Jack Snowdon: Danger in the Lake

I will readily admit that I may have procrastinated a bit much in regards to working on my blog posts, waiting for that perfect moment of inspiration to strike, when I should have been working to flesh out my own ideas rather than just letting them come to me. However, with that concession in mind, I am glad to say that something exactly like I had hoped for happened while reading the discussion between Ransom and Hyoi in Chapter 12 of Out of the Silent Planet. The discussion revolves largely around the concept and experience of love and appreciation among the hrossa, and sees Ransom struggling to understand how they can content themselves with valuing the memories rather than replicating the actions, as well as questioning why that can be the way it is with such dangers as the hnakra dwelling in the local waters. Though he does struggle to comprehend them, Hyoi has an answer every step of the way, culminating with the line, "...And I say also this, I do not think the forest would be so bright, nor the water so warm, nor love so sweet, if there were no danger in the lake."

This reminded me of a discussion we had in class, related to one of our short stories, which brought up the idea of a key element of adventure being danger. It also reminded me of some of the philosophical and theological ideas I have read in the past which have argued very similar cases, and which I am sure Lewis had equivalent teachings in mind when writing this. It made me think to some religious writings which label ours as a nether world, marked by suffering and short lives. However, when this is often noted, it is typically accompanied by the value of joy and kindness to our fellow man, which is made sweeter by the presence of evil, as Hyoi says, and which Hyoi even goes farther in saying that the hnakra is an essential part of their society, even if it were to kill him or one of the others. These ideas remind me of one of Baha'u'llah's writings, which says, "...The Almighty hath tried, and will continue to try, his servants, so that light may be distinguished from darkness, truth from falsehood, right from wrong, guidance from error, happiness from misery, and roses from thorns. Even as He hath revealed: 'Do men think when they say "We believe" they shall be let alone and not put to proof?'" This coincides very much with the idea that the "danger in the lake" is an integral part of growing in life, and being able to appreciate the joys and safety when one is away from said lake, or said danger. The last sentence of Baha'u'llah's quote also compliments Hyoi's passive acceptance of the dangers and limitations upon his people simply being the way of things, as if to say that Hyoi and his fellow hrossa are not like the men who expect to be let alone after saying "We believe."

Lewis, C. S. (Clive Staples), 1898-1963. Out Of the Silent Planet. New York: Collier Books, 1965.