Small claims must give way to great. (Weston, 29)
The love of knowledge is a kind of madness. (Narrator, 56)
A pleasure is full grown only when it is remembered. (Hyoi, 74)
For this post, find one such phrase (being sure to identify the speaker and page number) and then comment on how the underlying meaning (whether true or false) reappears and/or is expanded upon in another section of the text. For example, you could argue that the first phrase above (though Lewis obviously didn't agree with it - at least not insofar as Weston meant it) reappears towards the end of the book where the reader is introduced to claims even larger than those of Weston, claims that demand some sort of response and that diminish the seeming importance of Weston's mission.
Though you each need not locate a unique phrase, you each must point to a unique moment in the text to which it can be applied. This post will require you to do some close reading and some sophisticated analysis. Do NOT fall prey to the abysmal, nonsensical, and pathetic discourse illustrated in the comic below. Find something significant to say, and then say it articulately, please. We will all be grateful for your own terse and pithy (and coherently significant) analysis of a terse and pithy phrase.
Some rules:
- you may use one of the phrases listed above
- phrases must be applied uniquely (see previous paragraph)
- phrases may be used only FIVE times each, so keep careful track of previous posts
- comments must be posted by Thursday (2.24) at noon
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| An xkcd webcomic. xkcd.com/451 |
The quote I chose for this week’s blog can be found on page 83 and is spoken by Ransom to the hross named Whin after Hyoi is shot and killed. “But I must tell you the truth, Whin. They would kill even a hnau, knowing it to be hnau, if they thought its death would serve them.”
ReplyDeleteI found this quote to be quite powerful, especially the second sentence where it says that they would kill just because they liked the idea of it. I think that this quote is so powerful because it can be read and interpreted in many different ways. The quote refers to killing a rational creature, even without knowing it is a rational creature, just because you think its death would serve you a greater purpose. This can be taken quite literally in the sense that a hunter may slay a deer to feed its family, but they hunter will also shoot the largest deer it can find because he/she wants bragging rights over having the biggest and the best.
The word kill in the quote is very important because it can be interpreted as many different things. It can mean to literally kill and take life, it can mean to kill ones spirit or emotions or to kill ones sense of identity (who they are as a person, where they fit in this world as a person and where they are in the world [location]).
On page 21 Weston says, “The boy was ideal, incapable of serving humanity and only too likely to propagate idiocy. He was the sort of boy who in a civilized community would be automatically handed over to a state laboratory…he’s only an individual and probably a quite useless one.” I feel that this quote correlates with the quote on page 83 under the aspect of the notion that ‘they’ can kill just because it might serve them a purpose.
Weston and Devine have no problem killing (taking the life) a harmless creature (the hross Hyoi) and they do not have a problem in kidnapping (killing identity) and endangering (killing spirit) a harmless young boy, Harry. While we do not know what happened to Harry, we do know that Weston and Devine are capable of committing such acts on innocent beings.
The quote that caught my eyes the most from the many other brilliant quotes in the story was actually a part of the lyrics to a song they sang. “This is the second life, the other beginning. Open, oh coloured world, without weight, without shore. You are the second and better; this was first and feeble” (hnau, 130).
ReplyDeleteThis quote was found when the hnau were giving what can be so called “funeral rights” for the three dead hrossa brought to the Oyarsa. The main reason why this quote sparkled the most in my eyes compared to the wonderful fakeness of sparkling grape juice (never drank before) is that the first part resembled my cultures way of thinking (Hinduism) about reincarnation. The first part of the quote is “This is the second life, the other beginning.” The second life that is mentioned makes me think of reincarnation because it sounds like someone’s life has not actually ended but going through a phase change into another being whose life will begin which explains the “the other beginning” part of the quote. How I truly see it is that everyone’s body is just a vessel for the soul that resides within it. When the vessel is unable to contain the soul the soul then moves to another vessel rather than going to another world people know as heaven and hell.
The second part of the quote “Open, oh coloured world, without weight, without shore” feels like it is contradicting my thoughts from before about souls. A world filled with color sounds like a place rich with anything and everything a person/hnau wanted. A world without weight sounds like two things to me. The first is the obvious way to look at it which is a world that doesn’t apply gravity to it so the person/hnau could feel the “freedom” of moving around wherever. The second way to look at it was more in the case of a human rather than any creature on Malacandra which is the idea of no harmful or negative thoughts in someone’s mind. Pretty much there is no need to worry about anything and your thoughts can be “free” just like a person/hnau’s body in a weightlessness world. A world without shore makes me think that whenever someone is on a shore that’s just about as far as they can go. Pretty much a limit is being made in the world of someone at a shore of how far they want to go. In a shore-less world I think it means there are no limits to how far someone can go whether it be in distance literally or distance in making something they have aspired for. Who knows if this wondrous world has all of the supplies needed for some unrelenting dead scientists.
The third part of the quote was “You are the second and better; this was first and feeble.” My first thought about this part of the quote was the aspect of “failure.” The first try was a feeble attempt but the second time will be much better. I don’t see a current creatures form right now a failure, then they die and come back as another creature better than ever. I mean you can’t ever trace whether it’s their second life or not which led me to the outcome that the Malacandrian citizens believe in some form of heaven rather than outer space being heaven. Also another fun fact about this part of the quote relates to when the Oyarsa wanted to meet the first human invaders. The Oyarsa said “When I could make nothing of them by report, I told the sorns to bring them to me, not by force but courteously” (Oyarsa, 121). Even though he requested to meet them it never happened at the invaders had left the planet which could seem like a failure on the Oyarsa’s part. Then the second time the invaders came the Oyarsa got to meet one of them which seemed like a success.
This quote had contradictions with my ideas which makes me think overall they are thinking of a more outer heavenly world beyond reach of creature within this dimension they exist. Also after finishing the book I had closure at the end of chapter 21 but when chapter 22 was read I lost my feeling of closure and is confused. I hope to find out in lecture!
While reading this book, there was one conversation that truly stuck with me. It can by found on pages 73 and 74. The conversation is between Ransom and Hyoi about the concept of war on Malacandra. Although if I had to choose one phrase out of that conversation to focus on, it would have to be the one Hyoi stated towards Ransom that states, “If the other hnau wanted food, why should we not give it to them? We often do.” When I read this passage I thought about how other places such like here on earth, don’t believe in it that way; we either want money for the food or some sort of greater good. The Hnau trade with one another, but they trade in a civil manner and don’t get greedy about what they have and what they are willing to give to one another. The concept of war to Hnoi during this conversation was one that did not exist. While Ransom was trying to explain it he asked why they would need to start one on Malacandra when everyone has learned to live with one another in a happy environment. They have different values according to their species and region, and do we, but they learn to accept the others for who they are, not what they want them, their neighbors, to be. This phrase can be applied when Hyoi gets killed on page 82. We wonder if they Hnau had weapons and an idea of war would they have fought back instead of fleeing.
