o s e e . We want a
w hole r a c e p e r p e t u a l l y i n p u r s u i t o f t h e r a i n b o w 's end,
n e v e r h o n e s t , n o r k in d , n o r happy now, b u t alw ays u s i n g as
m ere f u e l w h e re w ith t o h e a p t h e a l t a r o f t h e F u tu r e e v e r y
r e a l g i f t w hich i s o f f e r e d them i n t h e P r e s e n t .
( S c re w ta p e . p p . 6 9 -7 0 )
W eston b egan by s e e k i n g a h e a v e n on e a r t h - - e t e r n a l l i f e f o r m ankind.
H is t r i p s t o M a la c a n d ra w ere q u e s t s t o e n a b l e men t o o u t l i v e t h e
p la n e t e a rth . L a t e r , on P e r e l a n d r a , Weston f l e d from an imminent
h e l l on e a r t h : h e t a l k e d o f c l i n g i n g t o t h e " r i n d " o f l i f e b e c a u se
t h e " r e a l u n i v e r s e " u n d e r n e a th i t was to o h o r r i b l e t o c o n t e m p la te .
78
H is e n t i r e c a r e e r i n t h e s e two books o f t h e t r i l o g y was s p e n t s e e k i n g
t h e f u t u r e o r r u n n in g from i t .
God w a n ts men t o f i n d th e m s e lv e s i n Him; S a ta n w an ts men t o
f o r f e i t t h e i r i n d i v i d u a l i t y t o him . H ence, one o f t h e m ost e f f e c t i v e
ways f o r d e v i l s t o d e t a c h men from God i s t o d e t a c h them from them
se lv e s. Any t r a i t t h a t i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y and u n i q u e l y one m a n 's
can keep him from l o s i n g h i s i n d i v i d u a l i t y and from b e i n g s ed u ced i n t o
H ell. Any man who i s w illin g , f o r t h e s a k e o f c o n f o r m ity o r f o r any
o t h e r r e a s o n , t o make h i m s e l f i n t o a r o b o t , i s a l r e a d y t u r n i n g tow ards
t h e w e l l - t r o d ro a d t o H e l l .
F r o s t and W ith e r , t h e two i n i t i a t e s i n N . I . C . E . , b o th w i l l f u l l y
fo rfe ite d th e ir in d iv id u a lity . G r a d u a ll y , b o th became p u p p e ts whose
a c t i o n s w ere c o m p le te ly c o n t r o l l e d by t h e b e n t e l d i l a . Each g r a d u a l l y
d e v e lo p e d i n h i s h e a r t "a h a r d , t i g h t , s e t t l e d core of r e s o lu tio n to
go on b e i n g w h at [h e ] i s , and even t o r e s i s t moods t h a t m ig h t te n d t o
a l t e r [ h i m] . . . . H ere a t l a s t i s a r e a l and d e l i b e r a t e , th oug h n o t
fu lly a rtic u la te , r e j e c t i o n o f w hat t h e Enemy c a l l s G race" ( S c re w ta p e .
p. 1 5 7 ). D u rin g t h e l a s t m in u te s o f t h e i r l i v e s , b o th F r o s t and
W ith e r r e a l i z e d t h a t th e y had b een t h e pawns o f t h e d a r k e l d i l a and
w ere damned. They a l s o r e a l i z e d t h a t s a l v a t i o n o f t h e i r s o u l s was
s t i l l p o s s i b l e , even i f t h e i r b o d ie s w ere doomed. Each i n h i s own
way d e l i b e r a t e l y r e j e c t e d s a l v a t i o n and th re w h i m s e l f i n t o H e l l . Each
had e n a b le d t h e d a r k e l d i l a t o f u l f i l l t h e i r g o a l : " t o g e t t h e m a n 's
s o u l and g i v e him n o t h i n g i n r e t u r n " ( S c re w ta p e . p . 4 2 ) .
79
A c c o rd in g t o L ew is, men a r e tem p ted on e a r t h b e c a u s e e a r t h i s
i n h a b i t e d by t h e Bent One, t h e f a l l e n O y a rs a who t u r n e d Eden i n t o
T hulcandra. B ecause o f t h e Bent O n e 's e v i l i n f l u e n c e , T h u lc a n d ra
" a lo n e i s o u t s i d e o f t h e h e a v e n , and no m essage comes from i t "
(P la n e t, p. 120). E a r t h ' s " t h ic k e n e d a i r i s f u l l o f t h e D arkened
[ e l d i l a ] a s Deep Heaven i s o f t h e L i g h t O n es" (P e r e l a n d r a . p . 1 9 5 ).
I t i s "in a s t a t e o f s e ig e , . . . an enem y-occupied t e r r i t o r y , h e l d
down by e l d i l s who w ere a t war b o th w i t h us and w ith t h e e l d i l s o f
'Deep H eav en ' o r ' S p a c e ' " (P e r e l a n d r a . p . 1 2 ) . T h u lc a n d r a h a s no
h i e r a r c h y h e a d e d by an O y a r s a ; t h e Bent One t r i e s t o g a i n c o n t r o l o f
men by m aking each one t r y t o be a l i t t l e d i c t a t o r . Men a r e f u l l o f
fe a r s , e s p e c ia lly th e fe a r o f d e a th . They a r e "w ise enough t o s e e t h e
d e a t h o f t h e i r k in d a p p r o a c h in g b u t n o t w is e enough t o e n d u re i t "
( P l a n e t , p . 1 3 9 ).
Death was b ro u g h t t o e a r t h by S a t a n ' s t e m p t a t i o n o f Eve. L e w is '
d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e Bent One and T h u lc a n d ra p a r a l l e l s c l o s e l y M i l t o n ' s
d e s c r i p t i o n o f S a ta n and H e l l i n P a r a d i s e L o s t . B efo re h e r e b e l l e d
a g a i n s t God, S a ta n was an a r c h a n g e l . B efo re h i s r e b e l l i o n a g a i n s t
M a l e l d i l , t h e Bent One was an O y arsa who was " b r i g h t e r and g r e a t e r "
th a n M a l a c a n d r a 's O y arsa ( P l a n e t , p . 1 2 0 ). S a ta n waged war i n Heaven
a g a i n s t M ic h a e l and t h e o t h e r a r c h a n g e l s ; t h e Bent One a t t a c k e d
M alac an d ra and some o f t h e o t h e r O y £ r e s u 's p l a n e t s i n Deep H eaven.
S a ta n c o r r u p t e d some o f t h e a n g e l s b e f o r e h i s f a l l , k e p t on p e r v e r t i n g
them i n H e l l , and t r i e d t o c o r r u p t Adam and Eve. In t h e same way, t h e
Bent One p e r v e r t e d h i s e l d i l a f o l l o w e r s and used them t o h e l p him t r y
80
t o p e r v e r t a l l t h e men on e a r t h . F a l l i n g from Heaven, S a ta n was
c h a in e d t o t h e b u r n in g l a k e o f H e l l . The O y eresu t i e d t h e Bent One
t o e a r t h ' s a tm o s p h e r e .
Both S a ta n and th e Bent One a t te m p t e d t o e x te n d t h e i r i n f l u e n c e
over th e u n iv e rs e . N e i t h e r one c o u ld l e a v e H e l l : S a ta n c a r r i e d i t
w i t h i n him and t h e Bent One rem ained t i e d t o T h u l c a n d r a 's a tm o s p h e r e .
Both e v i l powers a t te m p t e d t o p e r v e r t u n f a l l e n w o r ld s . S a ta n c au sed
Adam and E v e 's f a l l ; t h e Bent One c o r r u p t e d e a r t h ' s f i r s t i n h a b i t a n t s
and t r i e d t o c a u s e t h e f a l l o f P e r e l a n d r a ' s Lady and K ing. H is
t a c t i c s on P e r e l a n d r a c o p ie d S a t a n ' s t a c t i c s i n Eden. Both tem pted
t h e i r v i c t i m s t o d is o b e y by d o in g w hat was f o r b i d d e n : e a tin g th e
f r u i t o f t h e T re e o f Knowledge o f Good and E v i l and l i v i n g on t h e
F ix e d Land. I n o r d e r t o e n t i c e t h e i r v i c t i m s , b o th in v a d e d o t h e r
c r e a t u r e s ' b o d ie s. S a ta n t r a v e l e d from H e l l t o e a r t h and e n t e r e d a
se rp e n t. The Bent One in v a d e d W e s to n 's body, w hich p r o v id e d t h e o n ly
p o s s i b l e means o f h i s e s c a p e from T h u l c a n d r a 's a tm o s p h e re . A fte r
s u c c e s s f u l l y c o m p le tin g h i s m i s s i o n , S a ta n r e t u r n e d t o H e l l . L o s in g
h i s f o o t h o l d on P e r e l a n d r a th r o u g h W e s to n 's d e a t h , t h e Bent One was
f o r c e d t o r e t u r n t o T h u lc a n d r a . T hese p a r a l l e l s make L e w is ' i n t e n t i o n
c le a r: t h e Bent One i s S a t a n . I n many ways, T h u lc a n d ra i s H e l l .
As we h a v e a l r e a d y s e e n , Lew is b e l i e v e s t h a t H e l l i s u n r e a l . The
T e a c h e r - S p i r i t i n The G r e a t D iv o rc e s a i d t h a t " H e ll i s a s t a t e o f
m ind. . . . And e v e r y s t a t e o f mind, l e f t t o i t s e l f , e v e r y s h u t t i n g up
o f t h e c r e a t u r e w i t h i n t h e dungeon o f i t s own mind— i s , in t h e end,
H e l l " (p . 6 9 ) . The s t a t e o f mind t h a t H e l l i s , is u ltim a te ly p rid e .
81
H e l l i s c h a r a c t e r i z e d by t h e d e v i l s ' i n t e n s e c o n c e n t r a t i o n on them
s e l v e s , w i t h t h e envy, r e s e n t m e n t , s e l f - i m p o r t a n c e , h a t r e d , and d e a d ly
c o m p e t i t i o n t h a t r e s u l t from su ch c o n c e n t r a t i o n ( S c re w ta p e . p . i x ) .
S c re w ta p e em phasized t o Wormwood t h a t " t h e w hole p h il o s o p h y o f
H e ll . . . [is th a t] ' t o b e ' means ' t o be i n c o m p e t i t i o n ' " ( S c re w ta p e .
p. 81). Lewis s t r e s s e s i n C h r i s t i a n B eh a v io r t h a t " P r i d e i s
e s s e n t i a l l y c o m p e t i t i v e - - i s c o m p e t i t i v e by n a t u r e —w h i l e t h e o t h e r
v i c e s a r e c o m p e t i t i v e o n ly , so t o s p e a k , by a c c i d e n t " (p . 4 3 ) . P rid e
d o es n o t d e l i g h t i n b e in g r i c h o r c l e v e r o r g o o d - lo o k i n g ; w hat i t
w an ts i s t o be r i c h e r , more c l e v e r , o r b e t t e r - l o o k i n g th a n someone
e l s e or, p re fe ra b ly , th a n e v e ry o n e e l s e . B eing above t h e r e s t g iv e s
p r i d e w hat i t r e a l l y e n j o y s : power, f o r w ith power p r i d e can become
even more c o m p e t i t i v e and even f a r t h e r above e v e ry o n e e l s e (p p . 43-44).
U n lik e t h e o t h e r v i c e s , w hich a p p e a l t o men th ro u g h t h e i r a n im a l
n a t u r e ,i p r i d e i s " p u r e l y s p i r i t u a l : c o n s e q u e n t l y i t i s f a r more
s u b t l e and d e a d l y " (p . 4 5 ) . I t is " s p i r i t u a l cancer: i t e a t s up t h e
v e r y p o s s i b i l i t y o f lo v e , o r c o n te n tm e n t, o r even commonsense"
(p p . 4 5 - 4 6 ) .
The more consumed by t h i s s p i r i t u a l c a n c e r t h a t a d e v i l i s , th e
more m i s e r a b l e h e i s and t h e more d i a b o l i c a l h e i s —and t h e lo w er h e
i s on H e l l ' s "L ow erarchy " (S c re w ta p e . p . 1 9 ) . H e ll i s th e o p p o site
o f Heaven i n many w ays. I t i s u n r e a l i t y c h a r a c t e r i z e d by p r i d e , h a t e ,
a n a r c h y , and m i s e r y ; Heaven i s r e a l i t y c h a r a c t e r i z e d by h u m i l i t y , lo v e ,
o b e d i e n c e , and j o y . Heaven i s o r d e r e d upon a h i e r a r c h y h ead e d by God.
H e l l i s ru n by a lo w e r a r c h y i n w hich t h e m ost f a l l e n a n g e l s , t h o s e who
82
a r e m ost consumed by p r i d e , a r e t h e m ost p o w e r f u l . S a ta n , o f c o u r s e ,
h a s t h e lo w e s t and m ost p o w e r f u l p o s i t i o n i n t h e lo w e ra r c h y b e c a u s e
h e was t h e f i r s t and t h e m ost p o w e r fu l a n g e l t o f e e l p r i d e . The
h i g h e r a d e v i l was as an a n g e l i n H e a v e n 's h i e r a r c h y , t h e low er h e
f e l l and t h e d e e p e r h e became i n H e l l ' s lo w e r a r c h y . I n Heaven t h e
j o y f u l a n g e l s and s p i r i t s s e e t h e B e a t i f i c V i s i o n . In H e l l t h e
m i s e r a b l e d e v i l s and damned s o u l s s e e t h e " M i s e r i f i c V i s i o n "
( S c re w ta p e . p . 1 0 1 ).
Heaven i s h e l d t o g e t h e r by l o v e : G o d 's lo v e f o r a l l H is c r e a t i o n ,
t h e a n g e l s ' and s p i r i t s ' lo v e f o r God, and th ro u g h t h i s , t h e i r lo v e
f o r one a n o t h e r . O bed ien c e t o and g l o r i f i c a t i o n o f God do n o t need t o
be f o r c e d o r demanded; th e y a r e n a t u r a l and i n e v i t a b l e c o r o l l a r i e s o f
t h e lo v e f o r God. The d e v i l s , how ever, c a n n o t be m o t iv a t e d by lo v e ,
f o r a c c o r d i n g t o L ew is, "a b e i n g w hich can s t i l l lo v e i s n o t y e t a
d e v i l " (S c re w ta p e . p . x ) . T h e r e f o r e h e p i c t u r e s H e l l i n The S crew tap e
L e t t e r s as
an o f f i c i a l s o c i e t y h e l d t o g e t h e r e n t i r e l y by f e a r and
g r e e d . On t h e s u r f a c e , m anners a r e n o r m a l ly s u a v e . Rude
n e s s t o o n e ' s s u p e r i o r s would o b v i o u s l y be s u i c i d a l ; r u d e
n e s s *to o n e ' s e q u a l s m ig h t p u t them on t h e i r g u ard b e f o r e
you w ere re a d y t o s p r i n g you r m ine. F o r o f c o u r s e "Dog e a t
dog" i s t h e p r i n c i p l e o f t h e w hole o r g a n i z a t i o n . Everyone
w is h e s e v e ry o n e e l s e ' s d i s c r e d i t i n g , d e m o tio n , and r u i n ;
e v ery o n e i s an e x p e r t i n t h e c o n f i d e n t i a l r e p o r t , t h e p r e
te n d e d a l l i a n c e , t h e s t a b i n t h e b a c k . Over a l l t h i s t h e i r
good m a n n ers, t h e i r e x p r e s s i o n s o f g r a v e r e s p e c t , t h e i r
" t r i b u t e s " t o one a n o t h e r ' s i n v a l u a b l e s e r v i c e s form a t h i n
c ru st. E very now and th e n i t g e t s p u n c t u r e d , and t h e
s c a ld in g la v a o f t h e i r h a tre d s p u r ts o u t. (p p. x - x i )
83
T h is d e s c r i p t i o n o f S c r e w t a p e 's H e l l sounds re m a rk a b ly l i k e a
d e s c r i p t i o n o f N . I . C . E . i n T h at H ideous S t r e n g t h . The s i m i l a r i t y i s
no a c c i d e n t . L e w is ' symbol f o r H e l l , h e t e l l s us i n t h e P r e f a c e t o
The S c re w ta p e L e t t e r s , i s " s o m e th in g l i k e t h e b u r e a u c r a c y o f a p o l i c e
s t a t e o r t h e o f f i c e s o f a t h o r o u g h l y n a s t y b u s i n e s s c o n c e r n " (p . x ) .
N . I . C . E . is^ a " t h o r o u g h ly n a s t y " —and e v i l — " b u s i n e s s c o n c e r n " t h a t
a s p i r e s t o and a lm o s t c o m p le te ly a c h i e v e s p o l i c e s t a t e s t a t u s . Lewis
b e l i e v e s t h a t t h e g r e a t e s t e v i l was n o t done i n s o r d i d "dens o f c rim e "
o r i n c o n c e n t r a t i o n camps; t h o s e a r e t h e r e s u l t s , n o t t h e o r i g i n s , of
e v il. I n s t e a d , e v i l " i s c o n c e iv e d and o r d e r e d (moved, s eco n d ed ,
c a r r i e d , and m in u te d ) i n c l e a n , c a r p e t e d , warmed, and w e l l - l i g h t e d
o f f i c e s , by q u i e t men w i t h w h i t e c o l l a r s and c u t f i n g e r n a i l s and
sm o o th -sh a v e n cheeks who do n o t n eed t o r a i s e t h e i r v o i c e s "
(S c re w ta p e . p . x ) . N . I . C . E . was ru n by w h i t e - c o l l a r e d s c i e n t i s t s i n
a v e r y e f f i c i e n t , b u s i n e s s l i k e m anner. I t s p o l i c y was s e t by an i n n e r
c i r c l e o f members who met i n f r o n t o f t h e f i r e p l a c e i n t h e q u i e t ,
c o m fo rtab le , c a rp e te d l i b r a r y . O u tw ard ly N . I . C . E . was an i m p r e s s i v e l y
e f f i c i e n t b u reau cracy : i t had " f o r t y i n t e r l o c k i n g c o m m itte e s " whose
d a i l y m e e tin g s w ere c o o r d i n a t e d by a c o m p u te r iz e d d e v i c e c a l l e d a
P ra g m a to m e te r ; i t had " f i f t e e n d e p a r t m e n t a l d i r e c t o r s a t f i f t e e n
th o u sa n d a y e a r e a c h ; " i t had i t s own l e g a l s t a f f , p o l i c e f o r c e ,
a r c h i t e c t s , s u r v e y o r s and e n g i n e e r s (S t r e n g t h , pp. 37 and 3 8 ) .
I n w a rd ly , th o u g h , N . I . C . E . c l o s e l y re s e m b le d t h e "dog e a t dog" w o rld
o f S c r e w t a p e 's H e l l . Each o f i t s members, w h a te v e r h i s r a n k , c a t e r e d
t o h i s s u p e r i o r s and s m i l i n g l y c o o p e r a te d w i t h h i s e q u a l s when h e was
84
w i t h i n s i g h t o r sound o f them . The moment h e was away from them h e
r e v e a l e d h i s own j e a l o u s y , h a t r e d , and d e s i r e t o g e t ahead a t t h e i r
expense. The u n d e r l i n g s w anted t o demote t h e i r e q u a l s and t a k e o v e r
th e ir s u p e rio rs ' p o sitio n s. The men w i t h t h e most power e ac h w anted
t o c a p t u r e t h e r e s t o f t h e power so t h e y c o u ld be t h e s o l e h e a d o f
N .I.C .E . T hose members on t h e o u t e r c i r c l e e n v ie d t h e ones on t h e
in n e r c i r c l e . At f i r s t Mark S tu d d o ck e n v ie d t h e know ledge o f
N . I . C . E . * s s e c r e t s p o s s e s s e d by F e v e r s t o n e , t h e man who h ad i n t r o d u c e d
h im i n t o N . I . C . E . L a t e r , Mark was o v e r jo y e d t o d i s c o v e r t h a t h e had
gone f u r t h e r i n t o t h e i n n e r c i r c l e t h a n F e v e r s t o n e h a d . The h i g h e s t
p o s i t i o n s i n N . I . C . E . , a s i n H e l l , w ere h e l d by t h e m ost e v i l c h a r a c
te rs. The i n i t i a t e s o f N . I . C . E . had t h e m ost know ledge o f and d i r e c t
c o n ta c t w ith th e e v i l e l d i l s , t h e m ost power o v e r t h e o t h e r members
o f N .I.C .E ., t h e m ost c a p a c i t y t o do e v i l - - a n d t h e l e a s t c o n t r o l o v e r
t h e i r own a c t i o n s , c o n s c i e n c e s , and s o u l s .
P e o p le i n N . I . C . E . , l i k e d e v i l s i n H e l l , w ere " e x p e r t i n t h e
c o n f i d e n t i a l r e p o r t, th e p rete n d ed a l l i a n c e , th e s ta b in th e b a c k ."
Mark S tud dock was e n t i c e d i n t o N . I . C . E . by t h e p ro m ise o f s h a r i n g
i m p o r t a n t s e c r e t i n f o r m a t i o n ; h e h ad n e v e r b een a b l e t o r e s i s t th e
t e m p t a t i o n o f w a n tin g t o b e l o n g t o t h e " i n " g ro u p . W ith e r and F r o s t ,
