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 5 pm next Thursday (10.13)
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| An xkcd webcomic. xkcd.com/451 |
Small claims must give way to great. (Weston, 29)
ReplyDeleteThis previously mentioned quote is demonstarted through two main points later in the book. Weston states to Oyarsa: Life's "highest form-civilized man- and in me as his representative, she presses forward to that interplanatery leap which will, perhaps, place her forever beyond the reach of death (p. 135)." The second place that demonstrates Weston's lack of growth or change in his ideas is on page 135, "it would not be the act of a bent hnau if our people killed all your people (Weston says to Oyarsa with Ransom translating)." Weston still believes in the advancement of the human race in anyway possible, even with the depletion of another race, to further mankind's scientific successes and advancement.
"That is true, Oyarsa. Bent creatures are full of fears." (pg 121) In the quote, Ransom is explaining his reluctance to come see Oyarsa as he had been told to do before. This quote which seems simple at first comes into play towards the end of the book when we see Weston and Devine communicating with the inhabitants of Malacandra. They are confused and do not understand the language that the pfifltrig speak. So instead of trying to figure it out they threaten an old sleeping pfifltrig with guns. (pg 126) This shows that when afraid, they act in a way that puts them at an advantage.
ReplyDelete"It is because every one of them wants to be a little Oyarsa himself." (Augray, 102). In this quote, Augray is talking about the beasts that do not have someone ruling over them. This quote may seem unrelated to many of the things in the book, but as I was reading the book I related this quote to the real world. Many people only rely on themselves for the strength, courage, wisdom, and rest needed to live because they believe they are self-sufficient. They do not believe that they need to rely on anyone to help them get through the day. Therefore this quote relates to the real world because there are people trying to be their own saviors because they do not have one, just as the beasts do not have an Oyarsa.
ReplyDelete“In that moment Ransom made a decision. He could face death, but not the sorns.” (Narrator, 37) Here Ransom is displaying a complete lack of confidence. He is scared of the unknown (the sorn). Ransom, instead of facing his fear of the unknown of being sacrificed, he wants to commit suicide instead of being sacrificed. However, as Ransom advances farther into the book, his confidence and attitude change towards what was originally the unknown. “In fact he was walking of his free will into the very trap he had been trying to avoid.” (Narrator, 86) Ransom, now being more comfortable with what was originally the unknown, is now taking on a new task that is the new unknown. It is common for a human to be scared of something that is out of their comfort zone and, once they become familiar with it, they will be willing to take on a new task.
ReplyDelete(Page 76, Hyoi) “I do not think the forest would be so bright, nor the water so warm, nor love so sweet, if there were no danger in the lakes”
ReplyDeleteRansom’s perspective on the sorns expands upon this idea. “”Ogres” he had called them when they first met his eyes…; “Titans” or “Angels” he now thought would have been a better word” (Page 101). If Ransom did not first have this fear of the unknown creatures, he would not have come to respect and admire them as he now does. This theme can be applied to Oyarsa as well. Ransom “began to be afraid of [Oyarsa] before [he] set foot in [Oyarsa’s] world” (Page 119). The fact that Ransom had to overcome physically dangerous obstacles such as being kidnapped, hiding among the hrossa, and fighting a hnakra, made his final “homecoming” to Oyarsa that much more rewarding. In application to the readers, the realization of our own vulnerability can be daunting, yet it makes the simple accomplishments ultimately fulfilling.
"It is because every one of them wants to be a little Oyarsa himself," (Augray, 102).
ReplyDeleteThis statement describes the difference between Earth and all of the other planets. All of the other planets have a system; they have a ruler. There is one ruler, and then there are various intellectual species that live together. No one species is greater than the other, they realize their differences, and work together to accomplish certain goals. On Malacandra there are three intelligent species. The pfifltriggi dig and make things with what they dig up, the seroni had knowledge, and the hrossa were poets (pg 68,70). Each group had their talent, but no one species had reign over the others. No species had the desire to rule and all three species trust the Oyarsa as leader.