ReplyDeleteThe terse and pithy phrase that I chose from Out of the Silent Planet is on page 99 at the top where Ransom is describing what it is like to ride on the shoulder of the scorn named Augray. He explains it as “It was like riding an elephant at the zoo in boyhood-like riding on his father’s back at a still earlier age.” The reason that I chose this phrase of similes is because I couldn’t help but notice that opposition of the two comparisons. The first comparison is describing something that could be alien-like and fearful for a child. An elephant is an animal and is completely unlike human beings and the degree to how large and rare something like riding an elephant is completely different then the feeling of riding on your fathers back. A father is a child’s safe haven and comfort zone. Riding on a father’s back should be a very comfortable and safe feeling for a child. I think that the vast differences between these two comparisons represent the feelings of indecisiveness that Ransom is having toward the scorns. At first he looked at them as large, scary beings that could be dangerous, very different from himself, and animalistic (like the elephant). Then, his opinions seem to change a bit after encountering them for the first time. They become more similar to him, surprisingly comforting, accommodating, and not that scary (like a father). He is having mixed feelings about the beings and at some point it seems as if he really doesn’t know what to think. I think this the deeper meaning hidden behind this phrase. It seems to be a sort of foreshadowing of his change of feelings toward the scorns.
ReplyDelete“The grace of their movement, their lofty stature, and the softening glancing of the sunlight on their feathery sides, effected a final transformation in Ransom’s feelings toward the race. “Ogres he had called them when they first met his eyes as he struggled in the grip of Weston and Devine; “Titans” or “Angels” he now thought would have been a better word.” (Pg101) This statement by Ransom is proving that his feeling in fact have been transformed from their first encounter. Of what seemed like a monster to him to begin with has now changed so drastically that he was willing to call them “Angels”. I think that this is evidence to prove that it is true that the “Pithy” phrase above that I have chosen has deeper meaning referring to a change of heart and the mixed emotions he has about the scorns. The word “Ogre” brings about feeling of something large, animalistic and scary (similar to an elephant). The word “Angel” makes me think things like guardian, protector, and is looked up upon (similar to a father). These draw a parallel with one another and are linked through a deeper meaning of Ransoms feelings toward the race.
The third paragraph on page 65 is the quote I want to look at: “He felt some fear, but more a ghastly inappropriateness. He wanted men-any men, even Weston and Devine.” Ransom is the speaker of these two lines. This is when dozens of hrossa are coming in and Ransom is intimated by all of them. Ransom all through the book goes back and forth of wanting to surround himself with humans or Malachandrian creatures. At this point Ransom wants to be saved by humans and feel normal and not be fearful. About six lines later this is what is said about Ransom: “Suddenly his mood changed. They were jolly little things. He laid his hand on one black head and smiled; the creature scurried away.” Ransom realizes the hrossa aren’t as scary as he thought, and then forgets about his “need to be around humans.” I feel like this phrase is concise for that moment, but at other times Ransom prefers being with Malachandrian creatures. One example of this is on page 91 in paragraph one. Ransom is meeting a sorn (Augray) for the first time. “Ransom felt a surprising indifference. He had no idea what might be coming next, but he was determined to carry out his programme…” Ransom has feared the sorn all along, but once he sees what they look like, he gets a sense of peace and becomes interested in learning about that species. Another example where Ransom prefers to be with a foreign creature is on page 61 in the first paragraph. Ransom is referring to the hrossa: “all this had really attached him to it by bonds strong than he knew.” Ransom seems to be feeling very surprised with him that he is comfortable around the new creatures and forming a bond with them without realizing it.
ReplyDeleteThe original text on page 65 is proven wrong numerous times throughout the book. Ransom stands up for the creatures rather than Weston and Devine.
Out of the Silent Planet is an interesting book with a lot of unique and attention-grabbing phrases in it. One of them that really attracted me is the last sentence in page 69. “No hnau can match them in making and shaping things as none can match us in singing. But let Hman see.”,(Hnohra, 69). Hnohra said this phrase when he was describing the Pfiltriggi when Ransom asked him about them. From this phrase we can see that every tribe of hnau has something that they are really good in. The Pfifltriggi is known as a very good digger and they are also the best at making and shaping things. The Hrossa is known for singing and poetry. This also showed how specialization is applied in Malacandra. Physical factor also help in the specialization as it is mentioned in the same page that the Pfifltriggi have long limbs in front that can help them digging. Besides the physical factor, there is also geographical factor that help them to specialize in whatever they do. In the same page, Hnohra told Ransom that the Pfifltriggi live in a blue and forest and is deep and it goes to the roots of the world. It is mentioned that the best things that can be dug out of the earth are there. It is so incredible how the creatures in Malacandra can specialized in things that they do best. Specialization will lead to positive outcomes. When someone with the best resources does something that they are good in, they will do it better compared to someone with fewer resources. Specialization also reduces competition. Competition may lead to war. Just imagine if Seroni and Hrossa is both good poet, they will fight to prove who is a better poet.
ReplyDeleteAll of the Hnau in Malacandra is so proud of what they are good in. Hrossa is so proud to be the best singer and poet. They will always say that nobody could beat them in these two fields. This phrase could also be applied in page 70 when Ransom and Hnohra were talking about the Seroni and their specialization.
The quote that is my favorite in the entire novel and is still relevant to this week’s blog post comes from the bottom of page 41 and is spoken by the Narrator about Ransom’s thought process as he is approaching Malacandra. The quote is, “Now with a certainty which never after deserted him, he saw the planets—the “earths” he called them in his thought—as mere holes or gaps in the living heaven—excluded and rejected wastes of heavy matter and murky air, formed not by addition to, but by subtraction from, the surrounding brightness. And yet, he thought, beyond the solar system the brightness ends. Is that the real void, the real death? Unless. . . he groped for the idea. . . unless visible light is also a hole or a gap, a mere diminution of something else. Something that is to bright unchanging heaven as heaven is to the dark, heavy earths. . .”
ReplyDeleteI understand that it is a very long quote but I felt that it would lose some of its context if part was excluded. The actual philosophical meaning being pondered on here is an epiphany about space. He is contemplating whether planets and light are the real darkness, the real holes in reality; the existence of light and mass in and beyond the solar system are the holes and gaps in something bigger.
While I think that this philosophical idea is awesome, I think the quote has a another meaning that goes much deeper than that. I think the real meaning of this quote is to show that we are so incredibly tiny and secluded from anything otherworldly (non-secular), or different that we have cultural, special and or genetically programmed mental block when it comes to thinking there is anything different out there besides humanity.
This is shown again when Hyoi and Ransom are speaking to one another about what life is like between the species on Malacandra. The quote is written, “Well if both wanted one thing and neither would give it,” said Ransom, “would the other at last come with force? Would they say, give it , or we kill you?” Hyoi replied by saying, “If the other hnau wanted food, why should we not give it to them?” Even after this Ransom just cannot accept the fact there is not a dominant species on the planet. This is relative in that Ransom’s mindset is a metaphor for humanity’s conglomerate mindset. The fact that we, as humans, go to war and dominate not only other species of animals but other humans as well has ingrained in us that there is absolutely nothing else in the universe that doesn’t do the same thing or think the same way. I really like that idea, and it made me think for a good while about what else, and what other ideas could be floating out in that infinitesimal abyss.
