In
the first book in the Space Trilogy, Out
of the Silent Planet, the protagonist named Ransom escapes from the
antagonists Devine and Weston in a forest. While there he is desperately trying
to survive and comes across a very interesting animal called a Hross. After he
encounters and interacts with the Hross it helps him out and gives him some
food and shortly after he decides to follow it back to where it lives with the
other Hrosses. What is interesting to me is Ransom’s encounter with the other
Hrosses when he arrives to their home.
While
staying with the Hrosses he learns that they live a pretty simple life. They
use simple tools; they enjoy poetry and song, etc. Essentially we learn that
the Hrosses do not need much to be content, they enjoy the simplistic life that
they live. However, after being there for a week or so Ransom begins to ask
them who their leader is and continues to ask this question to them multiple
times. The Hross become confused initially and then answer him and tell him
that Meldilorn is the one they obey.
When I took some time to think
about this it reminds of how mankind can never be content with what they are
currently doing. We live in a world that is constantly busy and the moment we
find a time of rest we almost instantly begin to look for something else to do
in order to keep us busy and feel productive. After a week of living the Hross’
lifestyle, Ransom can no longer continue it and starts to ask them questions in
which they then become confused by. I think they become confused because their
way of life differs to Ransom’s way of life. They are satisfied and okay with
living a simplistic life; whereas Ransom is not like this at all and feels much
more compelled to go out and do things. I am not sure if this was Lewis’ intention
but it reminds me of the business that mankind becomes so zoned in on and
constantly lives by.
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