t h e two i n i t i a t e s o f N . I . C . E . , p r e t e n d e d t o be a l l i e s w ith each
o t h e r , b u t each was r e a l l y l o o k i n g f o r t h e ch an c e t o w rench t h e o t h e r ' s
a u t h o r i t y and power from h im . Each one a l s o u sed h i s own method f o r
i n i t i a t i n g a n o t h e r member i n t o t h e e v i l c u l t ru n by t h e d a r k e l d i l s .
F r o s t ' s p u p i l was Mark S tu d d o c k ; W i t h e r ' s was a man named S t r a i k .
85
F r o s t t r i e d t o b ra in w a s h Mark, b u t Mark e s c a p e d b e f o r e h i s t u t o r
c o u ld harm h im e i t h e r m e n t a l l y o r p h y s i c a l l y . S t r a i k , on t h e o t h e r
h a n d , d i d succumb t o W i t h e r ' s i n i t i a t i o n t a c t i c s . He a l s o e x p e r i
enced t h e end r e s u l t o f t h e i n i t i a t i o n : W ith e r l i t e r a l l y s ta b b e d
him i n t h e b ack and k i l l e d him .
The " t h i n c r u s t " o f t h e m em bers' good m ann ers, r e s p e c t , and
" t r i b u t e s " t o each o t h e r d i d c o v e r up m o st o f N . I . C . E . * s h id d e n
b o ilin g h a tre d s. When t h e end f i n a l l y came, how ever, when M e r li n p u t
t h e c u r s e o f B abel on a l l o f B e lb u ry , t h e members t u r n e d on each o t h e r
even more f e r o c i o u s l y th a n th e y w ere a t t a c k e d by t h e w i l d a n im a ls
M e r l i n had r e l e a s e d from B e l b u r y 's v i v i s e c t i o n zoo. The " s c a l d i n g
l a v a o f t h e i r h a t r e d " s p u r t e d o u t i n t h e b lo o d th e y s h e d . The la v a
was a l s o r e f l e c t e d by t h e f i n a l r e s u l t o f N . I . C . E . ' s d e v o t i o n t o t h e
e v il e ld ils . T h is r e s u l t was t h e e a r t h q u a k e s , c o n f l a g r a t i o n s , and
f l o o d s cau sed by t h e v o l c a n i c power s t i r r e d up by M e r l i n . B e lb u ry
had t r i e d t o i n c a r n a t e H e l l on e a r t h ; i t su c c e e d e d i n t u r n i n g i t s e l f
l i t e r a l l y in to a s e lf - d e s tr u c tin g H e ll.
The H e l l t h a t Lewis r e v e a l s i n The S c re w ta p e L e t t e r s c o n t a i n e d
d e v i l s who w ere m o t iv a t e d by t h e f e a r o f pun ish m e n t and g r e e d y h u n g e r .
E v ery te m p te r knew t h a t i f h e f a i l e d t o e n t i c e a human s o u l i n t o H e l l ,
h e would be p u n is h e d i n H e l l ' s t o r t u r e cham bers. E very tim e
Wormwood's human " p a t i e n t " r e s i s t e d h i s t e m p t a t i o n s , S c re w ta p e w arned
t h e j u n i o r t e m p t e r t h a t h e c o u ld n o t " e s c a p e t h e u s u a l p e n a l t i e s " i f
he fa ile d (p . 1 1 ) . When Wormwood seemed d a n g e r o u s ly c l o s e t o f a i l u r e ,
S c re w ta p e s e n t him "a l i t t l e b o o k l e t , j u s t i s s u e d , on t h e new House o f
86
C o r r e c t i o n f o r In c o m p e te n t T e m p te rs . I t is p ro fu se ly i l l u s t r a t e d ,
and you w i l l n o t f i n d a d u l l page i n i t * 1 (p p . 1 0 0 - 1 0 1 ) . The te m p t e r s
w e re e x p e c te d t o s u c c e e d e v e r y t i m e —o r e l s e .
The c o n s t a n t t h r e a t o f pu n ish m e n t was a l s o a t a c t i c u sed by
N .I.C .E . Once a new member had j o i n e d t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n , h e was c o n
s t a n t l y rem inded t h a t no one l e f t N . I . C . E . and l i v e d . The one
s c i e n t i s t who had r e a l i z e d how e v i l N . I . C . E . was, was m u rd ered t h e
n i g h t h e l e f t B e lb u ry , t h e l o c a t i o n o f t h e N . I . C . E . h e a d q u a r t e r s .
Mark S tu dd ock r e a l i z e d t h a t e v e ry o n e e x c e p t F r o s t and W ith e r , t h e
two m ost p o w e rfu l members, l i v e d i n c o n s t a n t f e a r . Mark h i m s e l f was
t h r e a t e n e d w i t h t h e l o s s o f h i s o ld j o b i f h e r e f u s e d t o work f o r
N .I.C .E . L a t e r h e was fram ed f o r and a c c u s e d o f t h e m u rd er o f t h e
s c i e n t i s t who had d e s e r t e d B e lb u r y . W hile h e was in t h e B e lb u ry
p r i s o n a w a i t i n g t h e d e a t h s e n t e n c e f o r t h e m u rd e r, Mark r e a l i z e d t h a t
no one c o u ld e s c a p e some k i n d o f p u n is h m e n t, f o r " h e r e was t h e w o rld
o f p l o t w i t h i n p l o t , c r o s s i n g and d o u b l e - c r o s s i n g , o f l i e s and g r a f t
and s t a b b i n g i n t h e b a c k , o f m u rd er and a con tem ptu ous g uffaw f o r t h e
f o o l who l o s t t h e game" (S t r e n g t h , p. 2 4 5 ) . Any N . I . C . E . member who
a c t e d on h i s own i n i t i a t i v e would be a c c u s e d o f e x c e e d in g h i s a u t h o r
i t y and would be p u n is h e d a c c o r d i n g l y . I f h e d i d n o t h i n g e x c e p t w hat
h e had been o r d e r e d t o do, h e would be a c c u s e d o f l a c k i n g i n i t i a t i v e
and would be t h r e a t e n e d w i t h l o s i n g h i s p o s i t i o n and c o n s e q u e n t l y , h i s
power t o a v o id f u t u r e p u n ish m e n t o r even d e a t h . W hichever way h e
w e n t, h e alw ay s met t h e d e a d - e n d ro a d o f t h r e a t e n e d o r a c t u a l
p u n is h m e n t.
87
The h u n g e r t h a t s e r v e d a s t h e seco n d k in d o f m o t i v a t i o n f o r t h e
d e v i l s i n H e l l was n o t an o r d i n a r y h u n g e r . Lewis s u g g e s t s t h a t t h e
d e v i l s a c t u a l l y a t e each o t h e r s ' and h um an s' s o u l s . T h eir hunger
r a v e n o u s l y demanded t o be s a t i s f i e d . A d e v i l who f a i l e d t o p r o v i d e
a human s o u l f o r food would h i m s e l f become t h e food o f t h e r e s t o f t h e
d e v ils. Lew is s u g g e s t s t h a t " t h e s t r o n g e r s p i r i t — t h e r e a r e p e r h a p s
no b o d ie s t o impede t h e o p e r a t i o n — can r e a l l y and i r r e v o c a b l y s u ck
t h e w eak er i n t o i t s e l f and p e r m a n e n tly g o rg e i t s own b e i n g on t h e
w e a k e r 's o u t r a g e d i n d i v i d u a l i t y " (S c re w ta p e . p . x i ) . S c re w ta p e
e x p l a i n e d t h i s a b s o r p t i o n t o Wormwood a s " t h e s u c k in g o f w i l l and
freedom o u t o f a w eaker s e l f i n t o a s t r o n g e r " (S c re w ta p e . p . 8 1 ) .
S a ta n , Lewis s a y s , dream s o f t h e day when h e w i l l h av e a b s o r b e d a l l
t h e o t h e r d e v i l s , a l l human s o u l s , and a l l t h e H eav en ly H o st i n t o h im
se lf. T h is a b s o r p t i o n o f a l l i n d i v i d u a l i t i e s i n t o h i m s e l f s o t h a t
" a l l t h a t s a y s ' I * can s a y i t o n l y th ro u g h him " i s S a t a n ' s p a ro d y o f
" t h a t unfathom ed b o u n ty w hereby God t u r n s t o o l s i n t o s e r v a n t s and
s e r v a n t s i n t o s o n s , so t h a t t h e y may be a t l a s t r e u n i t e d t o Him i n t h e
p e r f e c t freedo m o f a lo v e o f f e r e d from t h e h e i g h t o f t h e u t t e r
i n d i v i d u a l i t i e s w hich h e h a s l i b e r a t e d them t o b e " ( S c re w ta p e .
p. x i i ) .
L ik e S a ta n , W i th e r , t h e D eputy D i r e c t o r o f N . I . C . E . , a l s o d e s i r e d
th e a b s o rp tio n o f in d iv id u a ls . He t o l d F r o s t ,
N o th in g i s so much t o be d e s i r e d a s t h e g r e a t e s t p o s s i b l e
u n i t y . . . . Any f r e s h i n d i v i d u a l b r o u g h t i n t o t h e u n i t y
would b e a s o u r c e o f t h e m ost i n t e n s e s a t i s f a c t i o n t o - -
88
a h - - a l l c o n c e r n e d . I d e s i r e t h e c l o s e s t p o s s i b l e bond.
I would welcome an i n t e r p e n e t r a t i o n o f p e r s o n a l i t i e s so
c l o s e , s o i r r e v o c a b l e , t h a t i t a lm o s t t r a n s c e n d s i n d i v i d u
a l i t y . You need n o t d o u b t t h a t I would open my arms t o
r e c e i v e - - t o a b s o r b — t o a s s i m i l a t e t h i s young man.
( S t r e n g t h , p . 243)
B ecause t h e d e v i l s h u n g e re d f o r human s o u l s , S c re w ta p e t o l d a
g rad u a tin g c la s s from t h e T e m p te r s ' T r a i n i n g C o lle g e f o r young d e v i l s
t h a t th e y s h o u ld c o n sid e r th e c o n v ersio n o f f r e e n a tio n s in to slav e
s t a t e s m e re ly a means t o t h e i r en d . T h e i r end, h e s a i d , was " t h e
d e s tru c tio n of in d iv id u a ls. F o r o n ly i n d i v i d u a l s can be s av ed o r
damned, can become so n s o f t h e Enemy o r food f o r u s " (S c re w ta p e .
p . 1 7 0 ). I n d i v i d u a l s who become so n s o f God g i v e Him t h e i r s o u l s
th r o u g h d e v o t i o n and r e c e i v e e v e r y t h i n g i n r e t u r n ; i n d i v i d u a l s who
become food f o r t h e d e v i l s l o s e t h e i r s o u l s th ro u g h t e m p t a t i o n and
re c e iv e n o th in g in r e tu r n .
S o u ls can be l o s t by t h e l i v i n g on e a r t h a s w e l l a s by t h e dead
in H e ll. F ro st, t h e m ost p o w e rfu l man i n N . I . C . E . b e s i d e s W i th e r ,
e x p r e s s e d t h a t o r g a n i z a t i o n ' s i n t e r e s t i n t h e i n d i v i d u a l , r a t h e r th a n
i n England a s a w h o le . He t o l d W ith e r , "One m ust gu ard a g a i n s t t h e
e r r o r o f s u p p o s in g t h a t t h e p o l i t i c a l and economic dominance o f
England by t h e N . I . C . E . i s more t h a n a s u b o r d i n a t e o b j e c t : i t is
i n d i v i d u a l s we a r e r e a l l y c o n c e rn e d w i t h . A h a r d u n c h a n g e a b le c o r e o f
i n d i v i d u a l s r e a l l y d e v o te d t o t h e same c a u s e as o u r s e l v e s — t h a t i s
w hat we need and w h at, in d e e d , we a r e u n d e r o r d e r s [fro m t h e d a r k
e l d i l s ] t o s u p p ly " ( S t r e n g t h , p . 2 4 2 ) . F r o s t and W ith e r th e m s e lv e s
89
w ere t h e f i r s t t o g iv e up t h e i r s o u l s th r o u g h d e v o t i o n t o t h e d a r k
e l d i l s 1 d e s tru c tiv e cause. They became w i l l i n g r o b o t s who, i n t h e
end, gave up even t h e a b i l i t y t o t h i n k t h e i r own th o u g h t s o r t o
c o n t r o l t h e i r own a c t i o n s . They l o s t t h e i r s o u l s and r e c e i v e d n o t h i n g
i n r e t u r n e x c e p t d e a t h and d a m n a tio n .
chapter ! IV
THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL
F r o s t and W ith e r gave t h e i r s o u l s i n exch ang e f o r pro m ise d power
and kn ow ledge. They d i s c o v e r e d , ho w ev er, t h a t d e v i l s do n o t k eep
t h e i r prom ises. I n s t e a d o f power, th e y g a in e d d e a t h ; i n s t e a d o f
know ledge, i n c r e a s i n g i g n o r a n c e o f t h e i r own s o u l s and o f good and
e v il. T h e i r w i l l f u l c l i n g i n g t o t h i s ig n o r a n c e f i n a l l y c a u s e d t h e i r
d e s t r u c t i o n and d a m n a tio n .
In a l l e i g h t o f h i s books, C. S. Lewis d e m o n s t r a te s bad
c r e a t u r e s 1 i g n o r a n c e o f good and e v i l . C o n v e rs e ly , h e e m p h asizes good
c r e a t u r e s ’ know ledge o f good and e v i l . An e x a m in a tio n o f t h i s co n
t r a s t betw een t h e good and t h e bad r e v e a l s t h a t i t h a s s e v e r a l
d iffe re n t asp ects. Good and e v i l , Lewis s a y s , a r e r e t r o a c t i v e . From
th e p e rs p e c tiv e o f th e a f t e r l i f e , f o r t h e good man, e a r t h w i l l h a v e
been h e a v e n l y . F o r t h e bad man, i t w i l l h a v e been h e l l i s h . H e ll w ill
h a v e been P u r g a t o r y f o r t h o s e g h o s ts who v i s i t and rem a in i n Heaven;
i t w i l l h a v e alw ays b een H e l l f o r t h o s e who choose t o rem a in t h e r e .
Because good and e v i l a r e r e t r o a c t i v e , t h e y become i n c r e a s i n g l y
s e p a r a t e d from each o t h e r .
A c r e a t u r e t h a t w i l l f u l l y p e r v e r t s h i m s e l f by y i e l d i n g t o te m p ta
t i o n l o s e s h i s know ledge o f good and e v i l . To know t h e s t r e n g t h o f
t e m p t a t i o n — one a s p e c t o f knowing e v i l - - o n e m ust r e s i s t , n o t y i e l d t o ,
it. One who r e s i s t s t e m p t a t i o n h a s t h e r e f o r e had e x p e r i e n c e w ith e v i l
91
w i t h o u t becom ing p e r v e r t e d . Lewis seems t o im ply t h a t mere know ledge
o f e v i l i s n o t a s u f f i c i e n t weapon w ith which t o d e f e a t i t . Know
l e d g e must be back ed up by e x p e r i e n c e w i t h e v i l - - t h a t i s , by e x p e r i
e n c e in r e s i s t i n g , n o t y i e l d i n g t o , t e m p t a t i o n . T h is p o i n t i s e v i d e n t
in P e re la n d ra . The Lady, u n f a l l e n , o b e d i e n t t o M a l e l d i l , and
p o s s e s s i n g a p e n e t r a t i n g mind t h a t e n a b le s h e r t o g a i n know ledge o f
e v il, can r e s i s t t e m p t a t i o n f o r a w h i l e . A f t e r a p r o lo n g e d i n t e l
l e c t u a l s t r u g g l e w i t h t h e Un-man, th o u g h , s h e b e g i n s t o weaken and
would e v e n t u a l l y h a v e f a l l e n . She i s sav ed by Ransom, a f a l l e n
e a r t h l i n g who h a s had e x p e r i e n c e i n r e s i s t i n g t e m p t a t i o n . B ecause h e
i s f a l l e n , h i s know ledge o f e v i l i s l e s s t h a n t h e L a d y 's . H is
e x p e r i e n c e w i t h i t , how ever, i s much g r e a t e r t h a n h e r s . The com bina
t i o n o f t h e L a d y 's know ledge and Ransom 's e x p e r i e n c e e n a b l e s them t o
d e f e a t t h e Un-man.
On P e r e l a n d r a t h e Lady i s a seco n d Eve and t h e K ing i s a secon d
Adam. Venus i s s i m i l a r , b u t n o t i d e n t i c a l , t o e a r t h ' s Eden b e f o r e
th e F a ll. The c a u s e o f t h e d i f f e r e n c e betw een t h e two p a r a d i s e s i s
C h r i s t ' s i n c a r n a t i o n on e a r t h . H is b i r t h a t B ethlehem , a c c o r d i n g t o
L e w is, changed t h e c o u r s e o f t h e e n t i r e u n i v e r s e . P e r e l a n d r a d oes
n o t f a l l as e a r t h d i d b e c a u s e Ransom comes a s t h e f o r m e r 's s a v i o r .
In many s i g n i f i c a n t ways, Ransom i s a C h r i s t - f i g u r e .
An im p o r t a n t a s p e c t o f t h e bad c r e a t u r e ' s i g n o r a n c e o f good and
e v il is h is i n a b i l i t y to see r e a l i t y . The more p e r v e r t e d h e becomes,
t h e more u n r e a l h e becomes and t h e l e s s h e u n d e r s ta n d s good and e v i l .
The c r e a t u r e ' s i g n o r a n c e i s e v i d e n t i n h i s f a l s e c o n c e p tio n s a b o u t
92
H eaven, H e l l , God, and lo v e , i n h i s d e c e p t i o n o f o t h e r s and o f h i m s e l f ,
i n h i s ' i n a b i l i t y t o s e e o r u n d e r s t a n d good, and i n h i s d e s i r e t o
d e s t r o y good.
On t h e o t h e r h an d , s e v e r a l f a c t o r s c o n t r i b u t e t o t h e good
c r e a t u r e ' s know ledge o f b o th good and e v i l . F a i t h and G o d 's g r a c e —
w h ich can b e a c c e p t e d o n ly th ro u g h f a i t h — l e t him s e e r e a l i t y . The
a b i l i t y t o s e e r e a l i t y h e l p s a good c r e a t u r e r e c o g n i z e t e m p t a t i o n as
e v i l ; h i s o b e d ie n c e t o God e n a b l e s him t o r e s i s t t e m p t a t i o n . A n o th er
f a c t o r c o n t r i b u t i n g t o t h i s know ledge i s t h e r e a l i z a t i o n t h a t e v i l
w i l l n o t e v o lv e i n t o good; h e m ust cho ose good o v e r e v i l , m ust g iv e
up even t h e s m a l l e s t o r m ost c h e r i s h e d s i n , and m ust work t o b r i n g
good o f e v i l . F i n a l l y , h e m ust su b m it t o p h y s i c a l a n d / o r s p i r i t u a l
d e a t h i n o r d e r t o b e redeemed and r e b o r n . Even when good do es f i n a l l y
r e s u l t from e v i l , th e lo ss i s r e a l, f o r a l t h o u g h t h e p e r v e r t e d good i s
redeem ed, t h e o r i g i n a l good t h a t e x i s t e d b e f o r e i t was p e r v e r t e d i s
lo s t fo rever.
Thus, t h e good c r e a t u r e ' s u s e o f t h e know ledge o f good and e v i l
and t h e bad c r e a t u r e ' s i g n o r a n c e o f b o th l e a d , r e s p e c t i v e l y , t o
r e d e m p tio n and d a m n a tio n . The good f i n d e t e r n a l l i f e ; t h e bad,
d e stru c tio n . Through t h e i r e f f o r t s t o p r o d u c e good r e s u l t s from e v i l ,
good c r e a t u r e s c o n t r i b u t e t o t h e d o w n f a ll o f bad c r e a t u r e s . However,
t h e bad th e m s e lv e s w i l l f u l l y , though i g n o r a n t l y , s e t o f f t h e c h a i n o f
e v e n t s t h a t w i l l le a d t o t h e i r d e s t r u c t i o n by p e r v e r t i n g t h e m s e lv e s .
P e r v e r s i o n i s u s u a l l y a lo n g p r o c e s s , composed o f t h e m o ra l
d e c i s i o n s t h a t a man makes e v e r y d ay . T r i v i a l though th e y may seem,
93
t h e wrong m o ra l c h o i c e s pave t h e way o f c o r r u p t i o n t o H e l l . I f th e
man c h o o s e s a c c o r d i n g t o G o d 's w i l l , h i s d e c i s i o n s w i l l e n a b l e him
t o e n t e r H eaven. Lewis e x p l a i n s t h e im p o r ta n c e o f t h e s e q u o t i d i a n
d e c i s i o n s i n C h r i s t i a n B e h a v io r .
Good and e v i l i n c r e a s e a_t compound i n t e r e s t . T h at i s