There is one line which I found especially poignant in one of Hyoi's conversations with Ransom. While describing his trip to the waterfall where he drank from the hnakra's pool, he tells Ransom, "There I drank life because death was in the pool" (Hyoi, 76). In this context, it is an expression of the fact that he would not have appreciated so much the drink had there not been the danger from the hnakra swimming inches away from him. Yet I find it to be equally poignant when applied to a moment later in the text wherein Ransom is on the homeward journey to Earth.
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning of the book, as Ransom first encounters what he chooses to call "the heavens," he describes the experience as feeling "life pouring into him from [the heavens] every moment" (Narrator, 34). Yet, while he feels this exuberance of life, it is merely an intrigue; that is, he doesn't necessarily take the experience to heart. The text goes on a few sentences later to describe his joy as "basking" (Narrator, 34). He enjoys it but is not quite changed by it.
If we, however, return to Ransom as he is again within the spaceship, this time headed back to Earth, we shall notice a change within him. I believe that it is due to the same sort of experience of which Hyoi was speaking. Ransom now expresses that "he felt ... that life was waiting outside ... ready at any moment to break in, ... [a]nd if he had felt some such lift of the heart when first he passed through heavens on their outward journey, he felt it now tenfold, for now he was convinced that the abyss was full of life" (Narrator, 145). He again feels the exuberance of life in the heavens, yet now he is changed by it. If we are to understand this change of heart, as it were, I think that looking at Hyoi's quote casts a bit of light on the situation—he has changed "because death [is] in the pool" (76).
At the onset of his encounters with Malacandrian hnau, Ransom is not yet fully aware of the differences between Malacandrians and Man. He comes to realize, however, that man is a mere shadow of what hnau is intended to be—“we are only half hnau” (Ransom, 82). He has realized that Man can be considered as exhibiting a "death" of what hnau should be—“the hnau in [Devine] is already dead” (Oyarsa, 138). He refers to this feeling as the idea that "[h]e and all his race showed small and ephemeral against a background of such immeasurable fullness" (Narrator, 145-146). This "fullness" can, I believe, refer to both the fullness of life in the heavens surrounding the ship, and also the fullness of hnau, or "hnau-ness" that the Malacandrian races exhibit.
Thus, we see that perhaps, Ransom's fuller experience of the "lift of the heart" in the spaceship is because the life that surrounds him means more by the contrast of "dead" humanity. Because he knows now the dichotomy of life and death, as it applies to his own self and race, he values the contrast more deeply. Knowing the contrast, "his heart [becomes] steadier than it had ever been" (Narrator, 146); Ransom drinks more deeply of "life", because he knows of the death lurking so close in his own nature.
“The thing to do is identify the medicine man and dress your remarks to him wherever the voice seems to come from; it shatters his nerve and shows that you’ve seen through him.” (125)
ReplyDeleteThis quote is tartly stated by Weston after both Devine and Weston hear Oyarsa speak for the first time and can’t identify the source. Weston then decides to verbally assault an elderly hross that has dozed off. On the surface this is another belligerent statement made by Weston in which he assumes that the species on Malacandra are of subhuman intelligence and development. This moment honestly reminds me of the end of The Wizard of Oz and I’m sure Weston would have reacted similarly in that situation, though in the movie the booming voice is truly all smoke in mirrors.
I think that this quote is a portrayal of deeper intentions. I think it is an example of the how belligerent the human race is. Devon and Weston are quick to assume that, without any true knowledge of the species that they are dealing with, nothing from another planet could possibly be on par with human intelligence. These two characters don’t want to understand the situation they have created for themselves. This same hilarious belligerency is noted by Oyarsa when he is telling Ransom about the first time Devine and Weston come to Malacandra. He notes that he “sent certain sorns because they are most like your people in form. The Thulcandrians feared the sorns and were very unteachable.”(121)This belligerency still exists in society today. For a prime example – consider how most of the other countries of the world view Americans, as snobbish, obnoxiously loud, substantially plump, and excessively flamboyant.
This quote can even be seen as a comment on the hmana to put a quick explanation on everything. The men immediately think they are being tricked are resort to accusations to settle their anxiety. This source of explanation is recurrent throughout the novel, especially when Ransom is trying to figure out economics, hierarchy, and relationships among the Malacandrian species. Although Ransom is far less obnoxious, he still exhibits this immediate need to have all the details worked out. Everything must be chalked up to black magic or petty tricks, rather than acceptance that it is what it is.
I didn’t so much find a line in the text to comment on, but rather a scene. I chose the part in chapter 10 when Ransom is becoming more aware of the aliened planet.
ReplyDeleteRansom realized earlier he was outside of the earth’s crust and out in space, taking 28 days to arrive at the destination of Malacandra. At the first part of chapter 10, he recognizes the strange species of a hrossa, but the part I would like to focus on is the lower section of page 62 when Ransom is talking to the hross trying to learn the Malacandran language of the popular locations that are seen on the unfamiliar planet. Without having a guide to help him learn the translations and the hross’ minimal speaking of the human language makes it difficult to communicate.
As everyone in their life has probably taken some sort of foreign language that is not very clear, there are some of the differences that benefits most people that Ransom doesn’t have. Most of the normal life people that take a foreign language are taught in a course with a textbook or a translation dictionary. While Ransom has no human help to better communicate with the Hross or other species on Malacandra. He doesn’t have any textbooks, teachers, translation dictionaries that a lot of other fortunate learners have. Also, with languages like Spanish and English, there are cognates (words that look and mean the same in both languages). For example, in English we have excellent as an expression word, in Spanish it is translated to excellente; where in the Malacadran language everything starts with “h”. The way Ransom understood what the hross what saying was that a gorge or canyon was a handramit. “Ransom grasped the implications, handra earth, harandra high earth, mountain, handramit low earth, valley” (Lewis, 62).
I felt that I could connect with this and most everyone else that has learned an unfamiliar language; for I’m sure that people had some struggles just as Ransom did learning from the hross.
Lewis, C. S.. Out of the silent planet . New York: Macmillan, 1965. Print.
Though there are many spectacular lines to dissect from Out of the Silent Planet, I have chosen the line spoken by Augray about the character of humanity, determining that “It is because every one of them wants to be a little Oyarsa himself” (102). The thoughts behind this line are expound upon many times throughout the book in numerous different ways. One of which is the notion that many humans are “bent” and take the lives of others of their own species. My chosen line speaks of our own human desire to take the reins of our lives as well as the lives of others into our own hands, one extreme case being Devine and Weston had forcibly brought Ransom to Malacandra thinking him to be a human sacrifice.
ReplyDeleteThe bentness of humanity is explained when, hearing Ransom’s explanation of Earth, those gathered around Oyarsa “were astonished at what he had to tell them of human history—of war, slavery and prostitution” (102). People incongruously promote war, believing that it will, in turn, promote world peace. However, once we scrutinize the hollow word “war,” it moves into the truth that we are murdering our own species. The Malacandrian society is reminiscent of a utopian society that is wholly unfamiliar to Ransom, an army veteran who has seen humankind at its worst. The entirety of the Malacandrians, inter- and intra-species, work together for the success of the planet.