On earth there is no Oyarsa, and so the people become bent in many ways. Oyarsa said, "I did not think any creature could be so bent as to bring another of its own kind here by force." The statement that Augray says refers to how the people of Earth are each out for his own selfish gain. People are "bent" in a way that they are their own ruler, and each person decides what is right for him.
A good example of this is when Ransom describes how he arrived on Malacandra. Ransom explains that Weston intends evil to the people of Mars for the good of the humanity of Earth. Devine is only interested in "sun's blood" which he could exchange for wealth and riches. They have selfish intentions at the expense of the Malacandrian people. Devine and Weston are their own rulers and choose their motives; they are good samples of the kind of "bent" there is on Earth. The statement is made to contrast Earth from Mars. Kaitlyn said that the people of Earth are self sufficient, and rely on themselves to get through every day life. On Earth, people are on their own. On Malacandra, the various species work and live together.
(pg.87)(Ransom)"He looked back on that time as on a nightmare, on his own mood at that time as a sort of sickness. Then all had been whimpering, unanalysed, self- nourishing, self- consuming dismay. This statement is true to some reality, but twisting it into sober confidence in himself and the world and an element of pleasure? I am not so sure that he is even more righteous inside his economy and accuracy of vocabulary. Not saying it's not beautiful, just hard to follow.
ReplyDelete“happy climes that ly
ReplyDeleteWhere day never shuts his eye
Up in the broad fields of the sky.” (Ransom quoting John Milton’s Comus, page 34)
At this time in the story, Ransom is admiring the beauty of space, which he is enjoying despite the terms of his voyage. Being a philologist, it makes perfect sense why an Old English poet would come to mind for him. The term “climes” can refer to several things: climate, land, or sky. In this case, it is apparent that Ransom is suggesting the ‘sky’ definition. While “happy” may not describe the terms of Ransom’s joining this voyage, the sense of awe and wonder had to be overwhelming even in this circumstance. The second line is very interesting considering that Milton wrote this in 1634. How he knew that there was constant light in space is beyond me, but it is mentioned by Ransom on p. 33 “The lights trembled: they seemed to grow brighter as he looked.” The third line is simply describing the magnitude of what Ransom is experiencing.
This reminds me of when Ransom goes with the sorn to see Oyarsa. While he is not in space, he is nonetheless intrigued by the different lands and terrains he sees along the way, particularly that of the sorn’s territory. And finally when he arrives, he witnesses a different “…day never shuts his eye” in the eldila, although their lights are not as bright to the eyes. Since the eldila are always there, it is unlikely that this place is ever dark.
“The love of knowledge is a kind of madness.” (Narrator, 56) In this section of the text it’s discussing the language of the sorns and how Ransom decides to embark on a project to make Malacandrian grammar and learn the language. He knows about languages, so with the knowledge he has it creates more of a desire to know more and continue that growth. It can lead to extremes in different circumstances. People will go crazy and do extreme things in order to continue to increase that knowledge because it leaves them with a hunger. This occurs in Weston with even wanting to go to Malacandra. When he’s talking to Ransom on page 29 he says “We have learned how to jump off the speck of matter on which our species began; infinity, and therefore perhaps eternity, is being put into the hands of the human race.” Weston has attained knowledge that has caused him to go to extremes, to kidnap Ransom and head to another planet thinking he can keep humanity going. His knowledge is leaving him with the desire for more and to now overcome odds to do something no one else has. In a sense he has gone mad because it’s uncontrollable, and it’s all because it feels good to have the knowledge that other do not.