why t h e l i t t l e d e c i s i o n s you and I make e v e r y day a r e o f
such i n f i n i t e im p o r ta n c e . The s m a l l e s t good a c t t o - d a y i s
t h e c a p t u r e o f a s t r a t e g i c p o i n t from w h ich , a few months
l a t e r , you may go on t o v i c t o r i e s you n e v e r dreamed o f . An
a p p a r e n t l y t r i v i a l in d u l g e n c e i n l u s t o r a n g e r t o - d a y i s
t h e l o s s o f a r i d g e o r r a i l w a y l i n e o r b r id g e h e a d from which
t h e enemy may la u n c h an a t t a c k o t h e r w i s e i m p o s s i b l e .
(p p . 4 9 -5 0 )
T o d a y 's a c t i o n s , t h e n , d e t e r m in e t h e f u t u r e . They a l s o i n f l u e n c e
th e p a st. In The G re a t D iv o r c e L e w i s 1 T e a c h e r - S p i r i t e x p l a i n e d t h a t
b o th good and e v i l , when th e y a r e f u l l grown, become

r e t r o s p e c t i v e . Not o n ly t h i s v a l l e y b u t a l l t h i s [ s i c ]
e a r t h l y p a s t w i l l h a v e been Heaven t o t h o s e who a r e s a v e d .
Not o n ly t h e t w i l i g h t i n t h a t town, b u t a l l t h e i r l i f e on
e a r t h t o o , w i l l th e n be s e e n by t h e damned t o h a v e been
H e l l . T h a t i s w hat m o r t a l s m i s u n d e r s t a n d . They s a y o f
some te m p o r a l s u f f e r i n g , 'No f u t u r e b l i s s can make up f o r
i t , ' n o t knowing t h a t Heaven, once a t t a i n e d , w i l l work
backw ards and t u r n even t h a t agony i n t o a g l o r y . And o f
some s i n f u l p l e a s u r e t h e y s a y 'L e t me b u t h a v e t h i s and
i ' l l t a k e t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s ': l i t t l e d ream in g how damna
t i o n w i l l s p r e a d b a c k and b a c k i n t o t h e i r p a s t and
c o n t a m in a te t h e p l e a s u r e o f t h e s i n . Both p r o c e s s e s b e g i n
even b e f o r e d e a t h . The good m a n 's p a s t b e g in s t o change
s o t h a t f o r g i v e n s i n s and remembered s o rro w s t a k e on t h e
q u a l i t y o f H eaven: t h e bad m a n 's p a s t a l r e a d y conform s t o
h i s b a d n e s s and i s f i l l e d o n ly w i t h d r e a r i n e s s . (pp. 6 7 -6 8 )
T h is r e t r o a c t i o n o f good and e v i l a f f e c t s t h e g r e y town from
w hich a l l t h e g h o s t s went t o H eaven. L e w is ' T e a c h e r - S p i r i t named t h e
town t h e V a l l e y o f t h e Shadow o f D e a th . Those g h o s ts who e n t e r th e
94
o u t s k i r t s o f H eaven—which L e w is ' g u id e c a l l e d t h e V a l l e y o f t h e
Shadow o f L i f e —w i l l c o n s i d e r t h e town P u r g a t o r y . But t h e g h o s ts who
ch o o se t o r e t u r n t o t h a t town w i l l c a l l i t H e l l .
Good and e v i l ' s r e t r o a c t i o n a l s o a f f e c t s e a r t h . In h i s P re fa c e
t o The G r e a t D iv o rc e Lewis w r o te , " I t h i n k e a r t h , i f c h o se n i n s t e a d o f
Heaven, w i l l t u r n o u t t o h a v e b een , a l l a l o n g , o n ly a r e g i o n i n H e l l :
and e a r t h , i f p u t second t o Heaven, t o h a v e been from t h e b e g i n n in g a
p a r t o f Heaven i t s e l f " (p . 7 ) .
In a d d i t i o n t o i n f l u e n c i n g t h e p a s t and t h e f u t u r e and d e t e r
m in in g t h e n a t u r e o f e a r t h and H e l l , good and e v i l become i n c r e a s i n g l y
s e p a r a t e d from each o t h e r . "Even on th e b io lo g ic a l l e v e l , " Lewis
sta te s, " l i f e is not lik e a pool but lik e a tr e e . I t does n o t move
tow ard u n i t y b u t away from i t and t h e c r e a t u r e s grow f u r t h e r a p a r t
a s th e y i n c r e a s e i n p e r f e c t i o n . Good, a s i t r i p e n s , becomes c o n t i n u
a l l y more d i f f e r e n t n o t o n ly from e v i l b u t from o t h e r good" (D iv o rc e .
p. 6 ) . I n T h at H ideous S t r e n g t h C e c i l D imble, one o f t h e members o f
L ogres, e x p la in ed t h i s concept o f th e c o n tin u a lly in c re a s in g
s e p a r a t i o n o f good from e v i l .
"Have you e v e r n o t i c e d , " s a i d D imble, " t h a t th e