I believe Lewis is attempting to convey to the readers how low countries and individuals will stoop to rule each other. On Earth, we have rulers among every country and within cities, while the much more prosperous Malacandrians don’t have a ruler among their population, simply believing in the wisdom of Oyarsa and Maleldil. The Malacandrian society is one to be admire, but marveled at from a distance because such a culture is no longer able to create on Earth.
" 'Ogres' he had called them when they first met his eyes as he struggled in the grip of Weston and Devine; 'Titans' or 'Angels' he now thought would have been a better word" (Narrator, 101). This phrase from the narrator is just one example of how things are not quite what they seem.
ReplyDeleteMany times, Ransom has believed something to be of a certain nature, but upon closer examination it is quite the opposite. The sorns, the creatures briefly described in the above passage were originally described as "the work of savage artist" (Narrator, 46), were, in fact, a sort of gentle giant with grat knowledge of astronomy and science as well as the herding species on Malacandra. The true nature of these creatures, however, was not fully understood and appreciated until Ransom had actually interacted with them (Augray specifically).
This sort of realization mimics that of when Ransom first met Hyoi. Initially, Ransom believed Hyoi to be just another creature on the planet Malacandra and possibly even a dangerous one at that. It was only once he began to master the language and interact with the hrossa that he realized that they were indeed intelligent creatures capable of such things as fishing, song, and poetry.
Though, perhaps the greatest since of falsehood of first impressions comes from the planet itself. It was only once Ransom examined a painting of the Malacandrian perspective of the solar system that he realized that he was actually on the planet Mars, a dead and barren red planet...at least on the surface. It was only once Ransom went past this harsh surface that he found a planet full of life, giving new meaning to the phrase, "don't judge a book by it's cover."
Alicia Smith
ReplyDeleteThe most interesting quote that I have found in Out of the Silent Planet is, “He was one of them”. (narrator, 81) The quote appears after Hyoi, Whin, and Ransom were on the shore after they killed the hunakra, right before Hyoi got shot and died. The ‘he’ referred to Ransom, and the narrator was labeling him as one of the hrossa.
Throughout the text, Ransom had fought with whether the hrossa are more human or more animal. Ransom’s first perception of Hyoi was that he was an animal only judging by his appearance – “It was something like a penguin, something like an otter, something like a seal…” (9. 29-30) – and even when Hyoi began speaking (which is usually considered a human quality), Ransom still leaned toward the idea that the hrossa were animals; “The creature was talking. It had a language... A new world he had already seen – but a new, an extraterrestrial, a non-human language was a different matter,” (56. 13-17). When Ransom saw Hyoi's boat, he even felt that it was “manlike,” and it justified the rationality that he wished to give the hrossa. Even though the hrossa were an alien species that looked more similar to the animals on Earth, Ransom saw qualities such as language and the use of tools, and later monogamy and poetry, that clearly separated hrossa from Earth’s animals and linked them more closely with humans. A quote that clearly expresses this idea of both the animal and human characteristics of the hrossa is, “you had an animal with everything an animal ought to have – glossy coat, liquid eye, sweet breath and whitest teeth – and added to these, as though Paradise had never been lost and earliest dreams were true, the charm of speech and reason”. (59. 14-19.)
This sets up the reason why I think that the quote I chose is so interesting. “He was one of them,” related Ransom to the hrossa (81. 36). Up until that point, Ransom did the reverse and tried to relate the hrossa to the things he knew like animals and humans. By the narrator saying that, “he was one of them,” made Ransom equal to the hrossa and grouped them into one category rather than into categories of animals and humans. And the narrator did not just group them together, but he grouped Ransom with the hrossa instead of grouping the hrossa with Ransom. Furthermore, the quote related the characteristics Ransom labeled on the hrossa back on himself. So all of those things Ransom said about the hrossa being animalistic? Well, if ‘he was one of them,” he must also be animalistic in some way. Vice versa, because he considered himself human, and “he was one of them,” the hrossa must also be human.
Ransom was also troubled that there could be a species (whether from Earth or not) that straddled the fence between animal and human – the hrossa. To him, it seemed that living things are either human – what he considered the superior species – or are animal – what he considered to be inferior. When he meets Hyoi, it is difficult for him to understand that both animal characteristics and human characteristics can coexist within one species. However when the narrator revealed that he was one of them on page 81, not only was Ransom put on equal grounds as the hrossa like I explained in the paragraph above, he was also cast into this contradictory species that he didn’t understand. The hrossa were both animal and human, “he was one of them”, thus, he was both animal and human, which he felt was impossible at first. Not only did he find that these characteristics could coexist, but they actually coexisted within him.
The quote I am using is on page 21 and said by Weston, “He (Ransom) is, after all, human. The boy was really almost a preparation.” Weston talks about how Harry, who was the boy, was less the human because he had a mental disability.
ReplyDeleteWeston believes that not all people are not equal and some do not even deserved to be called human. Since Harry is less than human, he is perfect do be taken and given to the sorns for whatever they wanted from them. This does not go with Lewis’s theories on mankind. Lewis believes that every human deserves the right to life and should not be allowed to have that right taken away from them.
Further in the book, Weston tells the Oyarsa that “Me care for man- care for our race- what man begets-“ (Weston, 137). Weston is trying to save mankind from ever dying out because they are the superior species in his eyes. In this respect, Weston wants to save only the perfect people of mankind, the smart ones without disabilities. This makes Weston comparable to Hitler. While Hitler contained his perfect people to Earth, Weston would be more extreme because not only is he picking the most perfect humans but killing the other humans and all other species on other planets as well. This relates the events that were happening in the world at that time.
Through Weston, we learn how some people feel about the nature of humanity and what kind of people should live on for forever.
Kaitlyn Smith
ReplyDeleteThe quote I found to be very interesting is in Chapter 16 when Ransom is trying to describe what Earth is like and why it has become bent. There are several responses as to why, but a sorn comes up with the most feasible response. “It is because every one of them wants to be a little Oyarsa himself,” said Augray (102).
This quote’s concept repeats itself throughout the book through the human characters that have come from the planet Earth. Greed is a bent characteristic that none of the hnau from Malacandra possess; however, it is human nature for Earthly beings to have this quality within them since they have lived like this their whole lives.
We first see this feature when Ransom figures out the real reason Divine has taken this journey to Malacandra. “…there came to him a little bowl. He held it close to the firelight and examined it. It was certainly gold, and Ransom realized the meaning of Divine’s interest in Malacandra,” (70). Divine had expressed earlier to Ransom while in the spaceship that he had other interests that Weston’s for coming to the planet. Ransom knew this and figured out the real reason he had come was for gold. While on Earth, power and money have the ability to make someone rise up to an “Oyarsa-like” status; therefore, there are many “little Oyarsa” characters on Earth trying to be the most powerful. Because of this, Earth has become bent and unlike other planets where greed does not exist.
