"lipstick, nylons and invitations"

[Peepiceek]

As I stated much longer ago... how do we know that he didn't? We have zero evidence that he did not even have conversations with his wife about this. Thought today is, decidedly different than thought 70 years ago, no? I think he had. And he, when writing these books was still older than most of us here, thus had more life experience, and would have known more examples of people from his own life who probably went through the same things. We need only look at The Screwtape Letters for examples of his abilities to understand the human condition with regard to everything. And I believe your position that Jack would not understand your situation is probably untrue, but we can't know that without a time machine, or speaking to Jack in the Afterlife.

He probably didn't discuss with his wife, since I don't think he was married until after the Chronicles were all written [TLB was published barely four months after he was married, so I guess it was probably completed before that]. Of course, that doesn't preclude his having had conversations with women about the female characters in his books, but from my memory of reading about CS Lewis's life, I think he mostly associated with men, didn't he? And, to be honest, his presentation of characters seems somewhat idiosyncratic to me. I love the books, but I do find that the writing of the characters seems to reflect Lewis's own biases, and it does not show to me much evidence that he had carefully researched how people of that age and gender would have actually behaved and spoken in the situations he portrays. I think he does have good insight into 'the human condition', as you put it, but perhaps not so much into the behaviour of specific humans!

Peeps

 

[Princess Frances]

 

[~Lava~]

He probably didn't discuss with his wife, since I don't think he was married until after the Chronicles were all written [TLB was published barely four months after he was married, so I guess it was probably completed before that].

I am pretty sure you are right about the Marriage but he met Joy in 1952 and they formed a fast friendship. The last four books were published after knowing Joy.

Of course, that doesn't preclude his having had conversations with women about the female characters in his books, but from my memory of reading about CS Lewis's life, I think he mostly associated with men, didn't he?

I don't know about mostly associated with men. I do know there was a female who was close to the Inklings. We also know that Lewis wrote The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe for Lucy Barfield.

And, to be honest, his presentation of characters seems somewhat idiosyncratic to me. I love the books, but I do find that the writing of the characters seems to reflect Lewis's own biases, and it does not show to me much evidence that he had carefully researched how people of that age and gender would have actually behaved and spoken in the situations he portrays. I think he does have good insight into 'the human condition', as you put it, but perhaps not so much into the behaviour of specific humans!

Peeps

No one is without biases, we all have our culture and background that influence us. I do, however, think that modern females and modern people in general need to look to see whether our Grandmothers or Great Grandmothers would have found the "female behavior" in C.S. Lewis's works stereotypical or biased. Would the behavior be normal and intelligible to them?

 

[Peepiceek]

Lava

I would be arguing from ignorance, so I can't really comment on what my grandmother or great-grandmother would have thought. Do you have any insight?

Peeps

 

[~Lava~]

Lava

I would be arguing from ignorance, so I can't really comment on what my grandmother or great-grandmother would have thought. Do you have any insight?

Peeps

I knew both of my Grandmothers. They grew up in the 20s and 30s in the US. I know my mom's mother had no problem with how Lewis portrayed women and probably would have not had a problem with even the portrayal of Susan as she grew older. My dad's mother loved the Narnia books and definitely felt the same way about women who fell into the described behavior of Susan that Lewis described. I know that she had issues with girls that went her school that were only interested in shallow things.

 

[EveningStar]

It's not so much about sexism as sex. The other Pevensies were elite leaders who were married to Narnia the way nuns are married to Christ. Susan wanted herself a man. Nothing wrong with romance, I promise you, but she should have cultivated her beauty on the inside. Some of the most happily married people I know are downright dowdy. They realize they have each other and they're not looking for admiring throngs. And their life together has joy and longevity.

 

[MrBob]

There's nothing saying that Peter didn't have a girlfriend. It's just that he was still the same Narnia leader that he had always been. Susan abdicated her position as Narnian leader to focus on the superficial wants of being attractive to men rather than trying to be herself and attract the right one while staying true to herself and Aslan.

MrBob

 

[EveningStar]

I think the quote "not a friend of Narnia" put it succinctly. It does not imply that she was an enemy, but she was no longer any of the things that you expect from a friend. One is to talk as if all those adventures...even seeing the risen Lord...were just childish games. If you heard Mary or Martha begin talking about the games they used to play imagining that Jesus rose from the dead, would you consider her Christian? Same thing.

 

[Princess Frances]

OT: I did a wedding once. Quietly but firmly told the ring bearer - who was my twin brother - not long before we had to leave for the ceremony that if he made one more tomboy related teasing remark, he would find himself in my outfit when we arrived at the church.