u n i v e r s e , and e v e r y l i t t l e b i t o f t h e u n i v e r s e , i s alw ays
h a r d e n i n g and coming t o a p o i n t ? "
. . . " I f you d ip i n t o any c o l l e g e , o r s c h o o l, o r
p a r i s h , o r f a m i l y —a n y t h i n g you l i k e - - a t a g iv e n p o i n t in
i t s h i s t o r y , you alw ays f i n d t h a t t h e r e was a tim e b e f o r e
t h a t p o i n t when t h e r e was more elbow room and c o n t r a s t s
w e r e n ' t q u i t e so s h a r p ; and t h a t t h e r e ' s g o in g t o be a
tim e a f t e r t h a t p o i n t when t h e r e i s even l e s s room f o r
i n d e c i s i o n and c h o i c e s a r e even more momentous. Good i s
a lw ay s g e t t i n g b e t t e r and bad i s alw ays g e t t i n g w o r s e :
t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s o f even a p p a r e n t n e u t r a l i t y a r e alw ays
d im in ish in g . (p . 283)
95
In L e w i s ' s p a c e t r i l o g y bad g e t s p r o g r e s s i v e l y w orse a t t h e same
tim e t h a t good g e t s b e t t e r . On M a la c a n d ra , Weston was d e v o te d t o
s a v i n g h u m a n ity . On P e r e l a n d r a h i s g o a l was t h e s p r e a d o f s p i r i t u
a l i t y and t h e a t t a i n m e n t o f p u r e s p i r i t . A fte r h is f i r s t c o n v e rsa tio n
w i t h W eston, Ransom " s u s p e c te d t h a t t h i s vague m y s ti c is m a b o u t
' s p i r i t u a l i t y ' would t u r n o u t t o be so m e th in g even n a s t i e r t h a n h i s
o l d and c o m p a r a t i v e l y s im p le programme o f p l a n e t a r y im p e r i a l i s m "
(P e r e l a n d r a . p . 1 0 0 ) . How much n a s t i e r i t would be, Ransom soon found
o u t. Through h i s d e v o t i o n t o e v i l c a u s e s , Weston had i n v i t e d t h e Bent
One t o i n f l u e n c e h i s l i f e , but he d id n o t w i l l i n g l y f o r f e i t h i s so u l
t o t h e e v i l p o w ers. Whenever h e was a llo w e d t o r e t u r n t o h i s own body,
Weston p r o t e s t e d and f e a r e d t h e i n v a s i o n o f h i s body by t h e Bent One.
On t h e o t h e r h a n d , F r o s t and W ith e r , t h e N . I . C . E . i n i t i a t e s , welcomed
t h e d i s p la c e m e n t o f t h e i r own s o u l s by t h e d a r k e l d i l a . They e a g e r l y
became r o b o t s c o n t r o l l e d by t h e e v i l p ow ers. On M alac an d ra, D evine
m e r e ly w anted g o ld t o s a t i s f y h i s g r e e d . As F e v e r s t o n e on T h u lc a n d r a ,
h e c o n t r i b u t e d t o N . I . C . E . ' s a t te m p t e d t a k e - o v e r o f t h e e a r t h . The
Bent One i n h a b i t i n g W e s to n 's body f i l l e d Ransom w ith h o r r o r , b u t t h e
d a r k e l d i l s p e a k in g th r o u g h t h e b o d i l e s s Head was even more h o r r i b l e .
C o n c u r r e n t w i t h t h e i n c r e a s e o f e v i l th r o u g h o u t t h e t r i l o g y was
t h e s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f good. On M a lac an d ra Ransom was m e re ly a man
c a p t u r e d by Weston and D e v in e . He was p o w e r le s s to s t o p t h e i r p r o
posed d e s t r u c t i o n o f t h e p l a n e t e x c e p t by r e v e a l i n g t h e i r p l o t t o
O y a rs a . On P e r e l a n d r a Ransom was s t r o n g e r : h e was s e n t t h e r e t o
t h w a r t s i n g l e - h a n d e d l y t h e Bent O n e 's a t t e m p t t o p e r v e r t V enus. One
96
man, Ransom, f o u g h t and d e f e a t e d t h e embodiment o f e v i l s p i r i t i n t h e
Un-man. On T h u lc a n d r a Ransom was s t r o n g e r y e t . Re had e a r n e d e t e r n a l
y o u th on P e r e l a n d r a , b u t h e had s t i l l b een v a s t l y i n f e r i o r t o t h e
u n f a l l e n King and Lady. On h i s own p l a n e t , how ever, h e was t h e
P en drago n o f L o g r e s , t h e h i g h e s t p o s i t i o n p o s s i b l e i n E n g lan d . Not
o n ly was h e im m o rta l, b u t h e a l s o had d e f i n i t e q u a l i t i e s o f d i v i n i t y .
On e a r t h Ransom f o u g h t, n o t one e v i l man, b u t a whole e v i l o r g a n i z a
tio n . I n s t e a d o f f i g h t i n g s i n g l e - h a n d e d l y , h e a c q u i r e d a company o f
f o l l o w e r s who became L o g r e s . The b a t t l e was no lo n g e r m e r e ly betw een
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f good and e v i l ; t h e e v i l and good human co m b a ta n ts
w ere s u p p o r te d by t h e f u l l s t r e n g t h o f , r e s p e c t i v e l y , t h e d a r k e l d i l a
and t h e O y£resu P ow ers. Good had in d e e d become b e t t e r and b ad , w o rse .
The good become b e t t e r th r o u g h kn ow ledge; t h e bad become w o rse
th ro u g h ig n o r a n c e . Lewis e x p l a i n s t h i s c o n c e p t o f know ledge and
i g n o r a n c e i n C h r i s t i a n B e h a v io r .
. . . t h e r i g h t d i r e c t i o n l e a d s n o t o n ly t o p eac e b u t to
know ledge. When a man i s g e t t i n g b e t t e r h e u n d e r s ta n d s more
and more c l e a r l y th e e v i l t h a t i s s t i l l l e f t i n him . When a
man i s g e t t i n g w o rse , h e u n d e r s ta n d s h i s own b a d n e s s l e s s and
l e s s . A m o d e r a te l y bad man knows h e ' s n o t v e r y good: a
t h o r o u g h l y bad man t h i n k s h e ' s a l l r i g h t . T h is i s common-
s e n s e , r e a l l y . You u n d e r s t a n d s l e e p when y o u 'r e awake, n o t
w h ile y o u ' r e s l e e p i n g . You can s e e m i s t a k e s i n a r i t h m e t i c
when you r mind i s w o rk in g p r o p e r l y : w h i l e y o u ' r e making them
you c a n ' t s e e them. Good p e o p le know a b o u t good and e v i l :
bad p e o p l e d o n ' t know a b o u t e i t h e r . (pp . 25 -2 6)
A f t e r Ransom had k i l l e d t h e Un-man on P e r e l a n d r a and had
w i t n e s s e d th e c o r o n a t i o n o f t h e King and t h e Lady a s t h e r i g h t f u l
97
r u l e r s o f t h a t u n f a l l e n w o r ld , t h e King e x p l a i n e d t h a t t h e i r know ledge
o f e v i l was more co m p le te t h a n Ransom's w as.
We h a v e l e a r n e d o f e v i l , though n o t a s t h e E v i l One w is h e d
us t o l e a r n . We h a v e l e a r n e d b e t t e r th a n t h a t , and know
i t more, f o r i t i s w aking t h a t u n d e r s ta n d s s l e e p and n o t
s l e e p t h a t u n d e r s ta n d s w aking . T h e re i s an ig n o r a n c e o f
e v i l t h a t comes from b e i n g yo ung: t h e r e i s a d a r k e r
ig n o r a n c e t h a t comes from d o in g i t , as men by s l e e p i n g
l o s e t h e know ledge o f s l e e p . You a r e more i g n o r a n t o f
e v i l i n T h u lc a n d ra now th a n i n t h e days b e f o r e y our Lord
and Lady began t o do i t . But M a l e l d i l h a s b r o u g h t us o u t
o f t h e one i g n o r a n c e , and we h a v e n o t e n t e r e d t h e o t h e r .
I t was by t h e E v i l One h i m s e l f t h a t h e b ro u g h t us o u t o f
th e f i r s t . L i t t l e d i d t h a t d a r k mind know t h e e r r a n d on
w hich h e r e a l l y came t o P e r e l a n d r a ! (P e r e l a n d r a , p . 209)
In h i s l a s t l e t t e r t o Wormwood, S c re w ta p e r e v e a l e d t h e d e v i l s '
ig n o r a n c e o f good and e v i l . Wormwood's human " p a t i e n t " was k i l l e d i n
t h e w ar. At t h e moment o f d e a t h h e saw Wormwood, h i s te m p t e r ,
recog n ized h i s s in s , r e p e n t e d , and e n t e r e d H eaven. S c re w ta p e w r o te
h i s nephew t h a t t h e p a t i e n t s u d d e n ly p o s s e s s e d " s e l f - a b h o r r e n c e and
u t t e r know ledge o f h i s s i n s ( y e s , Wormwood, a c l e a r e r know ledge even
t h a n y o u r s ) " ( S c re w ta p e . p . 1 4 8 ) . Wormwood c o u ld n o t know e v i l a s
t r u l y a s h i s redeemed p a t i e n t knew i t . He a l s o c o u ld n o t know good.
The g l o r y o f God and t h e H eavenly S p i r i t s was p a i n f u l l y b l i n d i n g t o
Wormwood, b u t was welcomed by h i s p a t i e n t . D e v i l s , who a r e s p i r i t s ,
can o n ly cower b e f o r e God; good men, who a r e o n ly human, can s t a n d
u p r i g h t and c o n v e r s e w ith Him. The p a t i e n t saw and r e c o g n i z e d C h r i s t .
S c re w ta p e w r o t e , " T h is a n im a l, t h i s t h i n g b e g o t t e n i n a bed , c o u ld
lo o k on Him. What i s b l i n d i n g s u f f o c a t i n g f i r e t o you [Wormwood] i s
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now c o o l l i g h t t o him , i s c l a r i t y i t s e l f , and w ears t h e form o f a
Man" (p . 1 4 8 ).
B ecause t h e y h a v e l o s t t h e know ledge o f good by d o in g e v i l , t h e
d e v i l s c a n n o t u n d e r s ta n d God any more th a n th e y can s e e Him.
S c re w ta p e la m e n te d , " I f we c o u ld o n ly f i n d o u t w hat He i s r e a l l y up
to ! A la s , a l a s , t h a t know ledge, i n i t s e l f so h a t e f u l and mawkish a
t h i n g , s h o u ld y e t be n e c e s s a r y f o r P o w e r!" (p . 1 4 9 ).
Knowledge, and t h e r e f o r e power, come from r e s i s t i n g e v i l . The
man who y i e l d s t o t e m p t a t i o n does n o t know i t s s t r e n g t h , fo r he has
n o t t r i e d t o combat i t . Ransom r e c o g n i z e d t h a t t h e Lady would be
undone i f s h e y i e l d e d t o t h e Un-man's t e m p t a t i o n , b u t would be
s tre n g th e n e d i f she r e s i s t e d i t . The Un-man t o l d h e r t h a t d i s o b e d i
e nce t o M a l e l d i l would make h e r more m a tu r e , more f r e e , and more
in d iv id u a l. Ransom knew t h e t r u t h was j u s t t h e o p p o s i t e . "T his
p r e s e n t t e m p t a t i o n , i f co n q u e re d , would i t s e l f be t h e n e x t , and
g r e a t e s t , s t e p i n t h e same d i r e c t i o n : an o b e d ie n c e f r e e r , more r e a
s o n e d , more c o n s c io u s th a n any sh e h ad known b e f o r e , was b e i n g p u t i n
h e r pow er" (P e r e l a n d r a . p . 1 3 3 ) .
The more a p e r s o n r e s i s t s t e m p t a t i o n , t h e more h e becomes
c ap a b le o f f u tu r e r e s i s t a n c e . In o r d e r t o r e s i s t t e m p t a t i o n , h e m ust
s e e r e a l i t y by knowing a b o u t b o th good and e v i l . M eetin g and
d e f e a t i n g t e m p t a t i o n g i v e s him t h i s kn ow ledge; h e n c e , h e can r e s i s t
f u tu r e en tic e m e n t. I n C h r i s t i a n B eh av io r Lewis s t a t e s t h a t " C h r i s t ,
b e c a u s e He was t h e o n ly man who n e v e r y e i l d e d t o t e m p t a t i o n , i s a l s o
99
t h e o n ly man who knows t o t h e f u l l w hat t e m p t a t i o n m eans— t h e o n ly
c o m p le te r e a l i s t ” (p . 5 8 ) .
P e r e l a n d r a ' s Lady h ad n e v e r e n c o u n t e r e d te m p t a t i o n b e f o r e t h e
Un-man in v a d e d h e r p a r a d i s e , b u t s h e h ad r e c e i v e d know ledge o f good
and a s p r i n k l i n g o f know ledge o f e v i l d i r e c t l y from M a l e l d i l . L ik e
Eve b e f o r e e a r t h ' s F a l l , t h e Lady was humble b u t q u e e n ly , i n n o c e n t
b u t not ig n o ra n t. M a l e l d i l communicated d i r e c t l y w i t h h e r . A ls o
l i k e Eve, s h e had become s e p a r a t e d from h e r h u sb an d , on whose g r e a t e r
wisdom s h e d e p en d e d . "The K ing, " sh e t o l d t h e Un-man, " i s alw ays
o l d e r [ i . e . w i s e r ] th a n I , a b o u t a l l t h i n g s " ( P e r e l a n d r a . p . 1 0 5 ) .
The King, l i k e Adam, i s " t h e sum o f a l l human knowledge and wisdom"
(P r e f a c e , p . 1 1 9 ) .
In s p i t e o f t h e know ledge g iv e n h e r by b o th M a l e l d i l and t h e
K ing, t h e Lady was i n n o c e n t i n te rm s o f a c t u a l e x p e r i e n c e w ith e v i l .
T h is in n o c e n c e p r o t e c t e d h e r a t t i m e s : s h e ig n o r e d some o f t h e
U n-m an's s u g g e s t i o n s b e c a u s e sh e d i d n o t u n d e r s ta n d w hat h e was t a l k
in g a b o u t . However, h e r in n o c e n c e a l s o en d an g e red h e r , f o r " h e r
p u r i t y and p e a c e w ere n o t , a s th e y had seemed, t h i n g s s e t t l e d and
i n e v i t a b l e l i k e t h e p u r i t y and p e a c e o f an a n i m a l — • . . t h e y w ere
a l i v e and t h e r e f o r e b r e a k a b l e , a b a l a n c e m a in ta i n e d by a mind and
t h e r e f o r e . . . a b l e t o be l o s t " (P e r e l a n d r a . p . 6 8 ) .
The L a d y 's keen p e r c e p t i v e n e s s e n a b le d h e r t o m a i n t a i n t h e
b a l a n c e o f h e r p e a c e and p u r i t y . G ra s p in g new i d e a s v e r y q u i c k l y ,
s h e r a p i d l y a c q u i r e d a know ledge o f e v i l from h e r c o n v e r s a t i o n s w ith
Ransom and t h e Un-man. H er p e n e t r a t i n g i n s i g h t e n a b le d h e r t o s e e
100
th ro u g h some o f t h e Un-man's w e a k e r, l e s s s u b t l e a r g u m e n ts . She
p o s s e s s e d R ig h t Reason and examined t h e U n-m an's h a l f - t r u t h s by i t s
lig h to
The Un-man r e a l i z e d t h a t t h e L a d y 's R i g h t Reason was h e r
g r e a t e s t d e f e n s e a g a i n s t h im . T h e r e f o r e , h i s method o f a t t a c k was t o
t r y to su b v e rt reason to im a g in a tio n . Her o b e d ie n c e t o M a l e l d i l was
d eeply in g ra in e d in h e r h e a r t , or w ill. The Un-man hoped t o i n t r o
du c e t h e i d e a o f d i s o b e d i e n c e f i r s t t o h e r f a n t a s y , th e a re a o f h e r
b e i n g t h a t was f a r t h e s t away from h e r w i l l . Once she had im agined
d i s o b e y i n g M a l e l d i l , t h e Un-man hoped t o l u r e h e r i n t o a c c e p t i n g d i s
o b e d ie n c e w ith h e r i n t e l l e c t and t h e n , f i n a l l y , w ith h e r h e a r t . If
h e s u c c e e d e d , t h e Lady would a c t u a l l y d i s o b e y M a l e l d i l ' s command and
s t a y o v e r n i g h t on t h e F ix e d Land. Ransom r e a l i z e d t h a t , d e s p i t e
t h e L a d y 's r a l l i e s and t h e Un-man's s e t b a c k s , t h e Lady was b e g i n n in g
t o y i e l d t o t h e enem y's e n t i c e m e n t s . The e a r t h l i n g saw t h a t t h e Lady
was p r o g r e s s i v e l y d i s r e g a r d i n g
th e p l a i n i n t e l l e c t u a l bones o f t h e p ro b lem . I t became

