Michael Mortenson’s Reviews > CS Lewis Collected Essays and Other Short Pieces > Status Update

CS Lewis’ short story about the prostitutes sent to Mars was… odd. As was the story about exploring the inner landscape of a self-interested woman named Peggy. Both stories contain primary messages which I think are overwhelmed by secondary messages about gender and sexuality, especially those secondary pieces that haven’t aged well.

Lewis‘s essay on justice and punishment, including the death sentence, is fascinating. I never knew he was the son of a lawyer, but it makes a lot of sense. I really appreciate how he starts most arguments by examining the validity and context of the question rather than jumping straight into the question from the assumption that it is a good question.

It’s interesting to see how many of CS Lewis’s arguments include a piece about taking thoughts and feeling seriously, (because to reject them is a contradiction: the accept that thoughts/experiences/feelings are untrustworthy is to accept that believing so is itself untrustworthy.)

Just finished the chapter about enjoying stories. I disagree with the idea that only readers who reread books can truly appreciate the “non excitement” based elements of a story. I think, rather, only those readers who have been educated in the elements of story can pick up on them. It seems to me that Lewis argues that escapism is a higher end than action, and I think I agree there.