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Fanmixes: The Chronicles of Narnia, Susan and Lucy Pevensie
Here are two fanmixes, inspired by Susan and Lucy Pevensie from The Chronicles of Narnia, for halfamoon 2011.
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I do feel like Lewis had a problematic attitude towards women, based on the books, and perhaps as a result of his personal life (mother died when he was young, had a long relationship with a woman much older than him, didn't marry until rather late in life). Almost every adult woman in the Chronicles is either a witch, or in some way bad (Susan), with the exception of Polly - who we must note never married, even when she grew up - and The Star's Daughter, who we barely know as a character. Typical feminine traits are not admired - most of the girls can be considered "tomboys" (Jill, Aravis) and Lucy is even called "as good as a boy" at one point. Susan, on the other hand, as an adult is depicted at best as foolish (in HHB) and at worst, as stupid and bad and deserving of being shut out of Narnia/Heaven (the description of her by the others in LB). Aravis' friend Lasaraleen, also depicted as typically feminine, is also depicted as a fool.
One thing thing to consider is that Lewis didn't have all seven books planned out when he originally started writing the first, so a lot of inconsistencies and flaws in the characterization and plot can be explained that way. But the other thing that's interesting about that is that Lewis didn't consider the Chronicles to be allegory, but rather supposition, and indeed said that they should be read primarily as story - in other words, the religious elements were in there, but he still felt the books worked without the realization of the reader.
But, going back to how he didn't plan the books out, this idea falls apart with The Last Battle, which pretty much HAS to be read as a religious allegory, with Aslan destroying Narnia and taking all the (good) characters to Real Narnia (Heaven). The problem is that unless you've already realized that Aslan=Jesus, this can come as a shock to young readers, and it's kind of horrifying that they're all DEAD, and no one seems to much care that Susan is left behind, because they're just all so happy to be dead.
And I've seen it argued that the reason that Susan is left behind has nothing to do with her growing up and her interest in boys and makeup, etc., but rather her lack of belief in Narnia, and that reading it the first way is a shallow, mistaken reading of it. But again, these books are written for children, and while they'll be shocked that Susan forgot/doesn't believe any more, they're also given the message, by other, trusted "good" characters, that she's bad for growing up, for having a social life, for liking lipstick. So again, Lewis' problematic attitude towards women coming through.
Finally, Susan wasn't on the train - I know I've read that as a final statement by Lewis, who got letters from horrified readers thinking that she was, and that since she didn't get to go to Heaven/Narnia, she was in Hell. Lewis' idea was that she wasn't on the train, and that hopefully, after her entire family's rather gruesome death, she would then find her way back to believing in Narnia/Aslan/Jesus.
Heh, sorry to ramble on, but Susan is a hot button for me! I hope some of that made sense. :)
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I think LB is a terrible book, especially for children. You're right - if children don't understand the whole Christian parallel (and let's face it, so few of them will be able to) then the whole thing is shocking and upsetting. I loathed it as a child, and not just because of the Susan angle, but for other reasons, namely the destruction of Narnia, the racism, and how he has Jill and Eustace AS CHILDREN KILLING MEN. What the actual fuck. But as the Calmorenes he seems to imply it's ok because they're less than human (but if you read them in the new order as I did, so HHB before LB, Calormenes have been portrayed positively and even these soldiers could have good lives and worth as people).
Now I've analysed it more, it does seem that Lewis was leaning towards using Susan as a cautionary tale not to lose faith and become obsessed with the superficial parts of life. But because she's female, and because her "superficial life" is obviously so feminine, this is still problematic from a feminist point of view. Plus, just because he's not using Susan to demonise female sexuality, that doesn't mean it's not there in the text with the two female villains.
Oh good. Ah, so there's a missing story about Susan eh? Perfect. I shall write it myself (which I already was but w/e this gives me an excuse other than "I'm a fangirl so I must fic". Which actually isn't my reason but w/e).
Me too! You actually caught me while I was checking emails before typing up my plan for my Lewis and Gender in Narnia essay (my student newspaper jumped on my project and I'll now be doing a featured essay). So this has really helped my thoughts :D
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Jadis is the most developed in the book, and she's flat-out evil. Digory's mother and Queen Helen are good, but they each get about one line, and we really don't see them developed in any meaningful fashion. We know from the text implications that they're good, because one is the hero's mother, and the other is made Queen of Narnia by Aslan, but other than that, we don't know anything about them.