h a r d e r t o r e c a l l h e r mind t o t h e d a t a —a command from
M a l e l d i l , a co m p le te u n c e r t a i n t y a b o u t t h e r e s u l t s o f
b r e a k i n g i t , and a p r e s e n t h a p p i n e s s so g r e a t t h a t
h a r d l y any change c o u ld b e f o r t h e b e t t e r . The t u r g i d
s w e ll o f i n d i s t i n c t l y s p l e n d i d images w hich t h e Un-man
a r o u s e d , and t h e t r a n s e n d e n t im p o rta n c e o f t h e c e n t r a l
image, c a r r i e d a l l t h i s away. She was s t i l l i n h e r
in n o c e n c e . But i f h e r w i l l was u n c o r r u p te d , h a l f h e r
im a g in a t io n was a l r e a d y f i l l e d w ith b r i g h t , p o is o n o u s
shapes. ( P e r e l a n d r a . pp. 133-34)
U n le s s so m e th in g was done so o n , Ransom r e a l i z e d , t h e Lady would
em brace th e " b r i g h t p o is o n o u s s h a p e s " w i t h h e r w i l l .
101
A lth o u g h Ransom 's c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o t h e " t e r r i b l e d e b a t e "
( P e r e l a n d r a , p . 130) betw ee n t h e Un-man and t h e Lady w ere o f t e n
m o m e n ta r ily s u c c e s s f u l , h e became c o n v in c e d t h a t he c o u ld n o t d e f e a t
t h e Bent One th r o u g h a rg u m e n t. The enemy u sed t w i s t e d h a l f - t r u t h s t o
f o r c e Ransom i n t o p o s i t i o n s w here t h e t r u t h seemed f a t a l , b u t Ransom
c o u ld n o t l i e b e c a u s e h e was i n a p e r f e c t w o r ld . More and more
s t r o n g l y came t h e c o n v i c t i o n t h a t t h e d e b a t e m ust be s t o p p e d . F in a lly
h e r e a l i z e d t h a t , j u s t a s t h e Un-man was t h e Bent O n e 's t o o l on
P e r e l a n d r a , h e and t h e Lady w ere M a l e l d i l ' s i n s t r u m e n t s . The f a t e o f
t h e p l a n e t depended on t h e i r d e c i s i o n w h e th e r o r n o t t o s a v e i t s
in n o c e n c e . As Ransom s to o d u n d e c id e d a b o u t w hat a c t i o n t o t a k e , " th e
e l d i l a o f a l l w o r ld s , t h e s i n l e s s o rg a n ism s o f e v e r l a s t i n g l i g h t ,
w ere s i l e n t i n Deep Heaven t o s e e w hat E lw in Ransom o f Cambridge
would do" (p . 1 4 2 ) . T r y i n g t o a v o id t h e r e a l i z a t i o n t h a t an a c t u a l
p h y s i c a l f i g h t was n e c e s s a r y t o d e f e a t t h e Un-man, Ransom compared
P e r e l a n d r a w i t h t h e u n f a l l e n Eden. No one had h e l p e d Eve r e s i s t t h e
s e r p e n t 's te m p ta tio n , he th o u g h t. Why s h o u ld h e be c a l l e d on t o h e l p
t h e Lady th r o u g h p h y s i c a l combat? G rad u ally he p e rce iv ed t h a t th e s e
e x c u s e s w ere m e re ly w a s t i n g tim e and a v o i d i n g t h e q u e s t i o n .
E v ery m in u te i t became c l e a r e r t o him t h a t t h e p a r a l l e l h e

had t r i e d t o draw b etw een Eden and P e r e l a n d r a was c r u d e and
i m p e r f e c t . What had h ap pen ed on E a r t h , when M a l e l d i l was
b o rn a man a t B ethlehem , had a l t e r e d t h e u n i v e r s e f o r e v e r .
The new w o rld o f P e r e l a n d r a was n o t a m ere r e p e t i t i o n o f
t h e o ld w o rld T e l l u s . M a l e l d i l n e v e r r e p e a t e d h i m s e l f . . .
When Eve f e l l , God was n o t Man. He had n o t y e t made men
members o f H is bo d y : s i n c e t h e n He h a d , and th r o u g h them
h e n c e f o r w a r d He would s a v e and s u f f e r . One o f t h e p u r p o s e s
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f o r w hich He had done a l l t h i s was t o s a v e P e r e l a n d r a n o t

th ro u g h H im s e lf b u t th r o u g h H im s e lf i n Ransom, (p p . 144 -4 5)
The v o i c e o f M a l e l d i l came t o him i n t h e d a r k n e s s , " I t is not
f o r n o t h i n g t h a t you a r e named Ransom" (p . 1 4 7 ) . When Ransom s t i l l
s tru g g le d a g a in s t a c c e p tin g h i s r o le as s a v io r of th e p la n e t, th e
V o ice s a i d , "My name a l s o i s Ransom" (p . 1 4 8 ). S u dd enly t h e man
r e a l i z e d t h a t i f h e f a i l e d t o s a v e P e r e l a n d r a , M a l e l d i l would come t o
redeem i t a s h e had redeemed t h e e a r t h . T h is re d e m p tio n would n o t ,
how ever, c o n s i s t o f an i n c a r n a t i o n and c r u c i f i x i o n ; M a l e l d i l n e v e r
r e p e a t s H im s e l f . In ste ad , t h e re d e m p tio n o f a f a l l e n P e r e l a n d r a
would come i n a form beyond m a n 's c o n c e p t i o n . I f Ransom a c c e p te d
t h e r o l e o f s a v i o r , P e r e l a n d r a would n o t need r e d e m p tio n , fo r i t
would n o t f a l l .
Ransom d i d a c c e p t t h e r o l e and became t h e s a v i o r o r C h r i s t - f i g u r e
of P e re la n d ra . P a r a d o x i c a l l y , h e was an i n v e r s e p a r a l l e l t o C h r i s t i n
some w ays. C h r i s t was t h e p e r f e c t Man, red ee m in g a f a l l e n w o r ld .
Ransom was a f a l l e n man, s a v i n g a p e r f e c t w o rld from p e r v e r s i o n .
C h r i s t b r o u g h t s a l v a t i o n t o e a r t h and d e f e a t e d d e a t h . Ransom p r e
v e n t e d P e r e l a n d r a ' s f a l l and c o n s e q u e n t ly , t h e n e c e s s i t y o f s a l v a t i o n .
He p r e v e n t e d d e a t h from coming t o P e r e l a n d r a . F i n a l l y , C h r i s t made
t h e e a r t h more l i k e Heaven and opened th e g a t e s o f Heaven t o men.
Ransom, on t h e o t h e r h a n d , l e t P e r e l a n d r a rem a in a p a r a d i s e , even
though h e h i m s e l f had n e v e r known p a r a d i s e b e f o r e h e a r r i v e d t h e r e .
In even more w ays, how ever, Ransom, i s a d i r e c t p a r a l l e l w ith
C h rist. He r e p r e s e n t e d M a l e l d i l on P e r e l a n d r a j u s t a s C h r i s t
103
r e p r e s e n t e d God on e a r t h . Ransom spo ke d i r e c t l y t o t h e O y lr e s u Powers
i n S t . A n n e 's on T h u lc a n d r a and f e l t M a l e l d i l ' s p r e s e n c e and h e a r d
H is v o i c e on P e r e l a n d r a ; C h r i s t communicated d i r e c t l y w ith God.
Ransom 's G arden o f Gethsemane was t h e P e r e l a n d r i a n i s l a n d w here h e
d e b a t e d w i t h h i m s e l f and M a l e l d i l ' s p r e s e n c e i n t h e d a r k n e s s . C h rist
a g r e e d t o be c r u c i f i e d ; Ransom a g r e e d t o f i g h t t h e Un-man and p r o b a
b l y , h e t h o u g h t , t o be k i l l e d . Both s a v i o r s w ere p h y s i c a l l y h u r t :
C h r i s t was k i l l e d and Ransom was b a t t e r e d and e x h a u s te d .
Ransom 's f i g h t w ith t h e Un-man r e f l e c t s C h r i s t ' s c r u c i f i x i o n .
The u n h e a l i n g wound h e r e c e i v e d on h i s a n k l e r e f l e c t s C h r i s t ' s wound
in h is sid e . C h r i s t d e s c e n d e d i n t o H e l l and d e f e a t e d S a t a n ; Ransom
d e s c e n d e d i n t o a f i e r y s u b m a rin e c av e w here h e k i l l e d t h e Un-man.
C h r i s t ' s r e s u r r e c t i o n on t h e t h i r d day i s p a r a l l e l e d by Ransom's
r e c o v e r y on t h e t h i r d day o f h i s f u l l c o n s c i o u s n e s s d u r i n g h i s r e c u
p e ra tio n p e rio d . Ransom was r e b o r n p h y s i c a l l y and s p i r i t u a l l y and
gain ed e t e r n a l y o u th . W. D. Norwood, J r . p o in te d out th e s i g n i f i
c a n c e o f R ansom 's r e b i r t h .
W hile body and s o u l a r e n o t s e p a r a b l e , t h e body can

