# The Narnia Books: "Racist, Mysoginistic, Reactionary" and Devoid of Love **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 19, 2005, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-narnia-books-racist-mysoginistic-reactionary-and-devoid-of-love/326899 "2005-10-19T14:31:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-narnia-books-racist-mysoginistic-reactionary-and-devoid-of-love/326899/141 "2005-12-14T16:25:03Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > Actually, far from being “the Christian view,” that’s Lewis’s view. Glad to see he convinced you. Go forth & convert more of your co-religionists. You really need to brush up on your theology and scripture. “In the Christian view, all good flows from God. Everything worthwhile.” James 1:17, and others “the major distinction is that Christians believe that we understand more of what we worship than others.” Acts 17:22 ff In my own (semi-fundamentlist) Bible education, I’ve never heard any different than Lewis on these points. Lewis differred from many Christians only by suggesting or implying (but AFAIK never saying outright) that the general grace and enlightenment given to all humans might lead to salvation outside of Christ. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-narnia-books-racist-mysoginistic-reactionary-and-devoid-of-love/326899/142 "2005-12-14T16:29:56Z")
> [@MacSpon](#): > > I’m surprised, reading this thread, at the discussion about Susan and whether she was unjustly treated in TLB. In particular I’m surprised that 'Dopers think that her downfall was because she was interested in make-up and “playing the adult”. > > The whole Narnia series is filled with metaphor and allegory. When I first read it, it never even occurred to me that the stated reasons for Susan’s downfall were _not_ metaphor. > > Quite simply, I always saw it that Susan was no longer a friend of Narnia _because she was no longer a Christian_. All the talk about lipstick and nylons and so forth was simply a metaphorical way of saying so. She became more interested in the material world than the spiritual one, lost faith, and no longer belonged. Well, quite. Peter’s description of Susan’s behaviour is a description of _symptoms_, not the _cause_ of what has happened to her. But it’s a literal description of the vapid and shallow things she now holds as more important than the “silly games they used to play as children”. > [@](#): > > … > That notwithstanding … Aslan said it himself: “Once a king or queen in Narnia, always a king or queen.” There is hope for her. King, queen or knave, I feel sure that Lewis would have it that there is hope for anyone, even those who pee away an enormous privilege. But it’s up to them to seize the opportunity. ---
**Author:** ![slaphead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@slaphead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slaphead)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-narnia-books-racist-mysoginistic-reactionary-and-devoid-of-love/326899/143 "2005-12-14T18:32:45Z")
> [@ExtraKun](#): > > Chronicles is written decades ago and I don’t think it is fair to judge it with today’s standards of what is politically correct. I agree. The books were written in the period 1950-56. Half a century later, they are a little out of touch with the prevailing zeitgeist, which is unsurprising, given that it’s going on for 3 generations ago. If anyone can find a work of fiction dating back to a decade before the civil rights act which is spot-on in its portrayal of gender, ethnicity, and society they are doing pretty well. Devoid of love? I don’t know what the hell he is on about. Lots of devotion and loyalty as far as I can remember. If he’s after humping or soppyness then he should stick to reading penthouse or Mills & Boon. I don’t think either would improve the Narnia books. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-narnia-books-racist-mysoginistic-reactionary-and-devoid-of-love/326899/144 "2005-12-14T19:44:55Z")
(I have to say, I am consistently impressed by the places Dopers can take discussions). To add my viewpoint to some of those already listed: 1. Yes, they were books intended to bring readers to Christianity, but as someone else says, so what? I read them when I was young and impressionable and didn’t suddenly convert from Hinduism to Christianity. They are adventure books, albeit simple ones. 2. The so-called problem of Susan. There is no problem of Susan that she didn’t bring on herself. And I also read it as a metaphor, that she was more interested in growing up than anything else. I always read it as a choice she made, not that she was cut off. She didn’t believe anymore, so she no longer was allowed to come back. Isn’t that the case with atheism…? When you don’t believe anymore? 3. The Calormenes and the misogyny…well I’ve read enough fiction to know sometimes you have to make allowances for the time it was written in. And women are more prominent than in many other books. How many books are there really out there that have two female leads? 4. The books are \*full \* of love. Nothing else to be said about that. > [@Malacandra](#): > > There’s nothing especially knowledgable or rational about a seventeen-year-old in the Fifties passing herself off as twenty-one in order to guzzle Singapore Slings in the company of sneering Hooray Henries, with the intention of continuing to do so while her youthful appearance and good looks hold out, which is roughly what I interpret the news in “The Last Battle” to mean. Shhh! Don’t tell anyone you were around back then! You’re dating yourself, dear. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-narnia-books-racist-mysoginistic-reactionary-and-devoid-of-love/326899/145 "2005-12-15T10:47:53Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > \