Adventuring or Wandering

Space Trilogy (1) 

At the conclusion of Out of the Silent Planet, after Weston and Devine have been questioned, Ransom remains, having a conversation with Oyarsa. Ransom stands before Oyarsa, wondering about his fate, wondering about his role in the evil that was done on Malacandra. Oyarsa leaves him with these words, “You are guilty of no evil, Ransom of Thulcandra, except a little fearfulness. For that, the journey you go is your pain, and perhaps your cure: for you must be either mad or brave before it is ended” (142). At the heart of science fiction, often, is the adventure that an individual is sent on, whether they want to be sent on it or not. Ransom was sent on an adventure, to another world, with different creatures, different plants, different language. He was sent to a world in which he was the most ignorant, the one who understood the least about the universe because he came from the silent and fallen planet. Through this story, Lewis comments on the importance of adventure, of going out into the other. Ransom’s adventures on Malacandra push him to find meaning, to become a genuine being. In the beginning of the book, Ransom is a character content to wander, to journey but not to adventure. He traveled alone, not wanting to associate with others, stopping when he wanted and where he wanted. On this walking tour, Ransom was only responsible for himself. Even as he makes his way into the Weston and Devine’s house, Lewis writes that “the last thing Ransom wanted was an adventure” (13). This is what makes this particular passage between Oyarsa and Ransom at the end of this particular adventure so intriguing. For this adventure, at its heart, involved relationships. No longer could he travel alone, thinking only of himself. When he did that, he was stuck in inaction and one of his friends died. Yet, Oyarsa leaves him with hope: there are adventures to come with them will bring pain but pain that requires bravery or madness. Inaction is not an option.

Yet, as he leaves this adventure, his belief in his story seems to fade for a moment. It is as if he escaped the cave and upon returning he had a choice. He could choose bravery, choose to believe in reality when everyone else still believes in shadows, or he could choose madness, attempting to convince himself that there are only shadows.