ReplyDeleteOn page 56 the narrator states, “The love of knowledge is a kind of madness.” Ransom is baffled by the fact that the hrossa has the ability to speak its own language. He is so interested that he immediately begins to toss around ideas of titles for a book he could write on the Malacandrian language (56). I believe that the meaning of this statement reappears throughout the rest of the novel, as Ransom is continually learning about himself, the Malacandrian creatures, their ideas on humanity, and about the planet itself. However, one section that really stood out to me as a reappearance of this statement was on pages 113 and 114. Ransom has just been “drawn” by the pfifltrigg and he asks how the hrossa, sorns, and pfifltrigg all can speak the same language (113-114). Ransom is still in disbelief about all of the creatures’ abilities to speak a language, let alone speak the same language. The pfifltrigg gives Ransom an answer and Ransom continues to question the pfifltrigg about the language and essentially the culture of the pfifltriggs. Ransom’s constant desire for new knowledge of the Malacandrians and all that they encompass is the driving force behind the growth that can be seen in his character in the end. His love of knowledge causes him to question the creatures and listen to what they have to say in order to learn something he did not know before. It’s very interesting to read about Ransom’s interactions because in the back of my mind, I could not picture Weston or Devine having any of the conversations Ransom has throughout.
ReplyDelete“The moment he had done so, it seemed to him that he had not till now fully made up his mind-“(p. 12). This quote is referring to when Ransom threw his pack over the hedge. This quote is the first time we see Random making the decision to continue on his “mission” or “journey”. Many other times throughout the book, Ransom is faced with similar decisions that affect the next part on his journey. On page 37 Ransom makes another decision to run away from Devine and Weston. This is significant because without this decision, Ransom’s journey would have probably ended. A negative decision Ransom made came in chapter 13 when it says, “But the other part of him urged him to hold on to his new-found manhood; now or never.” This decision leads to Hyoi’s death in the end. Ransom has had to make many decisions throughout the book and these decisions lead to outcomes. Some of those outcomes are bad, and other outcomes are good.
ReplyDelete"You cannot see things until you know roughly what they are " (page 43)
ReplyDeleteThis quote, spoken by the narrator, applies to when Ransom first arrives on Malecandra and had no previous knowlege of his surroundings. Before he had the opportunity to become acquainted with the landscape, wildlife, and creatures of Malecandra he did not know what he was seeing, so he neglected to look closely at the detail and discover what things truly were. The quote can also apply to Humans not being able to see the Eldil or Maleldil. At first, Ransom could not see them at all because he did not know of their existence. Once he was made known of their presence he was able to sort-of detect them with effort ( page 108). A comical example is when Devine and Weston are speaking to an old Hross in chapter 19. They believe the Hross to be speaking to them rather than Maleldil because they can't see him, therefore they don't believe he exists because they did not know what he was like Ransom did.
“Small claims must give way to great” (Weston,29)
ReplyDeleteIn this bit of text Weston is referring to his ideas that a sacrifice of one or a few thousand humans is well worth the risk to ensure the survival of the entire species. This idea truly comes to a head when Weston, Devine, and Ransom are all in the presence of Oyarsa. Weston tells Oyarsa, “No care for hnau. Care for man.” And it is this thinking that the entire book is trying to supersede. The creatures on Malacandra do not understand this concept, and as Ransom spends more time with them even he changes his mind-frame and agrees with the Malacandrians. Indeed, within the postscript it can be seen that Ransom wishes for all humans to be able to change their mind set. The key is to look at the bigger picture yes, but be aware that as hnau we cannot control our fates and we are all part of the circle of life.
“Every animal’s eyes see some things but not others.” (94) The sorn says this to Ransom as he’s trying to explain Oyarsa and the eldila. I found this very interesting because it pertains not only to their world, but any species ever created. The species of Malacandra live in such harmony because they can ‘see’ things that humans cannot. One explanation for why they are so unruly. I believe that Oyarsa and the eldila represent God and angels to Malacandra. Lewis later puts in the book how Thulcandra or Earth…do not see an Oyarsa or eldil, so they all try to rule themselves. “It is because every one of them wants to be a little Oyarsa himself” (102). For the human race, this is true. Not to say we each need a god to be good, but we all see things differently causing the hard history of war, slavery, and prostitution; things that existed on Earth that surprised the sorn could even exist.