Digory's aunt gets a limited but favorable portrayal - she's a tough old thing who stands up to both Uncle Andrew and to Jadis, but she's unmarried, no surprise there.
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Actually I just finished the Silver Chair and omg nice totally unecessary misogynistic point at the end there, Lewis!
All the way through "Experiment House" is shown to be the epitome of bad schooling, with bullies running riot and without teaching of the Bible. (In fact, Eustace's original bad character is somewhat ascribed to how he was taught in this school). And at the end OMG THE HEAD IS A WOMAN.
*rage*
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See, I disagree. I think textually, Lewis is saying she's gentle, beautiful and caring, but I'm not sure about sensible. She's more portrayed as having come to her senses. And really, I don't see her handling the Rabadash situation at all.
In the scene in HHB, Edmund asks her if she's decided what to do about Rabadash, and when Susan says she's decided not to marry him, Edmund and the others present are all relieved and act as if she's finally come to her senses. It's a very paternalistic and patronizing conversation, where they've all known better than her all along, and were just waiting for her to realize the truth about Rabadash.
And soon Shasta found himself taking an interest in the conversation. "Now, Madam," the King was saying to Queen Susan (the lady who had kissed Shasta). "What think you? We have been in this city fully three weeks. Have you yet settled in your mind whether you will marry this dark-faced lover of yours, this Prince Rabadash, or no?"
The lady shook her head. "No, brother," she said, "not for all the jewels in Tashbaan." ("Hullo!" thought Shasta. "Although they're king and queen, they're brother and sister, not married to one another.")
"Truly, sister," said the King, "I should have loved you the less if you had taken him. And I tell you that at the first coming of the Tisroc's ambassadors into Narnia to treat of this marriage, and later when the Prince was our guest at Cair Paravel, it was a wonder to me that ever you could find it in your heart to show him so much favour."
Then it's Edmund who tells her that they're in danger in Tashbaan, that Rabadash intends to keep her there and make her his wife, no matter what, and Edmund and Tumnus clearly know what's going on, but Susan is surprised and flustered to hear this.
Everyone had begun to look very serious. Queen Susan jumped up and ran to her brother. "Oh, Edmund," she cried. "What is it? There is something dreadful in your face."
"Do you mean he would make me his wife by force?" exclaimed Susan.
When she realizes the extent of the danger they're in, she breaks down.
"I am the cause of all this," said Susan, bursting into tears. "Oh, if only I had never left Cair Paravel. Our last happy day was before those ambassadors came from Calormen. The Moles were planting an orchard for us . . . oh . . . oh."
And she buried her face in her hands and sobbed.
It's Tumnus who comes up with the plan to escape and Susan is overjoyed and dances with him while she thanks him.
And that's the last we see of Susan in HHB. Later, in Narnia, as they're riding to the battle at Anvard, Shasta asks Corin where she is.
"And where is the Queen Susan?"
"At Cair Paravel," said Corin. "She's not like Lucy, you know, who's as good as a man, or at any rate as good as a boy. Queen Susan is more like an ordinary grown-up lady. She doesn't ride to the wars, though she is an excellent archer."
She gets that compliment thrown in at the end, but it's still rather dismissive of her. So yeah, to me, even though, textually, Lewis is somewhat complimentary of her, subtextually, the portrayal of her as foolish and useless, because she's a grown woman, comes through loud and clear.
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In fact, how she ignored her brothers' protests and saw the good (or feigned good) in Rabadash rather shows her to be compassionate and sympathetic. She wanted to give him a chance. It turned out he really was a douche, but for me this shows her to be a good person, and certainly not foolish. Because isn't that better than her going against her own opinions and JUST AGREEING WITH HER BROTHERS FOR NO REASON OTHER THAN THEY KNOW BEST?
But you're right - the analysis of the text certainly isn't obviously complimetary to Susan, or at least, in a modern sense. I'm sure when Lewis was writing it he felt she was a good model of a woman (which kinda sucks).
Ugh, so being feminine to him is synomous with fragility while the tomboyish girls are the best. Ugh, ugh Lewis.
Though thanks so much for this - will really help in my esssay.
OH
Cos I'm doing this essay on women in narnia for my student paper - do you have any stuff you've written that could help me? :D
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