Could I get some SUB with that TEXT?

[layla]

I finished my Narnia re-read last night. I hadn't read the series in probably over 15 years (since I was pretty young, at any rate). It was interesting to compare my reactions *then* to my reactions *now*. I was completely unaware as a kid of the allegorical elements of the books, which now seem awfully ham-handed -- subtext is supposed to be, you know, a little bit *hidden*, normally. Some of them didn't quite live up to my glowing childhood memories ... I adored the heck out of VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER as a kid, but on the re-read, it just didn't quite live up to my adult expectations, maybe because the kids didn't really solve any of their own problems ... it was one of the worst books for the "deus ex machina" lion showing up every time they're in trouble. On the other hand, THE HORSE AND HIS BOY (my other childhood favorite) was every bit as exciting as I remembered.

Will probably go see the movie next week sometime.

Comments

[laylalawlor.livejournal.com]

I'm not entirely sure what (if anything) Lewis hoped to accomplish with the allegory, since most people I know who read the books as kids didn't "get" the symbolism of it until they were older. As proselytizing goes, it doesn't seem to be very effective. On the other hand, the books may have simply been his own way of coming to terms with that particular religious journey -- and the Christian religious elements are only one (though the strongest) religious tradition that appears in the books, as well.