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Original poster

The Narnia books - oh my goodness

132 replies

BellaBear · 10/07/2008 09:22

I've just read the whole set of them and I am shocked at how racist they are - and also I never realised what a blatant christian analogy they are.

Anyone have any thoughts?

Is it acceptable as they are of their time?

The language is also hilarious (eg a Calormene (pretty obvioulsy meant to be Turkish) using the expression 'He's a brick' in praise of someone made me laugh out loud)

OP posts:
Original poster
BellaBear · 10/07/2008 09:35

the whole heaven thing at the end of the last battle with a 'sorting' was a bit much actually.

and poor susan, dismissed! Don't think CS Lewis liked girly girls much!

OP posts:
edam · 10/07/2008 09:34

Gosh, I read the whole series again and again as a child and didn't notice any racism at all. And I came from a left-wing politically active family who explained things like graffiti about Blair Peach!

I thought the Christian theme was very clear but maybe that was going to a CofE school. Can't remember if C S Lewis was ordained (think so) but he was certainly a theologian. The Screwtape Letters are definitely worth reading whether you are religious or not.

Rhubarb · 10/07/2008 09:34

"obviously muslims" how so? Don't you think you might be reading too much into it. I have 2 Asian brothers and didn't find anything remotely racist about the books. I found it old-fashioned certainly, but I don't think it is intentionally racist.

I do think that once you are told something like that, you start reading the racism into things that are not necessarily racist.

Psychomum5 · 10/07/2008 09:33

shelly....I never got it at all when I was young, and TBH, it has taken me two reads to see how christian they are....

shelleylou · 10/07/2008 09:31

i read them several times as a child and didnt really get some of the comments too much. Then worked out what it was but didnt find it overly racist. >

Original poster
BellaBear · 10/07/2008 09:30

the calormenes are described, by the narrator, as being a cruel race. they are obviously muslims

dh really looking forward to reading them to ds when he is older and it makes me feel uncomfortable (not the christian stuff, btw, even though I am not and it does lay it on very thick)

OP posts:
Psychomum5 · 10/07/2008 09:25

I thought the same actually.

on 'the last battle' now, and they keep calling the calormenes 'darkie'.....

they are a book of their time tho really.....they were written in the 50's which was a very racist time from what I have been told (and learnt from my aunt and uncle who were very racist).

it is a shame in some ways as they are very popular again and of course todays children will be subjected to it a little.

mind you, it is only now as an adult that I can see it.....read them all several times as a child and it went straight over my head then!