Lesson 7 - Perelandra

Question 1

How are good and evil presented in Perelandra?

Answer 1

1.) Lewis presents them in different stages

First stage: Thulcandra (earth)

• • Sin did not just invade human nature, but the entire cosmos and creation
• • 2 dimensional, the human race was plunged into sinfulness,

Second Stage: Malacandra

• • Weston can get here (the bent one) and enter into their world
• • Only has experienced a lie, one dimensional (length)
• • only the physical effects of the planet are bent

Third Stage: Bent one cannot get to Perelandra in his own person. The isolation that made Earth is coming to an end. The Oyarsa of Thulcandra is planning an invasion of Perelandra

• • Cube, 3 dimensions
• • sins against a greater light (Adam and Eve knew little, the green lady knows a lot bc of Ransom)
• • Evil is progressively worse

Ransom: chosen to fight the principalities of good and evil. He is participating in the will of God by helping the Green Lady resist the temptation of Weston and prevent the fall of Perelandra happening. (He is representing Maleldil and Maleldil is there through Ransom)

Question 2

How does Lewis use Perelandra to illustrate the nature of sin and temptation?

Answer 2

• • Weston’s temptation of the Queen: Green Lady
• • The issue between Weston (representative of the Bent one) and the Green Lady (representative of Maleldil) centers on obedience
• • The fixed land: The commandment (prohibition); can’t sleep on the fixed land

Question 3

What are the different stages of temptation?

Answer 3

1. ) Thinking about the fixed land
   - - distinction between temptation and sin (Martin Luther: can’t keep the birds from flying over head)
   - - arguing for autonomous choice: you will be made older
2. ) Theological defense of right/wrong use of human will
   - - evil choice is for nothingness (to turn away from God is to turn away into nothing)
   - - Weston plays up the arbitrariness of Maleldi’s command (purpose of command is meaningless and authority is negative)
   - - Do evil, so good might come from it
   - - Unman’s strategy: to exploit a half truth
   - - another temptation: to become a heroic figure

3.) Reason behind the command: to lead the king and queen to their present ascent to the throne; role of obedience leads to their place of enthronment

Question 4

What is Ransom’s role on Perelandra?

Answer 4

– Ransom’s job is to fight the principalities and powers of evil on Perelandra.

– He is not anyone in particular, but he realized he’s part of the plan and is participating in the will of God.

– He is helpin the Green Lady resist the temptation of Weston and prevent the fall of Perelandra from happening. Maleldil is there through Ransom

–Ransom is called to do the same thing as Maleldil the younger: meet death face on

– God is the primary agent, but Ransom is the secondary agent in which God accomplishes his purposes on Perelandra

Question 5

What is Weston’s Role on Perelandra?

Answer 5

• • Weston is the unman and is the representative of the Bent one, who is the vehicle in the which the Bent One is trying to get to Perelandra to make it fall into temptation and sin.
• • His work is to bring death

Question 6

What is the Green Lady’s role in Perelandra?

Answer 6

• • roughly analogus to Eve
• • Her nature was alive, so it could be bent or lost
• • Her role is to show what mankind was like before the fall on THulcandra (human nature: free, creature with a will)
• • She is the representative from Malleldil locked in temptation with the presentative of the Bent One: Weston

Question 7

What is the significance of the physical battle between Ransom and the un-man?

Answer 7

Ransom is called to do the same thing as Maleldil the younger did in meeting death face on

Ransom must engage in physical combat to eliminate the evil

Fights against Weston naked chest to naked chest (Analogous to Gethsemane)

Ransom is not just a spectator but participant in the story
– Ransom is a payment that delivers

Fight to the death

• • Use of hatred: the clash is so strong between good and evil it uses very violent images/words
• • True use of hatred is against sin and evil

Reference to Genesis 3:15 and the Gospel promise

• • He kills Weston by crushing his head and Weston crushes Ransom’s heel
• • Ransom’s Heel: his task has been accomplished