ReplyDelete"It is because every one of them wants to be a little Oyarsa himself." (pg 102) This is when Ransom is speaking with the sorns, and Augray says this is why in the human race there has been war, slavery, and prostitution. It is interesting to me because even Oyarsa is no longer a person or being in this situation, but a light to follow or an idea of how to live correctly and in harmony with each other. It is only Earth that has disconnected with the other 7 planets, the rest of them are still intertwined and communicate with each other through their Maleldil. Augray is saying that every human wants to be a little bit of a ruler and have some power and authority in the human race. Which later on in the novel when Weston and Devine are brought to Oyarsa, they seem so different and contrasted between the ways of the Malacandrians. They do not agree with what Oyarsa says, they do not cooperate with what Oyarsa tells them to do, and they show all the weaknesses of the human race. When Augray says this about the human race, he is not just meaning it in the literal sense that humans want to be big and see through and made of light, but humans are in general a selfish, self-serving race that struggle to accept equality between everyone, which will eventually lead to the doom of our race.
ReplyDelete“The love of knowledge is a kind of madness.” (Narrator, 56)
ReplyDeleteWith this quote the narrator is stating that although the gain of knowledge can be exciting and something to be loved, it can also inspire negative emotions and drive a person crazy. I think this quote relates to page 96 when Ransom says, “That is my world.” It was the the bleakest moment in all his travels.” Prior to this quote Ransom wanted to learn about the planet Thulcandra that Augray spoke of. It was once he was shown Thulcandra/Earth, in a different form than he was used to, that he felt this bleakness. While he has wanted to know more, the reality of the knowledge was not quite as satisfying or fulfilling as he had imagined.
When discussing the human race that inhabits Earth, the old scorn said, “there must be rule, yet how can creatures rule themselves?” (pg 102) The idea of hierarchy in this book presents itself multiple times, such as when Ransom is searching for the ruler of this planet he has found himself on. Ransom thought that it was impossible to have a population without someone being in charge, someone to answer to. Earlier in the book, Ransom is trying to figure out who is in charge of Malacandra. “Were the hrossa the dominant species on Malacandra, and the scorns, despite their more man-like shape, merely a semi-intelligent kind of cattle?” (pg 60) For Ransom knowing how this planet works and who is in charge of everyone else is important. When the old scorn brings up the same questions, I find it interesting that the tables are now turned. The scorn wants to know who is in charge of the humans on earth. This shows that they are not so different in their thinking; both species understand that creatures cannot rule themselves.
ReplyDelete“A pleasure is full grown only when it is remembered” (Hyoi 74).
ReplyDeleteHyoi is speaking to Ransom trying to explain how he understands pleasure and memory as one entity, not as two separate units. He explains this to Ransom by using the example of their meeting. Hyoi states how when they initially met “it was over very shortly, it was nothing”(74). He goes on to explain that because it is in the past it is “growing something as we remember it” and when he recalls the meeting later in life, he will understand the real meaning (74). Hyoi is explaining how memory is a part of pleasure and as the memory grows and strengthens, the pleasure of the memory increases. Towards the end of chapter 19 I believe Ransom has a significant realization that is aided by Hyoi’s explanation of pleasure and memory. Lewis states, “to every man…there comes a moment when that which before was meaningless first lifts…and reveals…one glimpse of the indefinite possibilities within” (130). In this scene Ransom finally understands the Malacandrian songs. Through his memories, or the knowledge that he had already known about the creatures, he is finally able to “hear it with their ears” (130). Without Hyoi’s belief of memory being key to pleasure Ransom might not have reached this potential knowledge. Ransom must look back at what he thought meant nothing, and reassess what it truly means now. Due to this process and piecing everything together, Ransom is receiving greater pleasure with his realization.
"...a bent hnau can do more evil than a broken one." (Oyarsa, 137-138).
