It’s because C.S. Lewis is a hack. It’s the British highbrow version of a PureFlix movie. Lewis started with “how can I make an allegory about Christianity into a book series?” and then made a really ham-handed, over-the-top version of it. It cracks me up that him and Tolkien were friends, because Tolkien is not only an epically good writer, but he specifically and clearly hated allegory. He hated allegory like we hate the libs. And he’s got this buddy here who’s like “JRR do you like my story? See Aslan is actually supposed to be Jesus!” I don’t know how Tolkien didn’t laugh in his face.
I actually think Lewis can be an ok writer at times. His logic is appalling and he’s on a Jordan Peterson level of philosophical understanding… but there are times when he can string some very beautiful words and thoughts together. But that’s about it.
Tolkien can say whatever he wants but the tropes and allegories and real world parallels are clear as day. Evil dark skinned southerners? Untrustworthy elitist wizards in ivory towers who will betray you to the invading dark hordes? Orcs as evil dark skinned muscular creatures who threaten the idyllic white countryside. The rural perfect shire destroyed by machines and industry. Dwarves who have big noses and go mad for treasure and gold?
I mean come on it’s pretty obvious that he had absorbed some real shit from his racist colonialist society whether he knew it or not
I do like the books, and I do like some of the themes (destroying the ring of power instead of abusing it, the decline of human civilization)
It’s because C.S. Lewis is a hack. It’s the British highbrow version of a PureFlix movie. Lewis started with “how can I make an allegory about Christianity into a book series?” and then made a really ham-handed, over-the-top version of it. It cracks me up that him and Tolkien were friends, because Tolkien is not only an epically good writer, but he specifically and clearly hated allegory. He hated allegory like we hate the libs. And he’s got this buddy here who’s like “JRR do you like my story? See Aslan is actually supposed to be Jesus!” I don’t know how Tolkien didn’t laugh in his face.
I actually think Lewis can be an ok writer at times. His logic is appalling and he’s on a Jordan Peterson level of philosophical understanding… but there are times when he can string some very beautiful words and thoughts together. But that’s about it.
Tolkien can say whatever he wants but the tropes and allegories and real world parallels are clear as day. Evil dark skinned southerners? Untrustworthy elitist wizards in ivory towers who will betray you to the invading dark hordes? Orcs as evil dark skinned muscular creatures who threaten the idyllic white countryside. The rural perfect shire destroyed by machines and industry. Dwarves who have big noses and go mad for treasure and gold?
I mean come on it’s pretty obvious that he had absorbed some real shit from his racist colonialist society whether he knew it or not
I do like the books, and I do like some of the themes (destroying the ring of power instead of abusing it, the decline of human civilization)