Mentor
Amanda Livanos
Document Type
Literature Review
Publication Date
Spring 5-3-2024
Abstract
As a result of his conversion to Christianity, author C. S. Lewis felt compelled to formulate a unique definition of myth. From his perspective, myth is a means through which God communicates His truth to the non-Christian world. Myth recognizes the yearning for home all people experience yet cannot satisfy, but while it correctly diagnoses humanity’s symptoms, myth fails to treat the underlying disease responsible for them. The influence of non-Christian, specifically Greek, myth can be felt most strongly in The Silver Chair, the sixth installment of Lewis’ series The Chronicles of Narnia. Through the allusions this essay explores, in addition to many others, The Silver Chair presents a mythical world both reminiscent of and distinct from its source material. Lewis’ alterations to the original myths reflect his belief in a world to come. They also shine a new light on all the myths that are referenced within The Silver Chair. In this new light, the faint hints of the gospel glimmer, and these glimmers should inspire mythologists, especially those who believe in Jesus Christ, to reexamine their favorite stories with an aim to identify the Christian themes that move within them.
Recommended Citation
Perkin, Benjamin S., "Like Shapes Moving in Another World: An Identification and Interpretation of Mythical Figures in C. S. Lewis’ Novel The Silver Chair" (2024). Student Research. 7.
https://knowledge.e.southern.edu/eng_studentresearch/7