Out of The Silent Planet

Gina Emerson

Out of The Silent Planet

Just as Lewis reflects on much of his own childhood in “The Chronicles,” he also shows some similarities of his own life as a young adult in “Out of The Silent Planet”. Ransom is a great philologist with no wife or kids and enjoys much of his time conversing with his colleagues in a University setting. This led to good reason for Winston and Devine to choose him for their needs, who would miss him? Or how many days or weeks before his colleagues would realize he was gone? This appears oddly similar to Lewis’s life.

When Ransom was certain that his flight in the space ship would be full of nothing but fear he was quite amazed that his journey was quite the opposite. For at one side of the ship there was unending sunlight and just a turn of the handle and there was complete darkness. What this introduced to Ransom was an appreciation for that which they both represented, a different perspective from what he usually felt on earth. It was a feeling of not appreciating the utility of the extremes until forced to have them side by side. Darkness represents a time for rest and the light indicated a time for work; however, on earth this darkness can be associated with the fear of the unknown, what lurks in this darkness? The light often times is associated with the hustle and bustle connected with the stresses of this work.

I feel that much of Lewis’s work reflects the loneliness and emptiness he experienced in his own life. He often approached life with open eyes and a closed heart, much like he did when he met Joy. He was too scared to not only love but to also live. Denying feelings he never felt he could experience and not realizing that he could until it was almost too late. Joy brought about emotions within Lewis that he had been holding back since his youth.

Through his words he shares his life, pain, and Joy. Much of what these words say to me is that you never know what you have until it is gone. Knowing what is real in regards to emotions is letting go of those feelings which blind you to life and love.