Another instance we can see greed come in to play is when Weston is talking to Oyarsa. “I may fall,” said Weston. “But while I live I will not, with such a key in my hand, consent to close the gates of the future on my race,” (136). Weston shows that he will stop at nothing to try to provide a way for his race to continue being superior and lasting forever. This is greedy because he has shown he would even kill all of the inhabitants of Malacandra for the human race to continue surviving. This is also like “playing god” and shows that Weston also wants to be a “little Oyarsa” in choosing who should live and who should not.
The quote I chose for this week’s blog can be found on page 86 as Ransom fights the urge to simply give himself up to Weston and Devine and decides to make the journey to Meldilorn to see Oyarsa. "In fact he was walking out of his own free will into the very trap that he had been trying to avoid ever since his arrival on Malacandra (Here the first change of mood tried to raise it's hand. He thrust it down.)"
ReplyDeleteI really like the way this quote is structured. The narrator makes it seem as if Ransom is leisurely walking out of the safe path of free will and headed towards the somewhat frightening path of meeting the Oyarsa and other sorns, since he has yet to meet them at this point in the novel. I really like the way Lewis put the emotion of uncertainty into an act (raising a hand). This gives the emotion more of a visual concept that anyone can relate too. Then, it seems as if as quickly as the hand was raised, Ransom knew he had to thrust it down in order to continue on his journey.
The underlying meaning of this particular quote does reappear within the text. The underlying meaning is an internal conflict that takes place in Ransom. This theme takes place at numerous times throughout the novel--this book really is a coming of age experience for Ransom.
At the beginning of the novel, Ransom is introduced as a somewhat mild-mannered professor enjoying a walk through the English countryside. By the end of the text, Ransom has been transformed into a man unafraid of death. This transformation takes place throughout the novel in a series of events which reveal Ransom's ability to portray courage and his willingness to face danger.
The quote that I found interesting was "Moreover, he knew nothing yet well enough to see it: you cannot see things till you know roughly what they are" (Ransom, 43). At this point the ship had just landed on Malacandra and he was observing the world around him. I think this quote could be taken literally, however I felt Lewis was hiding some message in that sentence.
ReplyDeleteAs we discussed today in class, when Ransom first landed on Malacandra everything he saw around him he compared to Earth. The "trees", the colors, even in inhabitants. He was very narrow-minded in the beginning of the story before he met all the hnau. I think Lewis was using this sentence to explain something about humanity, how quick we are to judge others and compare them to ourselves. We come across so many diverse cultures and races on our planet, but so often we can't get past what we "see" with your eyes. To be able to fully understand and appreciate everyone for who they are we must "see" and understand their differences and accept those differences as they are. I think this can be describes as another "bent" characteristic of humanity.
Later in the text, when Ransom meets Hyoi, he is at first repulsed by his animal characteristics. As they spend more time together, Ransom begins to see the creature for what he really is, animal characteristics, but also human ones as well. The entire last paragraph on page 59 applies, but I am just going to quote where Ransom says, "Nothing could be more disgusting than the one impression; nothing more delightful than the other. It all depended on the point of view." I think at this point in the story Ransom can "see" Hyoi and the other hrossa for what they really are, and how fantastic they are as creatures even though they are very different from himself. Ransom has gotten over the fact that they are not human, but their differences are what make them so special to him.
Later in the text, at the end of chapter 12, "seeing" is brought up again. Hyoi and Ransom are in the boat, and Ransom is asking Hyoi questions about the Oyarsa and eldila. Ransom realizes that the little hross has seen an eldil, but he cannot see it. Hyoi tells Ransom, "One can tell by looking at your eyes, Hman, that they are different from ours. But the eldila are hard to see...But whether your eyes can see them I do not know..." (77). I think Hyoi's message is that you cannot "see" something, for example the eldila, until you can fully grasp and believe in what they are, who they are, and their importance. Again, this also relates to point of view. You can hear the description of the eldila and think this is bogus and never be able to fully understand their importance. Ransom, however, accepted the identity of hnau and with that the belief in the eldila and their importance. It wasn't until then that he could hear them, as well as see them.
I found that the quote on page 34, spoken by Ransom struck me to be extremely important. Ransom is speaking to himself while he gazes out into space from the space ship and remembers a quote by Milton, “happy climes ly, Where day never shuts his eye, Up in the broad fields of the sky.” This quote carries an immense amount of meaning and I saw that it also seems to foreshadow the journey that Ransom is unexpectedly about to take. When I read, “happy climes ly,” I immediately thought of Ransom’s journey to meet Oyarsa. The narrator describes one of Ransoms’ treks up to the top of a handramit, “The cold, increasing at every step, seemed to sap his vitality worse than any heat could have done. Already his lips were cracked; his breath, as he panted, showed like a cloud; his fingers were numb” (14.88). Ransom could have never anticipated the rough terrain, and harsh varying climates he would have to overcome during his time on Malacandra.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read, “Where day never shuts his eye,” I noticed day being personified as a “he.” It seemed to me that although the quote was talking about the time of day and light or the lack there of in space, it seems to me that the quote implies that Ransom would solemnly find times to shut his eyes. He is on a new planet with creatures he is led to believe are out to get him, therefore, the fact that he remembers this quote in space before this happens seems relevant to me.
The last part of this quote, “Up in the broad fields of the sky,” sticks out the most. When Ransom was first being introduces to outer space, he was awestruck by its vastness. However, that was all he believed was truly out there. After being on Malacandra and bonding with the creatures living there, Ransom realized that there were so many more possibilities and that the broad sky was filled with more than empty, breathtaking, beauty.
This quote’s importance, foreshadowing, and meaning is strewn throughout the book, “Out of the Silent Planet.” It sums up the entire novel in my eyes. It speaks about the rough journey of Ransom on a foreign planet and the realization he has about both himself and his world in the end.
“But a world is not made to last forever, much less a race” (Augray, 100) I think although the meaning of this terse phrase is rather straightforward there is some underlying meaning to it. When Augray is speaking here he is talking with Ransom about the old stone forests. How the planet used to have more life on it and although Oyarsa was there that he did not do anything because nothing can live forever. We see this theme of living forever reoccurring many times in the book. Although we are not positive at this point we do find out later that Weston has come to bring humans here and wants to move from planet to planet to let them live forever “Others come-make it our world” (Weston, 133) This idea of living forever is something that I think is strange for Lewis to write about as he is an avid Christian and they believe that one does live forever in heaven. Which someone could argue that is where Ransom is right now. However, I believe that with the theme of humans wanting to live forever and every other race knowing that it cannot be so Lewis is making a point about humanity being corrupt or “bent”. And that it is not right for humans to want to live forever and control everything like “little Oyarsa’s themselves” (Augray, 102). He could be explaining his beliefs that humans themselves are not in control and that they will die eventually.
ReplyDeleteWe can also see the underlying meaning of my phrase again when they are giving the “burial” to the three dead hrossa. None of the other creatures are very distraught over the loss; they are more only upset that another person took their life, which is unacceptable to them. They aren’t very upset because they understand things must pass. They say in their song “This is the second life, the other beginning.” (130) They understand and acknowledge some other life to be had, and are therefore reassured about the passing of the hrossa.
