Dr. James Como returns to discuss his book Mystical Perelandra and the reluctant mysticism of C. S. Lewis.
S8E24: “Mystical Perelandra”, After Hours with Dr. James Como (Download)
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Show Notes
Introduction
Quote of the Week
This mystical Lewis was providentially sent, I believe, to live out his ‘dialectic’ and to provide for the rest of us who are stranded that “message in a bottle” that Walker Percy, novelist and existentialist philosopher, has described. In short, the Father wrought His apostle, the Spirit dispatched him, the Son, the Word Himself, lent to him expression.
Dr. James Como, Mystical Perelandra
Biographical Information
Professor James Como holds the Ph.D. in Language, Literature and Rhetoric from Columbia University and now is Professor Emeritus of Rhetoric and Public Communication at York College.
He was a founding member of the New York C. S. Lewis Society in 1969.
In addition to many books, such “Why I Believe in Narnia” and “C. S. Lewis: A Very Short Introduction”, he has written many journal articles on Lewis and provided many on-air commentaries for various Lewis biographical documentaries.
He’s one of the most highly-regarded Lewis scholars in the world and we’re honoured to welcome him here today….
Chit-Chat
- In his retirement, Dr. Como has been writing a great deal. He just published an appreciative essay on the book “Ironweed” by William Kennedy. He is also in the process of writing multiple short stories.
- In addition to writing, he has been preparing for lectures all over the globe, from Florida to France.
Toast
- David was drinking an Athletic Brewing Company NA beer.
- Dr. Como came unprepared, he usually comes with a fancy cocktail!
Discussion
01. “What and Why?”
Q. What’s your personal history with Perelandra? You wrote a Master’s Thesis on it, didn’t you?
- Dr. Como began “Perelandra” when he was researching the origin of belief. Reading the book amazed him, and wanted to dig to learn how the book achieved this effect on the reader.
- After rereading the novel many times and through studying “Into the Region of Awe” by David Downing, Dr. Como came to the conclusion that Lewis was a mystic, though he might be reluctant to admit it.
- “Mystical Perelandra” is a biographical experience, a review that detailed how the book was interwoven with Dr. Como’s own life, and how it impacted him for decades.
- Dr. Como shared an amusing story about Andrew and his knowledge of “Till We Have Faces”.
- Though Lewis would have hated the application of the term, Dr. Como described Lewis as a kind of existentialist, because many of his books – Perelandra being no different – compelled choice from their characters. He also noted that this is the reason Lewis did a terrible job describing his own conversion in “Surprised by Joy”; he connected the dots, and that was it!
02. “The Most Reluctant Mystic”
Q. You describe Lewis as a mystic. What does that mean?
- Vision is a key component of mysticism. St. Paul became perhaps the first great Christian mystic, after encountering Christ on the road to Damascus.
- Lewis was mystic in his rhetoric. The structure and imagery all point to this. Take the end of “Perelandra”. The Great Dance is so encapsulating and rapturous, one forgets that he is turning the pages of a book.
03. “Structure”
Q. Before we dig into some of the details of your book, could you please give us an overview of its structure?
- “Mystical Perelandra” has three sections, with two chapters in each. Dr. Como envisions each part as an ascent, much like the character Ransom goes through in the novel.
- The book begins with the life, language, and apologetics of Lewis, including his successes and shortcomings. The second section is where readers dive into the storytelling and some of Jack’s influences, such as I. A. Richards, who wrote “The Principles of Literary Criticism”, a book Lewis owned and highly annotated. This was a book Lewis derived ideas from for “An Experiment in Literary Criticism”.
- The second section also deals with the origins and power of myth, exploring two authors well-known by Lewis: Sir James George Frazer and Carl Jung. Putting these two together creates many different archetypes seen in “Perelandra”. This myth-making combined with rhetoric is what creates the engrossing feeling Dr. Como experienced when he first read the novel.
- Section three is about the ups and downs of the spiritual life. First, Dr. Como contends with strife in “Perelandra”, when Ransom has to choose to confront the Un-Man… or not. This is the choice in each of our lives, to confront the strife in our own lives. The scene reminded Dr. Como of a scene from The Untouchables: what are you prepared to do, Ransom?