s t a n d a s an image o f t h e w hole man. Ransom 's new body,
i n c l u d i n g i t s wound, which s y m b o liz e s among o t h e r t h i n g s
i t s i m p e r f e c t i o n - - i s an image o f t h e new Ransom. .
Ransom 's r e b i r t h [ i s ] more th a n a " s p i r i t u a l r e b i r t h " in
t h e p a l e s e n s e i n w hich t h a t te rm i s o f t e n u s e d : Ransom
i s r e b o r n t o new l i f e o f t h e s e n s e s a s w e l l as o f th e
i n t e l l e c t and t h e s o u l . ( " U n i f y in g T h em es," p . 76)
*n T h a t H ideous S t r e n g t h Ransom assum es t h e name o f F i s h e r - K i n g
as a s t i p u l a t i o n o f h is s i s t e r ' s w i l l . The s i g n i f i c a n c e o f t h i s name
104
i s r e a d ily a p p are n t: C h r i s t was a F i s h e r o f men and t h e King o f t h e
Jew s. As a F i s h e r o f men, C h r i s t c h o s e h i s d i s c i p l e s and t a u g h t them
and a l l o t h e r s who would l i s t e n t o Him a b o u t G o d 's l o v e . Ransom
g a t h e r e d aro u n d him t h e company o f L o g r e s . He a l s o was a t e a c h e r ,
i n s t r u c t i n g h i s company, and e s p e c i a l l y J a n e S tud do ck , a b o u t M a l e l d i l
and l o v e . Norwood s a i d , " . . . F i s h e r - K i n g h e r e , l i k e Ransom i n
P e r e l a n d r a . i s a k in d o f s u b - C h r i s t . J a n e can r e a l l y lo v e Mark o n ly
w i t h o v e r flo w o f h e r lo v e f o r God, o r , f a i l i n g t h a t and a s a tempo
r a r y m easu re o n l y , f o r t h e l e s s e r C h r i s t , F i s h e r - K i n g " ( " U n i f y in g
T hem es," p . 7 8 ) .
F i n a l l y , when h i s tim e on e a r t h was f i n i s h e d , C h r i s t a s c e n d e d t o
Heaven, r e t u r n i n g t o H is r i g h t f u l t h r o n e . A f t e r a c c o m p li s h i n g h i s
m i s s i o n on T h u lc a n d r a , Ransom was t a k e n th ro u g h s p a c e t o P e r e l a n d r a ,
r e t u r n i n g t o t h e p a r a d i s e w here h e h ad e a r n e d e t e r n a l y o u th . I n an
e s s a y e n t i t l e d "Some P s y c h o l o g i c a l A s p e c ts o f L e w is ' T r i l o g y , "
R o b e r t P la n k w r o te , "And a t t h e end o f t h e t r i l o g y we a r e t o l d t h a t
Ransom s h a l l n o t d i e : t h e Lord w i l l keep him i n t h e body t o t h e end,
a d i s t i n c t i o n t h a t h a s been g r a n t e d t o o n ly s i x o r s e v e n men s i n c e
t h e c r e a t i o n o f t h e w o r l d . "1
L ik e C h r i s t , Ransom was a r e a l i s t . He was n o t d e c e iv e d by
W e s to n 's i d e a l i s t i c t a l k , b u t r e a l i z e d t h a t t h e s c i e n t i s t would t r y
t o d e s t r o y M a la c a n d ra . He h e l p e d s a v e Mars by t e l l i n g O y arsa a b o u t
1 "Some P s y c h o l o g i c a l A s p e c ts o f L e w is ' T r i l o g y " i n Shadows o f

I m a g i n a t i o n : The F a n t a s i e s of_ C. S_. L ew is. J . R. R. T o l k ie n , and
C h a r l e s W illia m s , ed . Mark R. H i l l e g a s ( C a r b o n d a le : S o u th e r n I l l i n o i s
U n iv . P r e s s , 1 9 69 ), p . 29.
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h is c a p to r 's e v i l in te n tio n s . On P e r e l a n d r a , Ransom saw th r o u g h a l l
o f t h e U n-m an's h a l f - t r u t h s . He t r i e d t o p e r s u a d e t h e Lady t h a t t h e
Un-man was t w i s t i n g t h e t r u t h . H is r e c o g n i t i o n o f t h e l i m i t t o t h e
Un-man's p h y s i c a l s t r e n g t h h e l p e d him d e f e a t t h e enemy i n h an d -to -h a n d
com bat. Ransom r e c o g n iz e d t h e power o f t h e e v i l o r g a n i z a t i o n ,
N . I . C . E . , and t h e s t r e n g t h o f L o g r e s . H is a b i l i t y t o s e e b o th t h e
e v i l and t h e good e n a b le d him t o l e a d L o gres t o v i c t o r y o v e r N . I . C . E .
In c o n t r a s t , t h e e v i l c h a r a c t e r s i n L e w is ' works d i d n o t s e e
re a lity . T h e i r u n r e a l i s t i c v ie w p o i n t was r e f l e c t e d i n t h e i r m is c o n
c e p t i o n s a b o u t H eaven, God, lo v e , and H e l l . Weston th o u g h t t h a t
C h r i s t i a n s w o r s h ip God b e c a u s e He i s p u r e s p i r i t . Ransom info rm ed
him , "We w o rs h ip Him b e c a u se He i s w is e and good. T h e r e 's n o t h i n g
s p e c i a l l y f i n e a b o u t s im p ly b e i n g a s p i r i t . The D e v il i s s p i r i t "
(P e re la n d ra . p . 93). Weston th o u g h t t h a t God and t h e D e v il w ere
r e a l l y two com plem entary s t a g e s o f w hat h e c a l l e d em ergent e v o l u t i o n :
" t h e n e x t s t a g e o f em erg ent e v o l u t i o n , b e c k o n in g us fo rw a rd , i s God;
t h e tr a n s c e n d e d s t a g e , e j e c t i n g us, i s t h e D e v i l " (P e r e l a n d r a . p . 9 4 ) .
The e l d i l a , a s we h a v e s e e n , d e c l a r e d t h a t God c r e a t e d o u t o f H is
o v e r f l o w i n g lo v e and t h a t He h a s no need f o r H is c r e a t i o n . The Un-man
t o l d t h e Lady t h a t God c r e a t e d new b e i n g s o u t o f boredom; each new
c r e a t i o n was p a r t o f H is q u e s t f o r n o v e l t y .
S c re w ta p e c o u ld n o t b e l i e v e t h a t God r e a l l y lo v e s b e c a u s e He
would g e t n o t h i n g o u t o f l o v e . God m ust t h e r e f o r e , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e
m a s t e r d e v i l , h a v e some o t h e r m o tiv e f o r c r e a t i n g . S c re w ta p e w r o te ,
"We know t h a t He c a n n o t r e a l l y l o v e : nobody c a n ; i t d o e s n ' t make
106
s e n s e " (S c re w ta p e . p. 8 7 ) . No l o n g e r c a p a b le o f lo v i n g , t h e d e v i l s
c o u ld n o t b e l i e v e t h a t anyone e l s e s t i l l had t h e c a p a c i t y t o l o v e .
The d e v i l s a l s o m is c o n c e iv e d H e l l . A c c o rd in g t o S c re w ta p e , S a ta n
d id n o t f a l l : d i s g u s t e d by G o d 's l a c k o f c o n f id e n c e i n him , S a ta n
rem oved- " h i m s e l f an i n f i n i t e d i s t a n c e from t h e P r e s e n c e w i t h a su d d e n
n e s s w hich h a s g iv e n r i s e t o t h e r i d i c u l o u s enemy s t o r y t h a t h e was
f o r c i b l y throw n o u t o f Heaven" ( S c re w ta p e . p . 8 7 ) . J o y , S c re w ta p e
m a i n t a i n e d , i s "a d i r e c t i n s u l t t o t h e r e a l i s m , d i g n i t y , and a u s t e r i t y
o f H e l l " (p . 5 0 ) - - a s i f a p l a c e g o v ern ed by p r i d e , f e a r , and g re e d
c o u ld be d i g n i f i e d and a u s t e r e !
Men, a s w e l l a s d e v i l s , c o n f u s e d Heaven and H e l l . One o f t h e
e v i l c h a r a c t e r s i n T h at H ideous S t r e n g t h d e c l a r e d t h a t t h e Kingdom o f
God would be b r o u g h t a b o u t on e a r t h th r o u g h v i o l e n c e . N . I . C . E . , he
s a i d , was G o d 's i n s t r u m e n t f o r b r i n g i n g H is Kingdom t o e a r t h . In
r e a l i t y , N . I . C . E . was t h e t o o l o f t h e d a r k e l d i l a f o r t h e c r e a t i o n o f
H e l l on e a r t h .
A seco n d a s p e c t o f t h e bad c h a r a c t e r s * w i l l f u l ig n o r a n c e o f good
and e v i l i s t h e i r d e c e p t i o n o f o t h e r s . The d e v i l s i n S c r e w t a p e 's H e l l
and t h e members o f N . I . C . E . w ere e x p e r t s a t d e c e p t i o n . Each o f them
p r e t e n d e d t o l i k e , r e s p e c t , and ad m ire t h e r e s t , b u t th e y r e a l l y h a t e d
and f e a r e d each o t h e r . The Un-man t r i e d t o c o n v in c e t h e Lady t h a t
e v i l was good and t h a t M a l e l d i l d id n o t r e a l l y d e s i r e h e r o b e d i e n c e .
He a l s o d e c e iv e d Ransom t e m p o r a r i l y by m a n i p u l a t i n g h i s th o u g h t s t o
make him d o u b t M a l e l d i l . Weston and D evine l i e d t o Ransom a b o u t t h e
p a r t h e was t o p l a y on M a la c a n d r a . O nly by a c c i d e n t a l l y e a v e s d r o p p in g
107
d id h e d i s c o v e r t h a t t h e y in t e n d e d t o p r e s e n t him t o O y arsa as a human
s a c rific e . N . I . C . E . p r a c t i c e d d e c e p t i o n on Mark S tud do ck and on t h e
w hole n e a r b y town o f Edgestow . I g n o r a n t o f J a n e ' s d ream s, Mark was
le d t o b e l i e v e t h a t N . I . C . E . r e a l l y w anted him b e c a u s e h e was v a l u a b l e
t o t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n , n o t b e c a u s e h e c o u ld be in d u c ed t o send f o r h i s
w ife . U sin g p r o p a g a n d i s t s n ew spaper a r t i c l e s , an e n g i n e e r e d r i o t ,
and e u p h e m is ti c nam es— such as " s c i e n t i f i c e x a m in a tio n " f o r " t o r
t u r e " —N . I . C . E . co n v in c e d t h e p e o p l e o f Edgestow t h a t i t s aims w ere
fo r th e ir b e n e fit.
P e o p le who p r a c t i c e d e c e i v i n g o t h e r s w i l l e v e n t u a l l y b e g i n
d e c e i v i n g t h e m s e lv e s . L e w is ' c h a r a c t e r s a r e no e x c e p t i o n t o t h i s
o b se rv a tio n . Weston co n v in c e d h i m s e l f t h a t h e was w o rk in g f o r human
i t y and l a t e r f o r s p i r i t u a l i t y and n o t f o r e v i l . He j u s t i f i e d h i s
d i s r e g a r d f o r i n d i v i d u a l s by e x a l t i n g h i s d e v o t i o n t o a c a u s e . Unable
t o r e a l l y r e c o g n i z e e v i l , h e d i d n o t r e a l i z e u n t i l i t was to o l a t e
t h a t h e was g r a d u a l l y b e i n g ta k e n o v e r by t h e Bent One. The members
o f N . I . C . E . b o a s te d o f t h e o r d e r and o r g a n i s a t i o n o f t h e i r i n s t i t u t i o n ,
b u t N . I . C . E . was r e a l l y an a n a r c h y ru n by f e a r , h a t e , and en vy . F rost
and W ith e r co n v in c e d th e m s e lv e s t h a t t h e tram p th e y found was t h e r e a l
M e r l i n , even though t h e y c o u ld s e e t h a t t h e tram p seemed t o be hyp no
t i z e d by t h e r e a l , d i s g u i s e d M e r l i n . Knowing t h a t any m o ral code
would condemn him , F r o s t made h i m s e l f b e l i e v e t h a t m o r a l i t y was m e re ly
t h e r e s u l t o f c h e m ic a l r e a c t i o n s i n m e n 's b r a i n s .
The i n a b i l i t y t o s e e r e a l i t y p r e v e n t s e v i l c h a r a c t e r s from r e c o g
n i z i n g o r u n d e r s t a n d i n g good and makes them w ant t o d e s t r o y i t .
108
Weston and D evine k i l l e d t h e M a la c a n d r ia n h r o s s a b e c a u s e th e y c o u ld
n o t r e c o g n i z e them a s h n a u . Weston s a c r i f i c e d t h e good h e p o s s e s s e d
i n t h e p r e s e n t f o r t h e v a g u e , u n f u l f i l l e d p ro m ise o f a b e t t e r f u t u r e .
On P e r e l a n d r a , t h e Un-man d i d n o t r e a l i z e Ransom 's p h y s i c a l s t r e n g t h
and t h o u g h t t h a t h e c o u ld e a s i l y k i l l t h e L a d y 's d e f e n d e r .
F ilo stra to , t h e N . I . C . E . s c i e n t i s t who h ad k e p t t h e Head a l i v e , w anted
t o d e s t r o y a l l o r g a n i c l i f e , m aking e v e r y t h i n g a r t i f i c i a l , and t o
d e s t r o y t h e body, s a v i n g t h e mind. P e rh a p s th e b e st i l l u s t r a t i o n of
e v i l ' s i g n o r a n c e o f good was N . I . C . E . ' s ig n o r a n c e o f L o g r e s . I t d id
n o t know t h a t Ransom was on t h e e a r t h , o r t h a t L ogres e x i s t e d in
o p p o s i t i o n t o them, l e t a l o n e t h a t Ransom was t h e P endrag on o f L o g r e s .
I t h a d no i n k l i n g o f t h e Powers b e h in d t h e a n c i e n t s e c r e t s o c i e t y .
N ever s u s p e c t i n g t h a t M e r l i n would be a g a i n s t i t i n s t e a d o f f o r i t ,
N .I.C .E . d id n o t r e a l i z e t h a t th e d ru id had s e c r e t l y in v a d ed i t s
h e a d q u a r te r s in o rd e r to d e s tr o y i t .
In o p p o s i t i o n t o t h e b a d ' s i g n o r a n c e i s t h e g o o d 's know ledge o f
good and e v i l . The m ost im p o r t a n t f a c t o r c o n t r i b u t i n g t o t h i s know
le d g e i s f a i t h and G o d 's g r a c e . W. D. Norwood, J r . d i s c u s s e d t h i s
f a c t o r e x t e n s i v e l y i n " U n if y in g Themes i n C. S. L e w is ' T r i l o g y . "
. . . Ransom, t h e man o f f a i t h , s e e s and u n d e r s ta n d s t h e

