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S8E25: “Perelandra Retrospective” (Download)
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Show Notes
Introduction
Quote of the Week
He was riding the foamless swell of an ocean, fresh and cool after the fierce temperatures of heaven, but warm by earthly standards, as warm as a shallow bay with sandy bottom in a subtropical climate. As he rushed smoothly up the great convex hillside of the next wave, he caught a mouthful of the water. It was hardly at all flavored with salt. It was drinkable like fresh water and only by an infinitesimal degree less insipid. Though he had not been aware of thirst till now, his drink gave him a quite astonishing pleasure. It was almost like meeting pleasure itself for the first time.
C. S. Lewis, Perelandra
Chit-Chat
- In case you were wondering who gave the opening quotation, that was actually C. S. Lewis himself, in a recording obtained by The Rabbit Room.
- As we have finished all of the “Perelandra” related episodes, all of the cohosts have returned to reflect on the novel.
- Pints with Jack now has an option for annual memberships, with a 10 percent discount for signing up.
- David shared a sweet and funny moment from his kid’s bedtime routine.
- Andrew completed an interview with the Optimistic Curmudgeon Podcast. The host, Josh Herring, is an academic track presenter at the C. S. Lewis Conference.
- Also in his world, Vol. 40 of “7”, the journal from the Wade Center, just released. In this issue, readers will find all of the 1952 letters of Joy Davidman, which have never before been released. Speaking of Joy Davidman, there is a project in the works…
- Matt has been busy with work, and is about to launch a new financial help business project called Wealth Architect. Think Dave Ramsey meets high-end financial planner, a pocket CFO integrated with AI.
Toast
- Andrew is on his second mug of coffee for the day.
- Likewise, David was drinking tea.
- Matt had a pint of Athletic Brewing.
- Today we are toasting… Kaeley McGrane!
Discussion
01. “What’s Next?”
Q. Before diving into the book, let’s do an update on the season. What’s next on the docket?
- We began the season with “Perelandra”, then did a month with scholars talking about various aspects of the book. Next month is “Jack’s Bookshelf”, where we examine the authors and books that shaped Lewis. We will look into Aristotle, Wordsworth, Grahame, and T. S. Eliot.
- After that, we’ll have “Narnia Month” with Lazo-Major (Andrew’s wife), going over the cartoon version of “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe”. We will be perusing the adaptations of the books, in chronological publication order, including the black and white live action version.
- Finally, we will have a few more scholars on to talk about the literary influences behind Lewis’ works, by reading “Paths in the Snow” and “Narnia and the Fields of Arbol”, which was an especially requested book from our Slackers who wanted to learn about the Inklings and ecology.
02. “General Thoughts”
- While Lewis encorporated beautiful, sweeping landscapes, he also revisited the diabolical, bringing “The Screwtape Letters” into the Edenic paradise.
- Matt thought that the book was essentially a reverse of “Screwtape”, a feat Lewis did not think he could pull off. It combined pleasure and rightly-ordered creation, along with the drawing up into the Devine Will. It’s not quite the reversal of “Screwtape”, because lewis didn’t pull off angelic thought. He could, however, reach “un-fallen man” thought.
“To walk out of His will is to walk into nowhere.”
C. S. Lewis, Perelandra
- The hosts lamented the lack of knowledge around the book, and wondered if it would be as praised and accepted if more people knew about it, due to it being a more challenging read. Andrew, of course, wondered if the same could be true of “Till We Have Faces”.
- David also noted that reading it slowly, unlike his first time reading it, helped his understanding. Like much of Lewis, it should be read slowly, carefully, and in community.
- Perhaps
03. “Movie Adaptation”
Q. We spoke about a movie adaptation about Out of the Silent Planet before… what do you think about an adaptation of Perelandra? What would you change? Who would you cast?
- David believes that “Out of the Silent Planet” would make a great film, while “Perelandra” would be a bit more difficult; it would, however, make a fantastic radio play. The audiobook for “That Hideous Strength” went a little too fast, in his opinion.
04. “Favorite Lines”
05. “Perelandra Themes”
06. “East of Eden”
07. “Movie Adaptation”
Wrap Up
Concluding Thoughts
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