why philip pullman is a bit of a nincompoop on this one: a diagram
LWW: lucy and susan get to ride on a lion’s back
PC: omg lucy and susan get to WINE-CRAZED ROMP with BACCHUS dude. Actual real quote: “Two of the Maenads… helped her take off some of the unnecessary and uncomfortable clothes she was wearing” YES I’LL BET THEY DID!
VDT: er ok pass, though lucy does get sold into slavery briefly, plus cuddles reepicheep at the world’s end plus er er seamen, yes PP can have this one…
SC: jill gets blown by a lion and rides on the back of a giant owl and a CENTAUR
MN: polly gets to ride on the back of a flying horse
HahB: aravis gets to ride a talking horse
LB: oh noes susan prefers teh lipstickz to RIDING ON LIONS AND AN ETERNITY WITH PRIAPIC GOATMEN
c.s.lewis had a fear of female sexuality: I’m sorry the more telling psychological evidence says otherwise…
<— The Old Narnians, by William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905)
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Too right. Philip Pullman seems to equate wearing lipstick as some essential quality of womanhood/sexuality that made C.S. Lewis TREMBEL. It always bothered me that in PPs trilogy he seemed to have it in for the polar bear who wants to be more human rather than embrace his essential bearness.
And while we’re on the subject of fantastic animals I’d like to put in a vote for J.P. Martin’s Uncle. Viva Beaver Hateman.
i might as well note that i really REALLY like p.pullman’s trilogy, even if part three is clearly very hurried and quite flawed — i just find his oedipal rubbishing of c.s.lewis a bit hopeless
i *have* to reread the uncle books
NARNIA: oh noes susan prefers teh lipstickz to RIDING ON LIONS
TOY STORY: oh noes emily* prefers teh lipstickz to PLAYING WITH WOODEN COWGIRL DOLL
jebus in your heart : riding on lions :: playing with dolls : fun while it lasts
= toy story (2) is the more devastating anti-xtian polemic MR PULLMAN (if that is your name)
* yes i looked up her name, wot of it
haha i am planning a pro-last battle polemic shortly also, alang:
i think two obvious c.s.lewis prejudices that DO shape narniana are
A: crafted work is better than stuff made in factories (so the actual worst villain, susan-wise, is NYLONS — he talks a lot about how lovely and comfy and sensible narnian clothing is) (see above in fact)
B: children are better than adults
both attitudes are very common to his era; neither are intrinsically christian; were certainly held by lots of neo-pagan arts&crafties
I don’t think that top right Maenad’s going to have any luck with that cab…