Hrossa philosophy

I’m re-reading C.S. Lewis’ science fiction trilogy. It’s been a longtime favorite and I’m enjoying it again. I first read Out of the Silent Planet as an English Literature assignment in 11th grade. At that time, I had no idea who C.S. Lewis was, nor that he was a believer. I don’t think our English teacher did either. But he wanted to teach us about metaphors and similes and Lewis’ book is full of them.

As I read the book that first time, I ran into some amazing philosophy, which I later learned was C.S. Lewis’ biblical-based worldview. I applaud how Lewis embeds his philosophy into simple conversations between characters in the story.

One of the characters is a hrossa (a seal-like creature that can reason and talk) who is named Hyoi.

Hyoi, speaking about memories to the man (hman) Ransom, says

A pleasure is full grown only when it is remembered. You are speaking, Hman, as if the pleasure were one thing and the memory another. It is all one thing. … What you call remembering is the last part of the pleasure… When you and I met, the meeting was over very shortly, it was nothing. Now it is growing something as we remember it. But still we know very little about it. What it will be when I remember it as I lie down to die, what it makes in me all my days till then – that is the real meeting. The other is only the beginning of it. (Out of the Silent Planet, p. 73)

Deep thoughts like this are delivered very enjoyably through Lewis’ fun story.

Now, on to Perelandra.