ReplyDeleteThe entire novel is a contrast between the evils of man and the innocence of a society working as one. The three main characters - Ransom, Devine, and Weston - represent different stages of "bentness". Weston is severely bent: he desires the continuation of humanity which is not so evil; however, his desire leads him to do evil. Weston is one who would sacrifice everything for the chance to continue humanity and is willing to kill for it. Ransom is bent; though, upon learning of Malacandra's peace, he sees his errors and is able to achieve goodness. Devine, however, is broken. He doesn't really understand what he's doing; he's only along for the ride, hoping to get rich in the process. A bent creature will do wrong in the name of right and a broken creature will only blindly follow, harmless.
When Ransom says "We are all a bent race" (page 82), that is extended throughout the rest of the book. Later, when he is talking to Oyarsa, Ransom mentions again that Thulcandra is a bent planet (page 120). Oyarsa talks all about how the Oyarsa of Thulcandra wanted to take control of the other planets and that is why they are all bent. Augray also says that they are bent because everyone wants to be a little Oyarsa himself (page 102). This is a big theme in the book beause it shows the difference between earth and the surrounding planets.
ReplyDeleteWhen the Hressni are gathering together to hunt the hnarkra, Ransom slips into a sort of reflection concerning his being a part of the hunting party. He thinks to himself: "It was necessary, and the necessary was always possible" (79). This idea comes around a lot during Ransom's journey on Malacandra but it specifically reminded me of when he was climbing the cliffs to get to Augray. "Already his lips were cracked; his breath, as he panted, showed like a cloud; his fingers were numb" (88). This describes Ransom's battle against the elements as he climbed higher and higher. And yet his arrival was necessary; Ransom had to get where he was going and he acknowledges his own human weakness now and again in his ascent. For example, he realizes, "a hundred paces more and if he sat down he would sit forever" (88). The upward journey is taxing on his stamina but he is still logical and finds a way to make it. Lewis describes his ascent after this moment by writing, "The movement became a mechanical rhythm--from weariness to stillness, from stillness to unbearable cold, from cold to motion again" (88). Ransom adapted a method to get up the mountain and reach his destination because it was necessary.
ReplyDelete"Bent creatures are full of fears"-Ransom, page 121
ReplyDeleteThis quote, made by Ransom, is expanded upon later on in the text. On page 149, Ransom "realized that he was still in the space-ship. the others, in fear of its threatened 'unbodying' had characteristically abandoned it the moment it touched Earth and left him to his fate.". The "others" in the passage were the ones referred to as the "bent creatures" from the first quote. Ransom was talking about how humans were fearful of the misdeeds of others, because they themselves are capable of every misdeed. Meaning, that you cannot trust any human, because every human is "bent" and does bad things. No human can be trusted. This creates a prominent characteristic in the human race, selfishness. this selfishness is shown through several points in the book, including the kidnapping of Ransom(pp. 20-22), the attempted kidnapping of Harry (pp. 13-14), the offering of Ransom as a sacrifice (p. 46), and the leaving of Ransom in a spaceship that was supposed to "unbody" itself (p. 149). The original statement made by Ransom alludes to further selfish behaviors by bent men later on in the book.
These things are not strange, Small One, though they are beyond our senses--spoken by Augray. This quote, to me is insightful and interesting because it highlights that things that we cannot smell, touch, look at, hear or feel aren't strange, they just aren't really ours to "have" or control. I like this thought because things are like that in life, especially faith or love, and they aren't strange they are just there and we accept them. This quote also is just lovely because it helps underline how great these creatures are on Mars and how full of knowledge they are. Their civilization is so ahead of ours and just inherently good. It is almost like I want to read a book of Oyarsa's knowledge and thoughts, but that's just a side note.
