C. S. Lewis’ defenders are coming out to protect their man from both a round of criticism following his centenary, and the publication of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials, a trilogy that could be considered the ‘Anti-Narnia’. Gregg Easterbrook tries to deflect criticism, but he manages to bring up why modern readers are less than enthused about Narnia:
There’s no denying that Narnia is an Anglo Anglican’s fantasy. The realm is forested and cool–”Narnia and the North!” is a rallying cry–and threatened by encroaching southern cultures. The principal bad guys, the Calormenes, are unmistakable Muslim stand-ins: bearded desert dwellers who spread oil rather than butter on their bread. The sociological structure of Narnia is aristocratic and favors British imperialism. Aslan decrees that the Golden Age of Narnia will begin when “Sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve” sit on the thrones at Cair Paravel; because the portals to Narnia are in England, this means, in effect, that Brits must rule. The Chronicles record the deeds of two fearless heroines, Lucy and Jill, but they also contain numerous digs at feminism. When Lewis spoofs the postwar anti-traditionalist movement by having Jill attend a school called Experiment House, he gives the school a headmistress, which is supposed to signal its absurdity.
Damn, Easterbrook, you were supposed to be defending Lewis.
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