The phrase that stood out for me early in the book was what signified the first mentioning of what I believe to be C.S. Lewis’ main lesson to be learned in this book. On page 21, Weston and Devine are discussing their motives, and Weston says “We’re risking our own lives too. In a great cause-“. It is this ‘cause’ that creates the entire adventure. It is the reason for Weston and Devine to travel to another planet, along with the reason they needed to take Ransom along.
ReplyDeleteWe later find out what this motive is. Weston has planned the whole journey because he believes that the human race is superior to all others and has a destiny to take over and inhabit any new planet so that humans can live on forever, regardless of the consequences. Lewis shows what he wants to convey through this motive when the story reaches its end on Malacandra. First, Oyarsa explains the meaning of Weston’s desires in terms of the fallen Oyarsa of Earth. ‘He’ talks about the time the Earth’s Oyarsa became bent, and how he taught man to break every one of the universal laws except for “the love of kindred…which is not one of the greatest laws” (137). Weston is the stereotype of man that Lewis is portraying, which is one that is only concerned about what helps himself or mankind, with no broadened perspective with which to view anything and no concern for what he must do or who he must hurt along the way.
That being said, it is not that Lewis thinks we ought to hate all things to do with prolonging the human race or beneficial to ourselves, especially within the confines of Earth. He instead actually emphasizes the importance of loving humanity as Ransom is about to leave Meldilorn. Ransom chooses to go home with Weston and Devine when given a chance to stay because “Love of our own kind…is not the greatest of laws, but you, Oyarsa, have said it is a law.” (141)
This really struck me as the main ‘moral’ of the story. It is not that loving humanity and wishing for prolonged life is a bad thing, as it is something that should be desired. However, one should not do so without compassion, mercy, and empathy toward all things as well as an understanding that all life comes to an end at some point. Lewis makes the strong case that this is just a part of life, and trying to avoid the end of life entirely is not appropriate.
I found that the quote "the movement became a mechanical rhythm-from weariness to stillness, from stillness to unbearable cold, from cold to motion again" on page 88 was definetely a phrase of deeper meaning. In the scene he is describing how he felt as he was walking towards the home of Augray. However, what I found to be intereting was he is describing his movement towards Augray's home as if it is "mechanical". This makes me think that it is as if he has no control or it is something that just comes natural due to redundancy. To me it makes me think that he has done this kind of journey before almost like it is second nature. Then you get to the point where he begin to describe his movements. I think that the description of his movements is something that he is familiar with as well. The progression of his movements are like his progressions on Malacandra. When Ransom first wakes up in the ship in the beginning of the story he is weary and then once he discovers he is in shock and taken back, as in "stiffness". Then when the ship lands on Malacandra he is over the shock of the whole idea and seems almost accepting of the idea. However, once he sees that Weston and Devine are trying to give him to the sorns, he panics and runs. At this point he is all alone, in a strange world, left in a despariable position, almost as if he is in an "unbearable cold" all alone. Then once Ransom calms himself down and ventures into the planet further he meets the hross. Once he meets the hross, he starts to fit in with this species and feels almost like he is starting to belong. Its almost as if Ransom feels like he can move again in the world.
ReplyDeleteYou do however see this type of underlying meaning first show up in the beginning of the book, "But all these actions he had performed mechanically. Stripping, eating, and drinking passed almost unnoticed...". Here, once again, Ransom is tranforming and becoming almost accustomed to the idea of another planet. He thinks about something as simple as eating a "mechanical" action, something that does not require much thought and comes natural. I think that this is the point where you begin to see how Ransom is changing and the preceeding quote further proves that. It is almost as if as Ransom's world changes so does his idealalities.
The phrase I chose is the last sentence on page 59, “It all depended on the point of view.” (Ransom, 59) This phrase stuck out to me because it was simply stated that Ransom could have been looking at the hross with a positive or negative connotation, but the interpretation of the hross embodiment was that of the person who could be looking at it. Even before this phrase, on pages 43 and 44 when Ransom sees Malacandra for the first time, he admits that it is beautiful and it was not what he expected. He expected desolate land or something of unattractiveness because that is the point of view he has always known. However, his point of view starts to change once he has seen the landscape.
ReplyDeleteOn page 75 when Ransom was talking to Hyoi and they were discussing the way of the hrossa Ransom has a point of view about the ways of life because that is what he knows from Earth. However he starts to change his point of view to that of the hrossa thinking that maybe they were living simple way compared to Man and his point of view of man-kind begins to change saying that his species was a puzzle. Another time that Ransom’s point of view stuck out to me was in Chapter 15 right at the beginning. “Now that he stood face to face with the spectre that had haunted him ever since he set foot of Malacandra, Ransom felt a surprising indifference.” (Narrator, 91) You can see here that he is starting to be at ease with the things that he is experiencing. His point of view changes from his way of life to going along with their way of life. His point of view of fear starts to change as well. Of everything that he is afraid of he starts to see that maybe he has little to be afraid of and embraces his surroundings.
In Chapter 18 Ransom admits to Oyarsa that bent creatures are full of fears but he is there now(page 121), which to me speaks that he has changed his point of view and he is proving that by facing his fears and doing as Oyarsa has requested. Overall Ransom started his journey with a point of view that he would not survive whatever it was he was going to experience but in the end that point of view changed and he was able to appreciate the learning and experience.
One phrase from C.S. Lewis’ Out of the Silent Planet that particularly sparked my interest came in the last few pages of the book. The interesting thing, in my personal reading experience, was that this quote suddenly illuminated in my mind on of the most important, yet possibly overlooked, themes in the book. On their return journey to earth, just after the men escaped the close encounter with the sun, the narrator states “Weston had so far succeeded; he had risked the highest temperature at which human life could theoretically survive, and they had lived through it. But they were not the same men” (146). At first glance, I had a hunch that these sentences were important, but it took a few moments for it to hit me. This statement, in several ways, symbolized the journey of these men, particularly Ransom, not through time and space, but through the development of a better understanding and appreciation of the universe, the sanctity of life, and the true brotherhood of man.
ReplyDeleteThis phrase, even though it is uttered towards the very end of the book, can be applied towards the entire rest of the text leading up to it. For example, as Ransom’s time on Malacandra progresses, the reader begins to notice that his planetary allegiance is slowly swaying towards Malacandra as he began to “develop habits” such as his “favourite walks and his favourite foods” (66). His appreciation for the beauty of Malacandra and the species that inhabit it goes from one of bewilderment to one of an almost patriotic familiarity and adoration (106). Not coincidentally, this growth of appreciation for the geographical beauty of Malacandra goes hand in hand with Ransom’s radically improved understanding of the sanctity and majesty of all life. His first impressions of the sorns and the hrossa are not positive, immediately comparing them to beast-like savages fashioned out of his preconceived notions of aliens and monsters (55). You begin to see Ransom’s transformation most clearly at the end of Chapter 9, when he compared the two possible depictions of the hrossa, “nothing could be more disgusting than the one impression; nothing more delightful than the other. It all depended on the point of view” (59). From this point on, until the return journey to Earth, Ransom becomes more and more engrained into the culture of Malacandra, even beginning to identify more with the species there than with man.
