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Apr. 4th, 2006 04:35 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
liptonrm_backupI HAVE NARNIA!!!!!!!!!!!!! *does goofy dance of JOY*
This is the perfect opportunity to discuss some Narnia related things that have been cycling around in my brain.
Right around the time the movie came out there was a lot of discussion about Lewis and his feelings about women and how stupid it was that Susan would be denied 'Heaven' at the end of The Last Battle because she liked boys and lipstick.
I too agree that those are stupid reasons to be denied eternal life. When I was young I was petty enough to think, 'Well, she got what she deserved.' because I was the type of kid who was much more like Lucy or Jill then I ever was like Susan. However, since that time I've had more opportunity to think about what Lewis was trying to say. I wish I could link to an article I read that stated that Lewis at Susan's age was much like Susan, that he had given up childish things because he thought they were silly and unimportant, an opinion he would later come to regret. It is my opinion that that is what Lewis was trying to say, that he wanted to have a character who didn't have perfect faith because not everybody does. I think that if he were to go on and finish Susan's story that he would portray her change of heart, her period of repentance and eventual eternal reward. That is my interpretation of the text and I'm sticking to it.
We also have to remember that the people who criticize Susan are Polly, a woman who has reached a point in her life where she has very little patience for the silliness of youth, and either Jill or Eustace (I'm not sure which) who don't know Susan very well and are judging her from their biased points of view. It's telling that not one of her siblings speaks out against her. Perhaps the only reason that Lewis never did finish Susan's story was because he wasn't yet sure how his own would finish, he had hopes and dreams but was probably uncertain of how everything would eventually turn out.
A good friend of mine, in responding to my Edmund drabble, stated:
[T]here is this Edmund drabble and holy crap.
I know now why the movie makes me cry - because I went to Narnia when I was a kid and I have always held on 'certain deep in his heart that Aslan will invite them all home someday.'
I'm waiting Aslan!
That's the chord that the idea of Narnia strikes, it's a reminder of where we've been and a hope of where we're going. I of course view this from my own personal religious beliefs, Mormons believe that we lived with God before this life and will return to live with him after, but the belief of a better world after this one is embraced by most of the religions with which I am acquainted. There's a voice deep inside that tells me that there has to be something more then this dull and dreary life. I too am waiting for Aslan to come and take me home.
The Pup seems to think that there are more important things that I should be doing, namely giving him my undivided attention. He's awfully pushy, probably because I spoil him.
Oh yes, in more shallow news have decided to go no the cereal diet for a couple weeks, my jeans are just a little tighter then I would like them to be. In Narnia one needn't worry about things like uncomfortable jeans and diets. No wonder I've started knocking on the backs of closets again. ;-)
This is the perfect opportunity to discuss some Narnia related things that have been cycling around in my brain.
Right around the time the movie came out there was a lot of discussion about Lewis and his feelings about women and how stupid it was that Susan would be denied 'Heaven' at the end of The Last Battle because she liked boys and lipstick.
I too agree that those are stupid reasons to be denied eternal life. When I was young I was petty enough to think, 'Well, she got what she deserved.' because I was the type of kid who was much more like Lucy or Jill then I ever was like Susan. However, since that time I've had more opportunity to think about what Lewis was trying to say. I wish I could link to an article I read that stated that Lewis at Susan's age was much like Susan, that he had given up childish things because he thought they were silly and unimportant, an opinion he would later come to regret. It is my opinion that that is what Lewis was trying to say, that he wanted to have a character who didn't have perfect faith because not everybody does. I think that if he were to go on and finish Susan's story that he would portray her change of heart, her period of repentance and eventual eternal reward. That is my interpretation of the text and I'm sticking to it.
We also have to remember that the people who criticize Susan are Polly, a woman who has reached a point in her life where she has very little patience for the silliness of youth, and either Jill or Eustace (I'm not sure which) who don't know Susan very well and are judging her from their biased points of view. It's telling that not one of her siblings speaks out against her. Perhaps the only reason that Lewis never did finish Susan's story was because he wasn't yet sure how his own would finish, he had hopes and dreams but was probably uncertain of how everything would eventually turn out.
A good friend of mine, in responding to my Edmund drabble, stated:
[T]here is this Edmund drabble and holy crap.
I know now why the movie makes me cry - because I went to Narnia when I was a kid and I have always held on 'certain deep in his heart that Aslan will invite them all home someday.'
I'm waiting Aslan!
That's the chord that the idea of Narnia strikes, it's a reminder of where we've been and a hope of where we're going. I of course view this from my own personal religious beliefs, Mormons believe that we lived with God before this life and will return to live with him after, but the belief of a better world after this one is embraced by most of the religions with which I am acquainted. There's a voice deep inside that tells me that there has to be something more then this dull and dreary life. I too am waiting for Aslan to come and take me home.
The Pup seems to think that there are more important things that I should be doing, namely giving him my undivided attention. He's awfully pushy, probably because I spoil him.
Oh yes, in more shallow news have decided to go no the cereal diet for a couple weeks, my jeans are just a little tighter then I would like them to be. In Narnia one needn't worry about things like uncomfortable jeans and diets. No wonder I've started knocking on the backs of closets again. ;-)
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Date: 2006-04-04 09:34 pm (UTC)Also very with you about the feeling of home and reward that Narnia brings up in me. I can't remember whether we've talked about this specifically, but when I was growing up, I had no religious exposure/experience at all. When I read about Aslan, I thought what a nice God he was. My parents were all the time telling me God was something everyone had to figure out for herself, so I read more and decided I wanted to believe in Aslan. The kicker for me was the chapter in The Last Battle where the children come across the Calmarine (Telmarine? crap) soldier who's met Aslan, not been devoured by Tash, and he recounts Aslan's discussion of faith and goodness--that it's not about what name you call your God, but what you do in his name that counts, what kind of person you are. Aslan by any other name, and all that.
Blah blah blah. I want my copy of Narnia now. Why didn't I add it to my BBM order? *is stupid*
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Date: 2006-04-05 05:45 am (UTC)I'm glad that I am born to die
Date: 2006-04-05 10:24 pm (UTC)My savior smiles and bids me come,
And I don't care to stay here long!
Sweet angels beckon me away,
To sing God's praise in endless day,
And I don't care to stay here long!
Right up yonder, Christians, away up yonder,
O, yes my Lord, for I don't care to stay here long.
I'm glad that I am born to die,
From grief and woe my soul shall fly,
And I don't care to stay here long!
Bright angels shall convey me home,
Away to New Jerusalem,
And I don't care to stay here long!
Right up yonder, Christians, away up yonder,
O, yes my Lord, for I don't care to stay here long.
Right up yonder, Christians, away up yonder,
O, yes my Lord, for I don't care to stay here long.