Ecurb
09-27-2016, 08:04 PM
"Planet Narnia", written by Michael Ward and published in 2008, points out that the Narnia series is organized on the basis of Medieval Astrology. Ward was a PhD. student at Oxford, studying Lewis for his Doctor of Divinity dissertation.
Those familiar with C.S. Lewis and his works know that Lewis was interested in Medieval astrology. In his Science Fiction trilogy, "Out of the Silent Planet" is set on Mars, and has a "martial" plot and tone. "Perelandra" is set on Venus, and has a venereal mood and tone. In "That Hideous Strength" the rulers of the Planets (equivalent to angels in Christian mythology) play a personal role.
Narnia has been criticized as a 'mish mash" -- mixing up Greek mythology, talking animal English fiction, and E. Nesbit - like children's fantasy. Indeed, Lewis begins "The Magician's Nephew" with an homage to Nesbit (from memory) --"This was back in the days when the Bastables were still looking for treasure on Lewisham road."
Probably because of the obvious Christological symbolism, readers did not look further for an organizing principle -- until it occurred to Ward.
Ward's theory (and it's obvious and irrefutable, once he lays it out) is that each of the novels portrays the "aspect" of Christ symbolized by one of the planets. In addition, the mood, or "humor": of each book is imbued with the humor of the planet.
Ward backs his theory with both textual evidence, and evidence from Lewis's life. For example, Lewis wrote a poem called "The Planets". He describes Jupiter's tale as one:
Of wrath ended
And woes mended, of winter passed
And guilt forgiven, and goof fortune
Jove is master; and of jocund revel,
Laughter of ladies. The lion-hearted,
The myriad-minded, men like the gods,
Helps and heroes, helms of nations
Just and gentle, are Jove's children,
Work his wonders.
Of course, "winter passed" is exactly what happens in "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe".
The plan is: The Lion -- Jupiter
Prince Caspian -- Mars
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader -- Sol (the sun and moon were "planets" for medieval astrologers)
The Silver Chair -- Luna
The Horse and His Boy -- Mercury
The Magician's Nephew -- Venus
The Last Battle -- Satrun
Ward is a good writer, and he goes into detail supporting his theory (which I wrote about on these pages years ago, but I recently looked at the book again). There can be little doubt that Lews used it as an organizing principle, and the book is well worth reading for fans of Narnia.
As one example: Mercury is the patron of messengers and thieves. In "The Horse and His Boy", Shasta "steals" the horse Bree, and saves Archenland by serving as a messenger. In astrology, the constellation "Gemini" is ruled by Mercury. The Gemini were the twins, Castor and Pollux. Homer (whom Lewis had doubtless read) describes Castor as the "horse tamer" and Pollux as a great boxer. Of course Shasta "tames" Bree, not by teaching him to obey, but by befriending him and teaching him about prideless honor. Shasta's twin brother Corin is a boxer. Indeed, Shasta's real birth name is "Cor", and is we combine the names, we get C(sh)ast(a)or, which can hardly be a coincidence.
The argument for all of the other books is equally persuasive (or more so, because I've given the Cliff Notes version). Perhaps fans of Narnia and medieval astrology can try to figure out some of the connections for themselves. Or they can read the book. Medieval astrology, by the way, almost vanished with Copernicus and Gallileo, (who disproved the paradigm on which it was based), and astrology was revived in the late 19th century along with an interest in other forms of mysticism and supernaturalism. It bears only a slight resemblance to modern astrology.
Those familiar with C.S. Lewis and his works know that Lewis was interested in Medieval astrology. In his Science Fiction trilogy, "Out of the Silent Planet" is set on Mars, and has a "martial" plot and tone. "Perelandra" is set on Venus, and has a venereal mood and tone. In "That Hideous Strength" the rulers of the Planets (equivalent to angels in Christian mythology) play a personal role.
Narnia has been criticized as a 'mish mash" -- mixing up Greek mythology, talking animal English fiction, and E. Nesbit - like children's fantasy. Indeed, Lewis begins "The Magician's Nephew" with an homage to Nesbit (from memory) --"This was back in the days when the Bastables were still looking for treasure on Lewisham road."
Probably because of the obvious Christological symbolism, readers did not look further for an organizing principle -- until it occurred to Ward.
Ward's theory (and it's obvious and irrefutable, once he lays it out) is that each of the novels portrays the "aspect" of Christ symbolized by one of the planets. In addition, the mood, or "humor": of each book is imbued with the humor of the planet.
Ward backs his theory with both textual evidence, and evidence from Lewis's life. For example, Lewis wrote a poem called "The Planets". He describes Jupiter's tale as one:
Of wrath ended
And woes mended, of winter passed
And guilt forgiven, and goof fortune
Jove is master; and of jocund revel,
Laughter of ladies. The lion-hearted,
The myriad-minded, men like the gods,
Helps and heroes, helms of nations
Just and gentle, are Jove's children,
Work his wonders.
Of course, "winter passed" is exactly what happens in "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe".
The plan is: The Lion -- Jupiter
Prince Caspian -- Mars
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader -- Sol (the sun and moon were "planets" for medieval astrologers)
The Silver Chair -- Luna
The Horse and His Boy -- Mercury
The Magician's Nephew -- Venus
The Last Battle -- Satrun
Ward is a good writer, and he goes into detail supporting his theory (which I wrote about on these pages years ago, but I recently looked at the book again). There can be little doubt that Lews used it as an organizing principle, and the book is well worth reading for fans of Narnia.
As one example: Mercury is the patron of messengers and thieves. In "The Horse and His Boy", Shasta "steals" the horse Bree, and saves Archenland by serving as a messenger. In astrology, the constellation "Gemini" is ruled by Mercury. The Gemini were the twins, Castor and Pollux. Homer (whom Lewis had doubtless read) describes Castor as the "horse tamer" and Pollux as a great boxer. Of course Shasta "tames" Bree, not by teaching him to obey, but by befriending him and teaching him about prideless honor. Shasta's twin brother Corin is a boxer. Indeed, Shasta's real birth name is "Cor", and is we combine the names, we get C(sh)ast(a)or, which can hardly be a coincidence.
The argument for all of the other books is equally persuasive (or more so, because I've given the Cliff Notes version). Perhaps fans of Narnia and medieval astrology can try to figure out some of the connections for themselves. Or they can read the book. Medieval astrology, by the way, almost vanished with Copernicus and Gallileo, (who disproved the paradigm on which it was based), and astrology was revived in the late 19th century along with an interest in other forms of mysticism and supernaturalism. It bears only a slight resemblance to modern astrology.