Thoughts of a Reforming Pelagian
A few weeks ago, my friend Sean lent me the book Planet Narnia by Michael Ward. The book discusses an overarching hidden structure of the Narniad, a veiled tertiary meaning unifying the series. As might be inferred from the title of this post, M Ward proposes that each book is defined a Ptolemaic astrological planet. When Sean first told me the thesis and encouraged me to read the book, I was rather sceptical. Narnia has been out 50-some years and just now someone has found a Grand Unified Theory of Narnia! However, I figured it'd be an interesting read at least, and began reading Planet Narnia. The author skillfully defends his thesis. Michael Ward looks at a variety of Lewisian literature to glean how the planets are understood in the rest of Lewis's writings. He especially draws on the poem "Planets" and the Ransom Trilogy. In so doing M Ward coins a new word, donegality, (Donegal being a favourite holidaying spot for Lewis.) which involves using symbolism to create an atmosphere for a work while imparting it with a Christological meaning. Michael Ward illustrates not only major themes of each book, (e.g., the Jovian Spring of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe) but several details in each book (e.g., the inclusion of the minotaur among the monsters of the White Which) that serve to substantiate his thesis. In each book the author also discussed how the attributes of each planet serve to illustrate Christ. After reading the application and explanation of Jupiter in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, as a mental exercise I attempted to place each book with each planet and correclyt matched four of the remaining six. (I missed Venus, probably due to the necessity of cloaking venereal themes in children's literature.) As the litmus test of a theory is its predictive prowess, I am thoroughly convinced that this astrological theme is the hidden structure of the Narniad