This adjusted view of life, along with the realization of the “bentness” of Earth (120), led Ransom to realize just how important it is for a species to be totally united in belief and practice. While on Malacandra, Ransom witnessed how the three dominant species lived together, in harmony, without any concept of “war, slavery, or prostitution” (102). This harmonious relationship, the story of how Earth became silent (120), and the fact that the “instincts of the hrossa so closely resembled the unattained ideals of that far-divided species Man whose instincts were so deplorably different” (75), all shaped within Ransom a newfound belief and admiration in the brotherhood and mutual respect of man.
So, as the quote on page 146 so aptly describes, the men, on their return trip to Earth, “theoretically survive[d]” the harsh temperatures of the sun, but the time spent on Malacandra had a resounding affect on them, challenging their every belief and value about the human condition, assuring that, upon return, they would not be “the same men” (146).
There are many memorable phrases in C.S. Lewis's work that can be taken as life lessons and this is the reason that I felt that this text was one that sticks with the reader and opens our eyes to the way that we think. I think that the text dealt a great deal with the idea of perspective more than anything else and for this reason I find that the quote on page 59 by Ransom when he says "Nothing could be more disgusting than one impression; nothing more delightful than the other. It all depended on point of view". This is a memorable quote and is illuminated multiple times in other parts of the work.
ReplyDeleteWhen Ransom first meets the Hrossa he claims that he is aware that he "might be facing instant death" (p56) and he is truly perplexed by and afraid of the beast. He assumes that he is superior and is even shocked by the fact that the Hrossa seems to have the ability to articulate language shortly after. When you compare these thoughts with his reaction to the end of chapter 13 when Ransom is having a conversation with the Hrossa you can see that in a number of short weeks Ransom's point of view has changed a great deal. He says that man would kill if "they thought death would serve them" (p.83) and this statement puts his fellow man as the less civilized and more beastly character as opposed to his original thoughts. Ransom goes on to say that "we are all a bent race" and "we have come here to bring evil"(p82). The moment in the story when the idea of changed point of view is most prevalent is when Ransom speaks about the image of Hyoi when he is dead. Ransom actually acknowledges that his views have changed by saying that "Hyoi's face became as alien it had seemed in their first meeting" (p82). When we read closely the word "seemed" stands out the most. This suggests that the beast had only seemed alien in the first place and implies a changed view. Ransom now see's the world through new eyes and this is an important theme throughout the book. The most important thing to take away from this idea is that point of view can change and is relative. It is not a question of whether it has changed or why, but rather the fact that things are not always what they seem and these changes can make a huge difference in the course of events that follow in the work.
I chose to use the first phrase “small claims must give way to great” (Weston, 29). The context of this phrase is in the beginning of the novel, when Ransom is abducted by Weston and he questions his actions. Weston meant with this phrase that the rights of one man are less important than that of the whole world and the greater good. However this concise phrase has greater meaning that reaches through the entire story.
ReplyDeleteI took this phrase to also mean that one small part of society can represent an entire planet. Ransom is this small representation of earth but when he met the hross he gave them an overview of the culture of earth. In his description of humans he is ashamed of the war and negative actions of his people in comparison to the creatures on Malacandra. He has but a small perspective on a great topic but is a big influence on how the hross view humans.
Further in the story in Chapter 15 Ransom meets Augray and discusses earth. In realizing that the “silent planet” Thulcandra is earth, Ransom feels that what he thought was important is not. Earth is just a small part of the universe and humans normally feel like everything revolves around them. The Earth is a small part of the large universe and the bigger picture which is another interpretation of the phrase.
Also throughout the narrative Ransom’s small journey can be seen as a tiny window viewing the greater picture of existence. His travels are enriched with knowledge and understanding that were not anticipated initially. When meeting Oyarsa this journey is summed up when it explains the formation of the planets.
It seems that there are a lot of representations and interpretations of “small claims must give way to great”. In both single events and the encompassing narrative this phrase has significant meaning.
The line that I wanted to use is the very last line of the book "Now that 'Weston' has shut the door, "Now that 'Weston' has shut the door, the way to the planets lies through the past; if
ReplyDeletethere is to be any more space-travelling, it will have to be time-travelling as well ...!".
The first thing that jumps out in this sentence is something that we discussed in class and that was the "wager" between Lewis and Tolkien. Each had to write a story, Lewis about space travel, and Tolkien about time travel. I believe that the last part of the sentence is a direct reference to this.
The next part that caught my eye was the very beginning of the sentence ""Now that 'Weston' has shut the door". Ransom is blaming Weston for ruining any chance that they would have had to talk to Malacandra anymore. However, I am not sure if all the blame should be put onto Weston. I mean one of the other reasons for the door closes is the bent Oyarsa. If it wasn't for it then we would still be in contact with the Oyarsa of the other worlds.
The next part "the way to the planets lies through the past" shows that Lewis is very pessimistic about our civilization ever getting the knowledge to build another space ship and going to Mars again. OR, he could believe that the Oyarsa will not let humans travel to Mars again since they have the power to "unbody" things even in space. But by looking into the past we may not be able to go to the planets again either. As far as we (the readers) know, the only time something has traveled between the planets was the two trips that Weston and Devine have taken. Therefore there should not be a whole lot of knowledge they can gain from the past.
The passage that I chose occurs on page 86 as he is questioning his journey to come."Here the first change of mood tried to raise its head. He thrust it down."
ReplyDeleteIn this instance Ransom overrides his worries and fear and commits himself to the journey. This is one of the first instances where Ransom does not keep questioning his choice of action. Throughout the novel he is quite unsure of all, as it's hard to make light in his head of just all that is happening. But it is strange to see the hesitance in such as a man as Ransom. I'd believe a highly educated man such as Ransom would be more definitive with his thoughts and action. For instance, at the end of chapter 8 Ransom tries to talk himself out of staying the night in a possibly unsafe spot."You're quite right, Ransom," he answered mumbingly. "It's not a safe place to spend the night. We'll just rest hear a bit till you feel better, Then we'll go on again." He only falls asleep because his body had endured all it could, he never made up his mind as he drifted off to sleep.
Ransom is everchanged in this journey, and finally starts walking on his free will just as he had set out to do at the beginning of the book. This newfound persistence within Ransom had led him to Meldilorn, it was his choice. He started outing walking just to walk, to escaping possible danger, then finally on his own free will.
The Quote that sticks out to me is found on page 121. Ransom is speaking for the first time with the Oyarsa and he is about to begin the whole question and answer time for why he is there. But before he does, this is what he states: “That is true, Oyarsa. Bent creatures are full of fears. But I am here now and ready to know your will for me.”
