I've read 1984 and Brave New World several times each, but somehow That Hideous Strength escaped my notice until just a year or so ago. I found it shocking in how precisely Lewis described the modern condition, the insidious nature of materialist evil, the seduction of the weak-willed into the Venus fly trap of, well, evil, and how once one has been snared it becomes almost impossible to avoid getting drawn further in, becoming so morally compromised that one can no longer escape.
Of course, the key difference between THS and the other works, aside from Lewis' much greater level of psychological insight (or maybe because of that) is that, as a Christian, Lewis could see a way out. Redemption required a miracle but a miracle was not impossible.
As an aside, I also found it fascinating how he reconciled Christianity and paganism - the gods were basically angels. I've had the same thought myself many times, and it seems a straightforward way of finding concordance between the newest and oldest spiritual traditions of our ancestors.
Excellent article!!! I confess, I've only ever read part of each of these. I should change that, but it feels kind of heavy reading given the similarities to today. What made you find it comforting, I am curious?
I've read 1984 and Brave New World several times each, but somehow That Hideous Strength escaped my notice until just a year or so ago. I found it shocking in how precisely Lewis described the modern condition, the insidious nature of materialist evil, the seduction of the weak-willed into the Venus fly trap of, well, evil, and how once one has been snared it becomes almost impossible to avoid getting drawn further in, becoming so morally compromised that one can no longer escape.
Of course, the key difference between THS and the other works, aside from Lewis' much greater level of psychological insight (or maybe because of that) is that, as a Christian, Lewis could see a way out. Redemption required a miracle but a miracle was not impossible.
As an aside, I also found it fascinating how he reconciled Christianity and paganism - the gods were basically angels. I've had the same thought myself many times, and it seems a straightforward way of finding concordance between the newest and oldest spiritual traditions of our ancestors.
Excellent article!!! I confess, I've only ever read part of each of these. I should change that, but it feels kind of heavy reading given the similarities to today. What made you find it comforting, I am curious?
Very relevant:
https://www.scifiwright.com/2022/06/orwell-and-lewis-2/
Kelo was a travesty, a sham, and a mockery. A traveshamockery!