- After strife comes hope. The final chapter of the book is dedicated to ascent towards holiness and awe.
04. “Words and Actions”
Q. One of the things which you spend some time talking about in the book is the tension between words and actions. It’s a surprising and ironic issue, particularly given Lewis’ gift with rhetoric, but how does this play out in his books? (Perelandra, The Silver Chair, Till We Have Faces)
- David points out the example of the marshwiggle Puddleglum in the Narnia series, whose clumsy actions – not rhetoric – saved the children from being sucked back into “Plato’s Cave”. He also mentioned the one saved ghost in “The Great Divorce”, who made a decision to surrender and have the saint kill the lizard. It was action that transformed him; particularly, painful action.
God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.
C. S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain
- In “Perelandra”, Ransom’s repeated refrain is “This can’t go on”. He knows that eventually the rhetoric will have to end, and that fighting must ensue, though he may be terribly hurt in the process.
- Dr. Como recently wrote an article on Lewis’ rhetorical genius, posing that he should be included in the English syllabus. No argument here!
- Though Jack flexed his linguistic muscles often and enjoyed writing and arguing, he was nevertheless frightened of his gift. He listed out his worries in a poem titled “The Apologist’s Evening Prayer”s, lamenting the effects of his words.
From cleverness shot forth on Thy behalf
At which, while angels weep, the audience laugh……Lord of the narrow gate and the needle’s eye,
C. S. Lewis, The Apologist’s Evening Prayer
Take from me all my trumpery lest I die.
- Lewis experienced his own “dark night of the soul”, a frightful event he disclosed in his letters to St. Giovanni Calabria. In a way, Lewis thought the event good for developing humility, as he found himself becoming prideful of his work. His tone changed after this experience, noticeable in “Letters to Malcolm”, the first work he released following this.
- C. S. Lewis had the gift of “peroration”, or powerfully and satisfyingly concluding the final section of a work. In a section of “The Allegory of Love”, after describing Chaucer as the poet of happiness, he wraps up his review of the man’s works with a beautiful image.
Q. In what way do words provide a bridge and stumbling block to mysticism?
- Some people choose to see through the rhetoric, because they feel it coming, and feel they are about to be duped. However, they might very well be missing out, much like the Dwarfs at the end of “The Last Battle”.
If you see through everything, then everything is transparent. But a wholly transparent world is an invisible world. To ‘see through’ all things is the same as not to see.
C. S. Lewis, The Abolition of Man
- One bride Lewis provides with his rhetoric is in cultivating hope. Dr. Como explained how reading Lewis’ works reignited this virtue in himself.
- Words are devices, and when synthesised into an image, it activates a person’s imagination, awakening their spirit.
- Returning to choosing actions over words, Dr. Como described the solidified decisions and actions of our Lord, particularly outlined in the prophecies of Isaiah:
For the Lord God helps me;
Isaiah 50:7
therefore I have not been confounded;
therefore I have set my face like a flint,
and I know that I shall not be put to shame;
05. “The Final Ascent”
Q. When we were reading through Perelandra this season, it felt like we didn’t have enough time to talk about the final chapters of the book, from the point at which Ransom finally kills the Uman, his ascent in the darkness, his recuperation, his ascent of the mountain and, of course, the Great Dance. I just wanted to create some space at the end of this interview for you to say anything you wanted about this book’s climax…
- The final chapters of Perelandra are extremely dense, and take real effort to grasp. Dr. Como suggests reading the pages aloud, as would Jack.
“Always write (and read) with the ear, not the eye.”
C. S. Lewis
- This technique allows the reader to join Ransom, Tor, and Tinidril in the Great Dance.
- David recommends reading the “benedictions” of Perelandra during adoration, or listening to it on audiobook, or through the BBC version.
- Dr. Como concluded by thanking Lewis for his imagination, and acknowledging his mysticism: it’s okay!
Wrap Up
Concluding Thoughts
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More Information
- Visit his Amazon author page, where you can find published works of every genre and preference.
- Dr. Como’s website
