I recently picked it up again and read through it, knowing how it ended, and savoring the two opposing viewpoints as the story weaved itself so beautifully in my mind. I enjoyed it so much that I read it a third time shortly after I finished the second reading and even more interesting ideas presented themselves to me as I went through the exercise again. I am in awe of Lewis' talents as an author, an artist, and a philosopher. I'm grateful he was able to capture some of that philosophy for me to enjoy years after his death.
The story is a retelling of the Greek myth of Cupid and Psyche, but with a very interesting twist. It's Lewis' twist that gives the story its power. And it sets the stage for Lewis to share with us some of his thoughts on life and on God. But his philosophy isn't in your face in this book. You could read the book and just enjoy it for its symbolism, beauty, and genius. But if you're interested in his philosophy, it's a lot of fun to tease it out as you read. And if you're like me, it may take multiple readings to really grasp what Lewis is trying to say.
One of the things that struck me on my last reading was Lewis' thoughts on love. And it occurred to me that what we call love is very often something different. It usually has elements of love in it, but often it's mixed with greed, jealousy, pride, and even hatred. Near the end of the book, as Orual, the main character, is forced to examine her life and motives, I felt compelled to examine my motives and I have determined that much of what I often call love is really selfishness. I think we're born with a great capacity to love as children, but it's mixed with a very self-centered view. This selfishness seems to be so ingrained in our natures that it would take a miracle to change us into loving creatures. As Orual says, "I was ... ugly in soul ... greedy, blood-gorged. But if I practiced true philosophy, as Socrates meant it, I should change my ugly soul into a fair one. .... [But] a horrible memory crept into my mind of those days when I had tried to mend the ugliness of my body with new devices in the way I did my hair or the colours I wore. I'd a cold fear that I was at the same work again. I could mend my soul no more than my face. Unless the gods helped.".
If I say I love my wife, that's probably true to a large extent, but if I'm honest with myself, my feelings for her are mixed up with the good that I derive from the relationship and a selfish desire to have her near me for the way she makes me feel and the benefits I obtain from being with her. That may not necessarily be bad, but it's easy for that to become something negative if I'm not motivated by a pure love - the kind of love that says "I want what's best for you even if that brings pain to me." Orual is faced with a decision where she ultimately chooses something for someone else and she selfishly makes a choice that brings misery to everyone. She's not an evil character, but near the end of the book, she undergoes a transformation that teaches her (and the reader if he's paying attention) about what love really is and she experiences a kind of revolution and cleansing of the soul that prepares her to meet God (or the gods) and her loved ones after she dies.
There is so much to this book and I've given it a very inadequate review here. I can't even explain the meaning of the title of the book without giving away something that might make the book less powerful for you. But I highly recommend it. And if you have a chance to read it or if you've read it before, let me know your thoughts. I feel like I'm a little better man for having worked through it a few times.
Thanks Lewis for the life you lived and for your wisdom that you've shared with me over the years. I hope you have found the beauty you were seeking.
No comments:
Post a Comment