r e a l i t y o f h i s e x p e r i e n c e ; h i s c a p t o r s [ i n Out o f t h e
S i l e n t P l a n e t ] , men w i t h o u t f a i t h , a r e m y s t i f i e d by
s e v e r a l m a t t e r s i n v o l v i n g e l d i l s and n e v e r s e e t h e r e a l i t y
at a ll. The r e a s o n f o r t h i s i s t h a t t h e a c t o f s e e i n g
depends upon t h e mind a s w e l l a s t h e e y e s o f t h e
b eh o ld er. (p . 72)
109
The man o f f a i t h s e e s r e a l i t y n o t o n ly b e c a u se o f
h i s own m e n ta l r e a d i n e s s t o s e e i t , b u t b e c a u se G o d 's
g r a c e e n a b l e s him t o s e e i t . Ransom l e a r n s a b o u t s p a c e
and e l d i l s b e c a u se h e i s f o r c i b l y c a r r i e d o u t t o a
p l a c e w here h e can s e e them. In P e r e l a n d r a h e r e a l i z e s
t h a t h i s k id n a p p in g d i d n o t r e s u l t , a s i t a p p e a re d t o ,
from a ch an c e e n c o u n t e r . Chance does n o t e x i s t .
M a l e l d i l h a s p la n n e d a l l t h a t o c c u r s . (p . 73)
Through f a i t h , men a c c e p t G o d 's g r a c e and obey Him. They f i n d
t h e m o t i v a t i o n t o ch oose good i n s t e a d o f e v i l , t h e c o u ra g e t o h e l p
t h e m s e lv e s , and t h e b e l i e f t o a c c e p t d e a t h i n o r d e r t o f i n d redem p
tio n . A ll th r e e of th e se c o n d itio n s a re n ece ssary fo r see in g r e a l i t y
and d e f e a t i n g e v i l . Men m ust c h o o se good o r e v i l . E v ery ro a d th e y
t a k e , Ransom r e a l i z e d i n P e r e l a n d r a . l e a d s e i t h e r t o H e a v e n 's B e a t i f i c
V i s i o n o r t o H e l l ' s M i s e r i f i c V i s i o n (p . 1 1 1 ) . E v e r y t h in g r e s t s on a
m a n 's d e c i s i o n s . The Lady r e a l i z e d t h a t M a l e l d i l d i d n o t make h e r
c h o i c e s f o r h e r ; sh e made them h e r s e l f . In t h e s t r u g g l e betw een good
and e v i l , no n e u t r a l s a r e p o s s i b l e : anyone who t r i e s t o rem a in
uncom m itted w i l l become a pawn f o r one s i d e o r t h e o t h e r . In o rd e r to
ch oose i n t e l l i g e n t l y , one m ust be a b l e t o s e e c l e a r l y t h e r e a l i t y o f
th e s i t u a t i o n . F a i t h and G o d 's g r a c e h e l p him s e e t h i s r e a l i t y .
The c h o i c e o f good o v e r e v i l m ust be u n c o n d i t i o n a l . In t h e
P r e f a c e t o The G r e a t D iv o r c e . Lewis s a y s t h a t e v i l w i l l n o t somehow
t u r n i n t o good " w i th o u t o u r b e i n g c a l l e d on f o r a f i n a l and t o t a l
r e j e c t i o n o f a n y t h i n g we s h o u ld l i k e t o r e t a i n " (p . 5 ) . " I f we i n s i s t
on k e e p i n g H e l l ( o r even e a r t h ) we s h a l l n o t s e e H eaven: i f we a c c e p t
Heaven we s h a l l n o t be a b l e t o r e t a i n even t h e s m a l l e s t and most
i n t i m a t e s o u v e n i r s o f H e l l " (p . 6 ) . T hese two s t a t e m e n t s e x p r e s s t h e
110
m o ra l o f The G r e a t D i v o r c e . A l l t h e g h o s t s who r e t u r n e d t o H e l l d i d
s o b e c a u s e t h e y c o u ld n o t b e a r t o g i v e up t h e i r c h e r i s h e d s i n s . T h is
m o ra l a l s o a p p l i e s t o T h at H ideous S t r e n g t h . Mark S tu ddo ck d i d n o t
f i n d t h e ro a d to w ard s s a l v a t i o n u n t i l h e had s t r i p p e d away t h e e n t i r e
web o f s e l f - d e c e p t i o n and s e l f - p r o t e c t i o n t h a t h i s mind had woven a l l
h is lif e . F r o s t and W ith e r l o s t t h e i r s o u l s a s w e l l a s t h e i r l i v e s
b e c a u s e , d u r i n g t h e l a s t moments when th e y c o u ld h a v e r e p e n t e d , "some
t i n y h a b i t u a l s e n s u a l i t y , some r e s e n tm e n t t o o t r i v i a l t o w a s te on a
b lu e -b o ttle , t h e in d u l g e n c e o f some f a t a l l e t h a r g y [seem ed] t o [them ]
more i m p o r ta n t th a n t h e c h o i c e betw een t o t a l j o y and t o t a l d e s t r u c t i o n "
(S tre n g th , p. 353).
One o f t h e H eav en ly S p i r i t s i n The G r e a t D iv o rc e t o l d a g h o s t
t h a t i t c o u ld l e a n on him f o r s u p p o r t on t h e jo u r n e y t o t h e m o u n ta in s
o f Deep H eaven, b u t t h a t h e c o u ld n o t c a r r y i t . God a l s o a l lo w s men
o f f a i t h t o l e a n on Him, b u t He r e f u s e s t o c a r r y them th r o u g h t h e i r
d iffic u ltie s. S c re w ta p e s a i d t h a t God r e f u s e s t o make men s l a v e s by
m aking t h e i r d e c i s i o n s f o r them. D e s i r i n g m e n 's freedom , "He l e a v e s
them t o 'd o i t on t h e i r o w n '" (S c re w ta p e . p . 1 3 ) . M a l e l d i l communi
c a t e d d i r e c t l y w i t h P e r e l a n d r a ' s Lady u n t i l s h e e n c o u n te r e d t h e
Un-man's t e m p t a t i o n . Then He w ith d re w , l e a v i n g h e r t o u se t h e know
le d g e and p e r c e p t i v e mind He had g iv e n h e r t o r e s i s t o r y i e l d to t h e
te m p ta tio n . He d i d n o t abandon her, f o r He s e n t Ransom t o h e l p h e r ,
b u t h e g av e h e r th e o p p o rtu n ity t o grow i n freedom th r o u g h h e r own
r e s is ta n c e to te m p ta tio n .
I ll
E v i l d o es n o t e v o l v e on i t s own i n t o good; men m ust work t o
p r o d u c e good r e s u l t s from e v i l a c t i o n s . Lewis w r o te , " E v i l can be
undone, b u t i t c a n n o t 'd e v e l o p ' i n t o good. Time does n o t h e a l i t .
The s p e l l m ust be unwound, b i t by b i t , 'w i t h backward m u t t e r s o f
d i s s e v e r i n g p o w e r '— o r e l s e n o t . I t is s t i l l ' e i t h e r - o r ' " (D iv o rc e .
p. 6 ) . In Out o f t h e S i l e n t P l a n e t Ransom f i n a l l y a c c e p t e d h i s d u ty
t o go t o O y arsa a f t e r W eston and D evine had k i l l e d t h e h r o s s H yoi.
T r y i n g t o remedy t h e m urder o f h i s f r i e n d , Ransom p u t a s i d e h i s own
f e a r o f p o s s i b l y becom ing a v i c t i m o f human s a c r i f i c e . He a c c e p te d
o b e d ie n c e and b egan t o work t o unwind t h e s p e l l o f e v i l .
P e r e l a n d r a ' s K ing, t o l d by M a l e l d i l o f t h e L a d y 's t e m p t a t i o n and
o f e a r t h ' s F a l l , d e c i d e d t h a t h e would c o n t i n u e t o obey M a l e l d i l even
i f h i s w i f e d is o b e y e d Him. U n lik e e a r t h ' s Adam, t h e K ing r e a l i z e d
t h a t a wrong c o u ld be c o r r e c t e d o n ly by a r i g h t , n o t by a second
w rong. He, l i k e Ransom, d e te r m in e d t o work tow ard good, even though
t h e work m ig h t be h a r d and p a i n f u l .
On T h u lc a n d r a , t h e members o f L o g re s worked tow ard good by
o b e y in g Ransom. They c u rb e d t h e i r i m p a ti e n c e a t h i s slow , n o n - v i o l e n t
m e th o d s. Ransom p l a c e d h i m s e l f i n o b e d ie n c e t o t h e O y eresu who
rep resen ted M a le ld il. The a g e n t th r o u g h whom t h e O y eresu d e s t r o y e d
N . I . C . E . , M e r li n , a l s o a c c e p t e d h i s d u ty t o w o rk . He and Ransom b o th
knew t h a t b e i n g i n t h e p r e s e n c e o f t h e m ig h ty P o w e r s - - t h e O y e r e s u —
c o u ld e a s i l y k i l l them. But t h e y knew t h a t t h e i r d u t y c a l l e d them t o
r e c e i v e t h e Powers and f o r M e r l i n t o a c c e p t t h e i r s t r e n g t h .
112
In e v e r y c a s e , good p e o p le had t o work and obey God i n o r d e r f o r
Him t o h e l p them . Even when th e y w ere p o w e r le s s a g a i n s t t h e e v i l by
th e m s e lv e s , t h e y h ad t o p ro v e t h e i r w i l l i n g n e s s t o obey God b e f o r e He
c o u ld s t r e n g t h e n them f o r t h e i r t a s k .
The f i n a l s t e p which t h e f a i t h f u l m ust t a k e t o c o n v e r t e v i l t o
good i s t o a c c e p t d e a t h i n o r d e r t o f i n d re d e m p tio n . O nly men o f
f a i t h can t a k e t h i s s t e p : men who do n o t b e l i e v e i n t h e r e s u r r e c t i o n
o f t h e body o r t h e s p i r i t and i n an a f t e r l i f e , w i l l c l i n g t o l i f e
in s te a d o f su b m ittin g to d e a th . I n The G r e a t D iv o rc e t h e o n ly g h o s t
t o rem a in i n Heaven s u b m it te d f i r s t t o t h e agony o f d e a t h . H is l u s t
was p e r s o n i f i e d by a l i z a r d t h a t c lu n g t o h i s s h o u l d e r and c h a t t e r e d
in h i s e a r. The g h o s t gave h i s g u a r d i a n S p i r i t p e r m i s s i o n t o k i l l
t h e l i z a r d ; t h e agony o f t h e s e p a r a t i o n a l s o k i l l e d t h e g h o s t . A.s
soon as h e had d i e d , th o u g h , h e r o s e a g a i n a s a s o l i d s p i r i t . The
dead l i z a r d r o s e as a b e a u t i f u l s t a l l i o n w hich t h e r e s u r r e c t e d g h o s t
m ounted. The g h o s t h ad b een redeem ed, b u t o n ly by a c c e p t i n g d e a t h .
In a l l t h r e e books o f t h e t r i l o g y , Ransom a c c e p te d e i t h e r
s p i r i t u a l or p h y s ic a l d eath . On M ala c a n d ra h e f a c e d w hat h e th o u g h t
would be c e r t a i n d e a t h by g o in g t o O y a rs a , from whom h e had been
r u n n in g e v e r s i n c e h i s e s c a p e from h i s two c a p t o r s . On P e r e l a n d r a ,
Ransom a c c e p t e d s p i r i t u a l and p h y s i c a l d e a t h by c o m b a ttin g t h e Un-man.
A lth o u g h h e d id n o t q u i t e d i e , h i s m u t i l a t e d body was r e b o r n t o
e t e r n a l y o u th a f t e r h i s v i c t o r y . S p i r i t u a l l y h e r e g a i n e d some o f t h e
p e r f e c t i o n t h a t men had l o s t w ith e a r t h ' s F a l l . S u b m it ti n g t o d e a t h ,
Ransom a r o s e s t r o n g e r p h y s i c a l l y and s p i r i t u a l l y th a n h e had
113
ev er been. On T h u lc a n d r a , Ransom a g a i n a c c e p te d t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f
d e a t h —n o t p h y s i c a l , f o r h e knew h e had become im m o rta l, b u t s p i r i t u a l ,
f o r h e d i d n o t know i f h i s s o u l c o u ld w i t h s t a n d b e i n g i n t h e p r e s e n c e
o f t h e g r e a t P o w e rs. A g a in , by f a c i n g d e a t h , Ransom found new l i f e .
He was a t l a s t a llo w e d t o r e t u r n t o h i s b e lo v e d P e r e l a n d r a .
The p e r v e r s i o n o f good can be undone and f a l l e n men can be
redeem ed, b u t t h e o r i g i n a l good c a n n o t be r e c o v e r e d . Ransom t h o u g h t ,
"God can make good u s e o f a l l t h a t h a p p e n s . But t h e l o s s i s r e a l "
(P e re la n d ra . p. 152). The e l d i l a d e c l a r e d , " . . . though t h e h e a l i n g
w h at was wounded and t h e s t r a i g h t e n i n g w hat was b e n t i s a new
d im e n s io n o f g l o r y , y e t t h e s t r a i g h t was n o t made t h a t i t m ig h t be
b e n t n o r t h e w hole t h a t i t m ig h t be wounded" ( P e r e l a n d r a . p . 2 1 5 ) .
E v i l c a n n o t b e t u r n e d i n t o good w i t h o u t l e a v i n g s c a r s . The
w o r s t damage i s done t o t h o s e c r e a t u r e s who r e f u s e t o be redeemed
because th e y w i l l f u l l y c l i n g to e v i l . The r e s u l t s o f t h i s d e a d l y
c l i n g i n g can b e s t b e s e e n i n T h at H ideous S t r e n g t h . The t i t l e page
o f t h e book c o n t a i n s a q u o te t h a t e x p l a i n s t h e s i g n i f i c a n c e o f t h e
title .
THE SHADOW OF THAT HYDDEOUS STRENGTH