ReplyDeleteThere are times when the narrator becomes sagely, enlightened, and spouts what is to be taken as a universal truth. I have used this line before, but is such a very good line and should not go to waste. "...[H]e knew nothing yet well enough to see it; you cannot see things till you know roughly what they are" (43). This quote resounds through the rest of the narrative; it is frequently, eerily relevant. For example, Ransom had no idea what hrossa facial expressions were or even that they had facial expressions. Later, he was exposed to the hrossa and learned that he was missing out on the dynamics of hrossa communication. He didn't know the water was OK to drink until he tested it. He also finds some interesting things on human morality and god-complexes that he didn't realize until he sees creatures without human sinfulness/ambition/selfishness/what have you.
ReplyDeleteOn page 74, Hyoi says that "A pleasure is full grown only when it is remembered." Hyoi is teaching Ransom the hrossa way, and explaining to him that there is more to just living the pleasure. There is the also the remembrance of the pleasure, and for the hrossa that is much more important than getting to experience the pleasure all the time. This idea of remembrance comes up later in the novel when Ransom meets the sorn who is a scientist with Augray. When Ransom realizes that there are few books in Malacandra, the sorns tell him that "It is better to remember" (101). Remembering seems to be very important in the Malacandrian culture. All of the creatures have so much faith in Oyarsa to give them the power to never forget what does not need to be forgotten. The Malacandrians have developed a very stable way of life by relying much more on the memory than the actual pleasure. They do not need to keep reliving pleasures, and this makes their life very simple. It is the core value at their society, and I believe is one of the main reasons it is such a peaceful and gentle planet.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIn several instances throughout the novel, CS Lewis contrasts a world of corruption (Thulcandra) with a world of innocence (Malacandra). The distinction between the contrasting lifestyles is made apparent when Ransom asks, “The best poetry, then, comes in the roughest speech?” and Kanakaberaka responds, “Perhaps…As the best pictures are made in the hardest stone,” (pg 114). These phrases extend beyond their immediate contexts by implying that the joys of life are not restricted to elegance and luxury, a concept that bewilders Ransom. This view of simplistic happiness is reiterated during the debate between Weston and Oyarsa. Oyarsa proclaims that simply maintaining the wisdom to endure death eliminates fear and instills peace and happiness. This concept is foreign to a corrupted mankind, as represented by Weston siding with the Bent One in his efforts to resist death.
ReplyDelete"It was necessary, and the necessary was always possible"(Ransom, 79)
ReplyDeleteThis quote is actually a thought rather than a true spoken quite by Ransom and it occurs after the hnakra has been hunted he and the hrossa. Although Ransom may have had this thought because he realized he was courageous and brave enough to complete such a task with a hnau he had just met, I also believe it could be applied to future sections of the text.
For example, Ransom just moments later finds himself traveling once again in such a foreign place directly towards the sorns. These sorns were the reason for Ransom's escape in the beginning, but he now headed towards them, on his way to meet Oyarsa. It would seem that on the planet of Malacandra, once summoned by an eldil to meet Oyarsa, it is definitely necessary. Irregardless of the fear Ransom might have had about this travel with Weston and Devine still wandering the planet, he knew it was a necessary task, and so made it possible through his new found courage.
On page 100, Augray says " A world is not made to last forever, much less a race, that is not Madelil's way" In this quote Lewis is referring back to Christianity on Earth and throughout the book it is talked about a higher power. He is pretty much explaining that this world is a a temporary home and that we are going to an eternal home beyond Earth.
ReplyDeleteKnowledge is an essential theme throughout Lewis' Out of the Silent Planet. Numerous quotes above from classmates show this as well as many other significant lines in the book. It's discussed in ways of knowing, learning and seeing. My particular line states, "But something he learned. Before anything else he learned that Malacandra was beautiful" (Lewis 43). While the majority of the knowledge described in the book is relevant to Ransom's career, a philologist, this type of knowledge has not yet been hinted on at this point in the story. Having arrived on Malacandra unwillingly, Ransom neglected the beauty of the land for his lack of knowledge about it. However after meeting the Hross and other members of this planet his ideas of life there have changed. For instance, he once viewed his earth as beautifully knowledgable but after living among the Malacandrians, he comes to see his home bleakly, as a "dull" planet Lewis 96).
