In the first book in
the Space Trilogy, Out of the Silent
Planet, Ransom escapes from 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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