SAX MYLE AND MORE IT IS OF LENGTH.
( S i r David L y n d say : from Ane D ia lo g .
d e s c r i b i n g t h e Tower o f B ab el)
G e n e s is 11, v e r s e s 1 th r o u g h 9 t e l l s t h e s t o r y o f t h e Tower o f B a b e l.
A l l t h e p e o p l e o f t h e e a r t h had one la n g u a g e when some o f them
d e c i d e d t o b u i l d a to w er t h a t would r e a c h t o Heaven and would g l o r i f y
114
t h e m s e lv e s . The Lord came down from Heaven t o s e e t h e Tower t h e
p e o p l e had b u i l t . R e a l i z i n g t h a t t h e p e o p l e h ad become t o o p o w e r f u l
and would now b e a b l e t o a c c o m p lis h a n y t h i n g t h e y w anted t o do, God
d e c i d e d t o "confound t h e i r la n g u a g e , t h a t t h e y may n o t u n d e r s t a n d one
a n o t h e r ' s s p e e c h " (Gen. 1 1 . 7 ) . Then He s c a t t e r e d them a c r o s s t h e
e a r t h , d e p r i v i n g them o f t h e i r pow er, and named t h e to w er B a b e l.
N . I . C . E . became a Tower o f B a b e l. I t became so s t r o n g t h a t no
e a r t h l y power c o u ld d e f e a t i t . U n w i t t i n g l y , how ever, i t h ad p r o v id e d
t h e means f o r u n e a r t h l y powers t o combat i t . By v i s i t i n g o t h e r
p l a n e t s , W eston and D evine had b ro k e n t h e S e v e n th Law, t h e b a r r i e r
God had e r e c t e d t o q u a r a n t i n e t h e e a r t h ' s c o n t a m i n a t i o n . W hile t h e
Law was i n e f f e c t , God would n o t sen d down t h e Powers t o i n t e r f e r e on
e a rth . Once t h e b a r r i e r had b een b ro k e n , how ever, He was f r e e t o
in te rfe re . By b r e a k i n g t h e Law and r a i s i n g M e r li n from h i s s l e e p ,
N . I . C . E . " p u l l e d down Deep Heaven on t h e i r h e a d s " (S t r e n g t h , p . 271),
j u s t as t h e b u i l d e r s o f t h e Tower o f B abel h ad cau sed God t o come down
from H eaven.
The r e s u l t f o r N . I . C . E . was t o become a t r u e Tower o f B a b e l.
S a y in g , "They t h a t h a v e d e s p i s e d t h e word o f God, from them s h a l l t h e
word o f man a l s o b e ta k e n away" (p . 3 5 1 ), M e r l i n p u t t h e c u r s e o f
B abel on a l l t h e members o f N . I . C . E . a t a b a n q u e t i n t h e i r B elb u ry
h e a d q u a rte rs. E very on e was u n a b le t o u n d e r s ta n d t h e g i b b e r i s h t h a t
ev e ry o n e e l s e was t a l k i n g . S u d d en ly t h e f r u s t r a t i o n o f n o t b e in g a b l e
t o communicate b ro k e t h e t h i n c r u s t t h a t had v e i l e d t h e i r h a t r e d o f
each o t h e r f o r so l o n g . When one member s u d d e n ly s h o t a n o t h e r member,
115
p a n i c s t r u c k t h e w hole company. The p a n i c i n c r e a s e d when t h e a n im a ls
t h a t had b een im p r is o n e d f o r v i v i s e c t i o n and r e l e a s e d by M e r l i n s u d
d en ly e n te re d th e banquet h a l l . Fewer p e o p l e w ere k i l l e d , how ever,
by t h e a n im a ls t h a n by t h e i r f e l l o w hum ans' d e s p e r a t e a t t e m p t s t o
e s c a p e from t h e room.
By t r y i n g t o make th e m s e lv e s more p o w e rf u l th a n God, t h e members
o f N . I . C . E . h ad c a u s e d t h e i r own d e s t r u c t i o n . M e r lin p u t t h e c u r s e o f
B abel on B elb u ry and r e l e a s e d t h e w ild a n i m a ls , b u t t h e s e e d s o f
d e s t r u c t i o n had b een p l a n t e d lo n g b e f o r e by N . I . C . E . i t s e l f . Each o f
t h e m ost p o w e r f u l members had w i l l f u l l y f o r f e i t e d h i s own s o u l f o r
t h e s a k e o f pow er. Each h ad i n c r e a s e d h i s s e l f - p e r v e r s i o n by c o r
ru p tin g o th e rs . Each, a t t h e l a s t m in u te , saw t h e p o s s i b i l i t y f o r
re d e m p tio n and d e l i b e r a t e l y r e j e c t e d i t . L ik e S t r a i k , t h e j u n i o r
i n i t i a t e who was s ta b b e d i n t h e b a c k by h i s m a s t e r , W ith e r , eac h o f
t h e members o f N . I . C . E . who had made h i m s e l f a t o o l o f t h e d a r k e l d i l a
was d e s t r o y e d by h i s own e v i l m a s t e r s . N . I . C . E . had a t t e m p t e d t o d e f y
Heaven and i n c a r n a t e H e l l on e a r t h ; i t s u c c e e d e d in b r i n g i n g Heaven
down on i t s h ead and becom ing a b u r n in g , s e e t h i n g H e l l t h a t was
d e s t r o y e d by t h e e v i l e l d i l a who had been i t s m a s t e r s .
A SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
D easy, P h i l i p . "God, S pace, and C. S. L e w i s . " Commonwea1. 68

( A p r . - S e p t . , 19 58), 4 2 1 -4 2 3 .
H i l l e g a s , Mark R. The F u t u r e a s N ig h tm a r e : H. G. W ells and t h e

A n t i - U t o p i a n s . New Y ork: O xford U niv. P r e s s , 1967.
_________ , e d . Shadows o f I m a g i n a t i o n : t h e F a n t a s i e s o f C. IS. L ew is.

J . R. R. T o l k ie n , and C h a r l e s W i l l i a m s . C a r b o n d a le : S o u th e r n
I l l i n o i s U niv. P r e s s , 1969.
The f o l l o w i n g e s s a y s i n Shadows o f I m a g i n a ti o n w ere
p a rtic u la rly h e lp fu l:
H i l l e g a s , Mark R. "Out o f t h e S i l e n t P l a n e t a s Cosmic

V o y a g e ."
Moorman, C h a r l e s . "'Now E n t e r t a i n C o n je c tu r e s o f a
T i m e '—The F i c t i v e W orlds o f C. S. Lewis and
J . R. R. T o l k i e n . "
P la n k , R o b e r t. "Some P s y c h o l o g i c a l A s p e c ts o f L e w is '
T rilo g y ."
Walsh, Chad. "C. S. L e w is : The Man and t h e M y s t e r y ."
L ew is, C. S. C h r is ti a n B ehav io r. London: The C e n te n a r y P r e s s , 1943
_______ The F our L o v e s . New Y ork: H a r c o u r t B race J o v a n o v ic h ,

I n c . , 1960.
_________ . The G r e a t D iv o r c e . New Y ork: The M acm illan Company, 1946
_________ . O ut o f t h e S i l e n t P l a n e t . New Y ork: The M acm illan

Company, 1965.
_. P e re la n d ra : A N o v e l. New York: The M acm illan Company,

1944.
_________ . A P r e f a c e t o P a r a d i s e L o s t . London: O xford U n iv . P r e s s ,

1942.
_________ . The S crew tap e L e t t e r s . New York: The M acm illan Company,
1959.
_________ . T h at H id eo u s S t r e n g t h : A Modern F a i r y - T a l e f o r Grown-Ups.
New Y ork: The M acm illan Company, 1946.
Norwood, W. D ., J r . " U n if y in g Themes i n C. S. L e w is ' T r i l o g y , "

C r i t i q u e : S t u d i e s i n Modern F i c t i o n . 9, No, 2 (1 9 6 6 -1 9 6 7 ),
6 7 -8 0 .
Shumaker, Wayne. "The Cosmic T r i l o g y o f C. S. L e w is , " Hudson Review.

8, No. 2 ( S p r in g , 1 9 5 5 -W in te r, 1 9 5 6 ), 240-254.

The Concept of Evil in A Christian Universe in C. S. Lewis' Works

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The Concept of Evil in A Christian Universe in C. S. Lewis' Works

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special Faculty Committee, is accepted

D a le - . A y sy st2 .9 j._ _ i 973

ProQuest Information and Learning Company

I. THE INTERRELATIONSHIPS OF LEWIS' BOOKS ................................................... 8

II. EVIL AS THE PERVERSION OF GOOD................................................................... 31

III. THULCANDRA, THE SILENT PLANET .............................................................. 59

IV. THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN GOOD AND E V I L .......................................................... 90

A SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY ........................................................................... 116

The s t r u g g l e b etw een good and e v i l i s a p e r e n n i a l t o p i c i n

lite ra tu re . The c o n c e p t o f e v i l i n t h e u n i v e r s e h a s b een d i s c u s s e d

by w r i t e r s s i n c e t h e tim e o f Homer. L a te r, C h r is ti a n w r i t e r s p laced

" j u s t i f y t h e ways o f God t o men" i n h i s e p i c poem, P a r a d i s e L o s t .

G o d 's ways t o men. U sin g v a r i o u s g e n r e s —d o c t r i n a l books, l i t e r a r y

c ritic is m , a lle g o ry , f a n t a s y , and f i c t i o n - - L e w i s e x p l a i n e d , exam ined,

s t r u g g l e b etw een good and e v i l , good p e o p l e p o s s e s s know ledge o f good

and e v i l , b u t bad p e o p l e a r e i g n o r a n t o f b o t h . When t h e good u s e

t h e i r know ledge a s t h e b a s i s f o r a c t i o n and t h e bad w i l l f u l l y c l i n g

t o t h e re d e m p tio n o f t h e fo rm er and t h e d am n atio n o f t h e l a t t e r .

C. S. L e w is 1 C h r i s t i a n B e h a v io r. The F ou r L oves, and A P r e f a c e to

h i s b e l i e f s and a p p l i e s them t o e v e ry d a y l i f e . The G r e a t D iv o rc e and

The S c re w ta p e L e t t e r s a r e f a n t a s i e s i n w hich Lewis t a k e s t h e r e a d e r

d i r e c t l y t o Heaven and t o H e l l . H is famous s p a c e t r i l o g y , Out o f t h e

c o n c e p ts a t work i n t h e l i v e s o f C h r i s t i a n s and n o n - C h r i s t i a n s and

p o r t r a y s t h e i n f l u e n c e o f Heaven and H e l l , o f God and t h e d e v i l s , on

e a rth . W i th in t h e t r i l o g y , good and e v i l become p r o g r e s s i v e l y s t r o n ­

ger. T h e i r b a t t l e s become more and more i m p o r ta n t i n d e t e r m i n i n g t h e

s e t s o f books comment on and c l a r i f y each o t h e r .

good. God i s t h e supreme good, a c c o r d i n g t o L ew is. A l l o f H is c r e a ­

t i o n i s i n n a t e l y good, b u t b e c a u s e e v e r y c r e a t u r e i s endowed w ith

free w ill, i t may cho ose t o p e r v e r t i t s e l f and become e v i l . E v il

op p o ses good, b u t i t e x i s t s o n ly a s t h e p e r v e r s i o n o f good; w i t h o u t

H ell seeks to spread c o r r u p tio n th ro u g h o u t th e u n iv e rs e . Its

f i r s t v i c t i m was e a r t h . By t e m p ti n g Adam and Eve i n t o d i s o b e d i e n c e

t o t h e i r C r e a t o r , S a ta n c au sed e a r t h ' s F a l l . The p a r a d i s e o f Eden was

p e r v e r t e d i n t o w hat Lewis c a l l s t h e i s o l a t i o n o f T h u lc a n d r a , t h e name

by w hich e a r t h i s known i n H eaven. T h u lc a n d r a means " t h e s i l e n t

p l a n e t , " f o r e a r t h was c u t o f f by e v i l from a l l t h e o t h e r p l a n e t s and

v e r t e d , man t u r n e d away from God. He can t u r n back t o Him o n ly th ro u g h

lo v e and o b e d i e n c e . God r e q u i r e s o b e d ie n c e i n o r d e r t o make men i n t o

H is s o n s . The d e v i l s t r y t o t u r n men away from God th r o u g h t e m p t a t i o n .

They w ant t o c o n v e r t men i n t o c a t t l e f o r fo o d . God demands o b e d ie n c e

H is w i l l . The d e v i l s e n c o u ra g e d i s o b e d i e n c e , b u t rob men o f a l l

B ecause a l l c r e a t u r e s a r e i n h e r e n t l y good, t h e y p o s s e s s knowledge

o f b o th good and e v i l . C r e a t u r e s who become bad by p e r v e r t i n g them­

s e l v e s l o s e more and more o f t h e i r know ledge o f good and e v i l a s th e y

s i n k d e e p e r and d e e p e r i n t o c o r r u p t i o n . W illfu lly c lin g in g to th e ir

d e l i b e r a t e l y c l o s e t h e d o o r by w hich th e y c o u ld be redeem ed. On t h e

o t h e r h a n d , t h e i r f a i t h and G o d 's g r a c e e n a b l e good p e o p l e t o s e e

re a lity . T h e i r r e a l i s t i c know ledge o f good and e v i l h e l p s them t o

r e s i s t te m p ta tio n . The r e s i s t a n c e , i n t u r n , g iv e s them a d d i t i o n a l

know ledge a b o u t e v i l , w i t h w hich th e y can r e s i s t f u t u r e e n t i c e m e n t .

Both know ledge o f good and e v i l and e x p e r i e n c e w ith e v i l - - b u t n o t by

The more h e r e s i s t s t e m p t a t i o n , t h e more u n p e r v e r t e d e x p e r i e n c e w ith

and know ledge o f e v i l a man h a s , and t h e more h e i s s t r e n g t h e n e d in

h i s r e s is ta n c e o f te m p tatio n . In s h o r t, t h e good man, by r e m a in in g

good, becomes b e t t e r . F o r t h e bad man, t h e s t o r y i s j u s t t h e o p p o s i t e .

v e r t e d , i n c r e a s i n g l y b l i n d e d t o t h e know ledge o f good and e v i l , and

in c r e a s in g ly unab le to r e s i s t f u tu r e te m p ta tio n . By r e m a in in g bad,

t h e bad man becomes w o rs e . I n t h i s way e v i l i s c o n s t a n t l y w id e n in g

t h e gap b etw een i t s e l f and good.

He i s t h e o n ly man who n e v e r y i e l d e d t o t e m p t a t i o n . I n L e w is ' s p a c e

t r i l o g y , E lw in Ransom, t h e m ain c h a r a c t e r , i s a C h r i s t f i g u r e who

e a rth . W i th in t h e t r i l o g y , good and e v i l become p r o g r e s s i v e l y s t r o n

good. God i s t h e supreme good, a c c o r d i n g t o L ew is. A l l o f H is c r e a

o f b o th good and e v i l . C r e a t u r e s who become bad by p e r v e r t i n g them

human c h a r a c t e r s i n t e r a c t w ith t h e non-human c r e a t u r e s , h e can co n

Mark R. H i l l e g a s s a i d , " I n t h e t r i l o g y [L ew is] i s a t h i s m ost s u c

from o u r r e a l t o h i s im a g in a r y w o r ld s which a r e b o th s o l i d and i n t e r

1942 a b o u t C h r i s t i a n m o r a l i t y . I n The Four Loves (1 9 6 0 ), Lewis d i s

C h ristia n ity . Lewis and h i s g u id e w i t n e s s many o f t h e g h o s t s ' co n