ReplyDeleteTherefore, the quote not only shows that he longed for earth solely for the knowledge it once supported him with but that his idea of knowledge has altered. He learns of the beauty on Malacandra by visualizing it, the way of Malacandrians by living it, and how his own planet is truly bent by seeing it. His revelation accounts for the idea that, like Chris Powell's quote states, "...[H]e knew nothing yet well enough to see it; you cannot see things till you know roughly what they are" (Lewis 43). And though his prior knowledge was not enough to allow him to truly see Malacandra, he learned of its beauty as soon as he arrived.
"The love of knowledge is a kind of madness." (Narrator, 56)
ReplyDeleteThe best way that I can put this into simpler terms is that a real want for knowledge is sometimes strong enough to make people do crazy things, or just drive them crazy. Examples of both of these are reiterated throughout the book. Two main ones seemed to pop out at me. The first is the meeting between Ransom and Hyoi: "Neither dared let the other approach, yet each repeatedly felt the impulse to do so himself, and yielded to it. It was foolish, frightening, ecstatic and unbearable all in one moment" (Narrator, 57). Here, the impulse of wanting to know and wanting to learn about the other species made them both give in to curiosity, as crazy and dangerous they both know it could have been. But from the second line the quote, we see it's not necessarily a bad thing, that that curiosity can be more exciting than one could think.
The second place this theme comes back up is toward the very end of the book on their journey back to Earth: "Weston had slept very little even in his watches off; always, after an hour or os of uneasy rest, he had returned to his charts and to his endless, almost despairing, calculations." (Narrator, 146). Even though this is talking about the necessity of getting back to Earth to survive, the way in which Weston is described here makes him sound insane, trying to learn more and discover more. The whole journey was made originally simply for the purpose of more discovery (for Weston at least), and by the end this was the love of knowledge that almost turned the main cast of the story literally mad.
"The love of knowledge is a kind of madness." (Narrator, 56)
ReplyDeleteThis quote is probably my favorite out of the entire book. The story starts out as journey to discover more about Malacandria in Watson's case. The need to figure out more about the planet drives Watson to do some crazy things, like kidnap Ransom and plan to sacrifice him.
This quote is basically saying that the love of knowledge drives you to do insane things to attain more of it.
'It is because every one of them wants to be a little Oyarsa himself,' said Augray. (page 102)
ReplyDeleteThis quote is the one that stuck out to me the most because of its truth and how it applies even to us today. This quote appears in a discussion about how we on planet Earth have war and slavery and other things that the hross would consider "bent". I inferred this quote to refer to how on our planet, people think that they can play God and change the fate of others because THEY believe that that is what should happen, and they look inside themselves and draw on their own strength to make it happen, rather than just pray to god or listen for signs from a higher power to guide them in a specific way. When I think of someone trying to "play god" or be an oyarsa I think about Hitler. He thought that he was so "godlike" and the very best type of human being that could be on this planet, so he just killed people off that he did not find worthy of existance in his eyes. He wanted control and power and he wanted to be worshiped. Many people on our planet think that they should have the type of power to control everyone like the power God has over the life of the people that worship him. Hitler is one such example but there are many others. In Out of the Silent Planet, the discussion of being a "bent" person comes up quite frequently. And it is those people on Earth that want to be treated like a God and want that power and control that they become bent, usually resulting in them doing something bad and hurting others. Typically this is how most wars, conflict, drama, or murders have started, things that the hross could not imagine, because everyone wants to be a little Oyarsa.
On page 79, Ransom thinks "It was necessary, and the necessary was always possible." I find this thought extremely interesting and it definitely is reflected throughout the remainder of the book. At almost every stage of the book, Ransom finds himself faced with decisions to make. Instead of taking the easy way out, Ransom usually decides to face the obstacle head on and conquor it. One example is when he meets Hyoi. He did not NEED to learn the language of the hrossa, but he did because it was necessary to survive. He stayed positive because he knew it was possible.
ReplyDelete