Scott Freeman

Reading C.S.: A Preface to Paradise Lost and Perelandra

I include these two works in one entry for two major reasons:

1. I procrastinated in writing about Lewis’ Preface to the point in which I had finished Perelandra
2. Preface is essential in understanding Lewis’ motivation for writing Perelandra.

A Preface to Paradise Lost

Prior to reading this academic work I thought that a good judge of the merits of this book would be whether or not Lewis could stir within me the desire to read Milton’s famous work. Although he failed in that regard, however, the book does possess some tremendous insight and value that goes beyond Paradise Lost itself.
Lewis begins by giving an in-depth introduction to the genre of Epic literature. If you have a love for Epic poems than Lewis’ description of Primary and Secondary epics, the technique of repetition and the transition from the individualistic style of Epic during the early period of writings such as Beowulf to the more grand epic brought in my Milton, et al then this book would be a worthwhile read.
In addition, Lewis hits on some themes that play a large role in his writings, most notably that of Hierarchy. As evidenced in the comments to Out of the Silent Planet and JTB’s observations Lewis is a tremendous proponent of order and hierarchy and that plays into his writings.
The greatest impact of this work when considering my intent to read through Lewis’s writings is the impact and influence that Paradise Lost had on his next work.

Perelandra
Readers of Lewis’ first entry in this science fiction trilogy, Out of the Silent Planet, would have to wait for several years before Ransom and Weston marked their return.

In this work, Ransom is dispatched to Perelandra (Venus) for some mission that at the outset is not fully explained to him. He knows that the Maleldil (devil) of this world has his eyes set on expanding and imagines being used in a divine plan to prevent that.

Perelandra is a beautifully written book, almost pitch-perfect in its tone and prose. It would be one of Lewis’ favorite writings. The book imagines a Paradise Kept, where Adam and Eve resisted the Evil One. This book is a re-imagining of that dark day. However, this time the results are quite different.

I don’t want to say too much about the plot in and of itself because I encourage everyone to pick this book up (after OOTSP, of course) and enjoy first-hand the rich telling of this story. However, it is important to note the themes that are prominent through the book. Again, Lewis sees a natural order of things in the universe. For good or bad, there is a hierarchy in Lewis’ mind that informs his writing.

In addition, this isn’t straight forward science fiction. There is a deep element of religious allegory and meaning to his work. The theology is thinly veiled and powerful in its resonance.
Read this book.

‘But this is very foolish,’ said the Un-man. ‘Do you not know who I am?’

‘I know what you are,’ said Ransom. ‘Which of them doesn’t matter.’

‘And you think, little one,’ it answered, that you can fight with me? You think He will help you, perhaps? Many thought that. I’ve known Him longer than you, little one. They all think He’s going to help them — till they come to their senses screaming recantations too late in the middle of the fire, mouldering in concentration camps, writhing under saws, jibbering in mad-houses, or nailed on to crosses. Could He help Himself?’ — and the creature suddenly threw back its head and cried in a voice so loud that it seemed the golden sky-roof must break, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani.’

And the moment it had done so, Ransom felt certain that the sounds it had made were perfect Aramic of the first century. The Un-man was not quoting; it was remembering. These were the very words spoken from the Cross, treasured through all those years in the burning memory of the outcast creature which had heard them, and now brought forward inhideous parody; the horror made him momentarily sick.

Grade: A