ReplyDeleteThis sticks out to me for a few reasons. One of these reasons is that it so summarizes us and human nature, which is what I think Ransom is on “trial” for. We all have a capacity for evil within us, and because of that, we can be classified as bent. We all have several fears with us, whether they are justified or not, significant or not. Ransom is summarizing himself along with the rest of humanity in this questioning with Oyarsa, and after telling us that he is fearful, he is stating that he can move beyond this fear to do what is necessary, which is also a good summary of humanity. He is willing to move on from his fears to work out a solution that will benefit all the parties involved.
Another thing that this calls to mind is the whole rest of the book. We have seen Ransom as he fears when he first meets and is kidnapped by Devine and Weston. We see him cower on the space ship at the description of the Sorns. We see him run with fear from the Sorns when he first sees them. We see him hide from the Hrossa when he first meets them. All of this points to the fact that he is full of fears, which means that in a sense he is a bent creature. But since coming to Malacandra, and even before, Ransom has faced the challenges and moved forward. He gets a weapon to defend himself before leaving the ship. He steps out and interacts with the Hrossa, eventually going on a dangerous hunt with them. He leaves them on his own to travel to see the Oyarsa, when he has fear and trepidation about the journey. All of this shows, fear can be set aside when it is needed to be.
This quote is a powerful summary of who we are. The book itself shows us the ways that we fear and how we act based upon those fears. Maybe it is time for us to say “But I am here now and ready to know your will for me.” Maybe we need to set aside our fears and work together to bring about a better world.
The quote I selected is on page 70, at the bottom of the page.
ReplyDelete“Ah – the intelligentsia,” thought Ransom. “They must be the real rulers, however it is disguised.”
At this point in the book, Ransom has been living with the hrossa for several weeks. He has been assessing the hrossa culture and slowly learning their language. As his skills in the language improve, he begins asking more and more questions to quench his thirst for knowledge. Once he learns of the seroni and their focus on knowledge and wisdom, he assumes that they are the ruling class on Malacandra. Ransom is doing what most would do in similar situations: comparing an unknown place (Malacandra) to a known place (Earth/UK). Ransom is plagued by the imperfections of his world. Having been exposed to all the bad that occurs on Earth, he can only assume that the same happens everywhere else. He cannot envision a communal society that shares, rather than demands, when something is needed. On top of that, Ransom also believes that those who are the wisest and most knowledgeable use their power to exploit the others residing on the planet. Ransom, being an academic, understands the power that can be gained from knowledge. Ransom, however, cannot grasp the concept that a group (seroni) would choose not to use this to their advantage.
This is proven false several times throughout the book, but Ransom does not quickly accept the proof. On page 75, he states “… how came it that the insticts of the hrossa so closely resembled the unattained ideals of that far-divided species Man whose instincts were so deplorably different?” Ransom knows the flaws in humanity, and recognizes that the hrossa have none of these in their way of life. He believes that there can be a potentially perfect individual culture, but he does not believe that it can be a part of a larger, more perfect world. He still believes that there is a ruling class exploiting these hrossa for some benefit, and that the hrossa just cannot see it. Even after he decides to be decisive and follow through with his plans, he wrestles with the concept that the hrossa are “…superior to their masters in all the qualities that human beings value, but intellectually inferior to them and dependent on them.” (86) Even when he meets Augray, he is trying to figure out what role the seroni play. “He was trying once more … to find out the political an economic framework of Malacandrian life.” (98) He also questions the pfifltriggi on a former hierarchical system in which the hrossa ruled after learning about the universal hrossa language: “Did the hross once rule the others?” (114)
While there is no specific moment when Ransom realizes that his thoughts about Malacandra were wrong, I believe his realization begins just after Augray leaves him with the hrossa on the threshold of Meldilorn: “… all three species of hnau served him in their various capacities”. (107) It doesn’t seem to be until after his meeting with Oyarsa that he fully understands the peaceful and communal world. On page 141 he states: “Love of our own kind is not the greatest of laws, but you, Oyarsa, have said it is a law.”
Throughout the book Ransom changes many times in his thinking of himself and his journey. I chose the very last sentence on page 59 when Ransom realizes that everything depends on the point of view. At this point in the book Ransom was realizing you could think of the Hrossa in one or two ways: a negative or a positive point of view. When he first meets them his view was negative because he saw them as these giant, beast-like creatures that he was afraid of. However, Ransom changes his mind when he stays with them and finds out they compare to humans.
ReplyDeleteThe Hrossa also change his point of view in a different way as well. When he first comes to Malacandra he tries to compare everything (including the Hrossa) to things he knows on Earth. But then in Chapter 19 when the Hrossa bring in Weston and Devine as prisoners he doesn’t recognize their body shapes and realizes that “for one privileged moment, had seen the human form with almost Malacandrian eyes” (pg124). He had gone from his Earthly, human point of view of trying to compare everything to his home planet to actually becoming like the Malacandrians and thinking of himself as one, even for a split second. To me this is a huge part of the book because as I was reading this book I kept trying to compare Lewis’s descriptions of the scenery and species to things here on Earth so I could get a mental picture. I just couldn’t imagine not being able to recognize a human when I am one myself. This part of the book shows that Ransom had grown throughout the story, became accepting of the Malacandrian ways, and changed his point of view on the Human race and what it stood for.
There was on line from C.S. Lewis in "Out f Silent Planet" that I really did think hard about. While Ransom is still on the spaceship before reaching the new planet, the narrator reads that "It is hard for a man to brood on the future when he is feeling so extremely
ReplyDeletewell as Ransom now felt". Now in this reference he is referring to first learning of traveling through space and being on the spaceship. This made me think about how Ransom treats his other situations throughout the book. He is a man who I feel is bored with his life. Not so much in the sense of what he does but what he has not done. I get the feeling throughout his whole story that despite all that is happening to him, he has a growing sense of achievement throughout each episode. This line here I saw as the first indications toward what he was really looking for when he was walking through the country side at the beginning. He gets so caught up in the moment that he becomes more and more oblivious to the life he left behind. I think this not only shows about Ransom's early ignorance in the story, but his progressive growth throughout his quest.
The quote in the book Out of the Silent Planet came from page 13 of the first chapter:
ReplyDelete“and the soothing stillness of the garden, the beauty of the summer sky… seemed only to emphasize the underlying tranquility of his surroundings.” (Narrator.13)
Even though this quote came from the beginning of C.S. Lewis’ book, I still found it very insightful. It is a small foreshadowing clue for the reader. Of course, I am very fond of symbolism and this was a perfect example. I found that Ransom’s appreciation for the “extra-terrestrial” was something to send him on a voyage in the near future.
What I found interesting about stars was that they are often used as beacons over long journeys to keep an accurate and steady course to a future destination. The funny part about this use of landmarks was that Ransom’s was his destination as well (don’t know if I explained that well enough). There is always the slightest hint in a story or movie that is related to a future, significant event. After I read the line mentioned above, I felt that something relating to space, stars or an “out of body” experience was going to happen. Also, the way C.S. Lewis describe the setting as Ransom is sitting on Devine and Weston’s porch, was appealing to every sense (except taste) and made the clue much more prominent to me.
It was nice that throughout the story, Ransom was able to always look into the vast expanse of space, whether on planet Earth, or Malacandra, and see his equivalent of the “Northern Star”.