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I've just started reading the Narnia series. I've purchased the whole series in one big volume.
Now I read the first two books, and the Christian symbolism and everything jumped right out at me. They were a very enjoyable read, because of the way the author has written everything. You keep looking for clues, for further symbols, for meanings behind meanings.
Just a few hours ago I started on the third book, and I'm about halfway through it, and I'm stunned at the level of prejudice and superioritism it displays. It may not be apparent to most people when they read it, but nearly every detail of the Calormen civilisation can be traced back to some or the other source in the Arabian Nights or some other part of that time's Caliphate culture, right down to the concept of the ritual baths, the descriptions of the cities, of society, of royalty, of dress, food, speech, and even the method of story-telling adopted by a character in the book.
Now most people are not familiar with the Arabian Nights literature, or the style of narration adopted by it, or of the society it describes, or the architecture it portrays. Nor are they familiar with the style of writing most nineteenth century translators of texts adopted when translating texts from "the East" into English. That is why it is not so striking. But for someone who has actually gone through all that, and more, it's quite a jolt.
This Calormen culture is constantly (and rather blatantly and quite inelegantly, in my opinion) contrasted with the "freedom" of the people of Narnia, who are shown to be superior in every single conceivable way. The Calormenian society is shown as some sort of model of "Oriental Despotism", and strictly and cruelly hierarchical.
Now, as a work of fiction, I don't mind this portrayal - a mature reader will understand it for what it is. But I find it absolutely monstrous that such writing can be recommended to children, or treated as "children's fantasy literature". This is the sort of thing that is absolutely guaranteed to breed prejudice. Children's reading my arse! In fact, this is the sort of thing which can cause unintentional prejudice even in an uninformed adult!
Now I read the first two books, and the Christian symbolism and everything jumped right out at me. They were a very enjoyable read, because of the way the author has written everything. You keep looking for clues, for further symbols, for meanings behind meanings.
Just a few hours ago I started on the third book, and I'm about halfway through it, and I'm stunned at the level of prejudice and superioritism it displays. It may not be apparent to most people when they read it, but nearly every detail of the Calormen civilisation can be traced back to some or the other source in the Arabian Nights or some other part of that time's Caliphate culture, right down to the concept of the ritual baths, the descriptions of the cities, of society, of royalty, of dress, food, speech, and even the method of story-telling adopted by a character in the book.
Now most people are not familiar with the Arabian Nights literature, or the style of narration adopted by it, or of the society it describes, or the architecture it portrays. Nor are they familiar with the style of writing most nineteenth century translators of texts adopted when translating texts from "the East" into English. That is why it is not so striking. But for someone who has actually gone through all that, and more, it's quite a jolt.
This Calormen culture is constantly (and rather blatantly and quite inelegantly, in my opinion) contrasted with the "freedom" of the people of Narnia, who are shown to be superior in every single conceivable way. The Calormenian society is shown as some sort of model of "Oriental Despotism", and strictly and cruelly hierarchical.
Now, as a work of fiction, I don't mind this portrayal - a mature reader will understand it for what it is. But I find it absolutely monstrous that such writing can be recommended to children, or treated as "children's fantasy literature". This is the sort of thing that is absolutely guaranteed to breed prejudice. Children's reading my arse! In fact, this is the sort of thing which can cause unintentional prejudice even in an uninformed adult!
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