40 pages • 1 hour read
C. S. LewisPerelandra
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1943A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Chapters 11-13Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 11 Summary
The next night, Ransom awakens in the dark and begins arguing with himself about his role as a representative of Maleldil. He thinks that he will be successful as long as he does what he can. He then wonders if he must physically fight the Un-Man. He considers that he has been mistaken in believing that Perelandra must follow the Adam and Eve myth, since everything changed after Maleldil became man on Earth. Maleldil’s voice comes to Ransom and says that his name is also Ransom, meaning the price paid to rescue. Ransom considers the price that would be paid for Perelandra, supposing that it must be greater than that paid for Earth. He considers thatwhatever the outcome, it will be his destiny, and believes that predestination and freedom are equal. He decides that it is his destiny to kill the Un-Man, or at least try. Maleldil makes the Un-Man sleep and directs Ransom to do the same beside the woman.
Chapter 12 Summary
Ransom awakens and bathes. He sees that his body has healed and become stronger during his time on Perelandra. As he walks through the forest looking for food, he regards the high probability of his death in battle as a minor matter, since he has now experienced Paradise. He sees the woman sleeping on the ground, considers Eve, then walks on. He passes the dragon, also sleeping, and thinks it a blessing that these innocent creatures will not see bloodshed. Finally, he finds the Un-Man, who is strangling a bird. Ransom punches him in the jaw, nearly breaking his hand. The Un-Man taunts Ransom, asking if he thinks Maleldil can help him if He couldn’t help Himself during the crucifixion. The two fight, both landing blows and grappling. At a moment of rest, Ransom realizes that the Un-Man has only the power of Weston. He realizes that, whenever they box, Ransom wins, but if they grapple, the Un-Man does. After several bouts, Ransom is afraid he will lose when a feeling of powerful hatred comes over him. He realizes that this hatred is empowering. He fights with such power that the Un-Man retreats into the trees. They run across the island and hit the sea, where they begin to swim. The Un-Man mounts a fish and Ransom does the same. As he rides, Ransom begins to feel all the pain from the fight and grows thirsty. As he continues his journey, he looks around and takes in the natural world before him.
Chapter 13 Summary
Darkness falls. Ransom awakens on the fish, still racing after the Un-Man. He finds himself among merpeople, who are eating, and he realizes his own hunger. He eats the seaweed they are eating and begins to forget his memories of the woman. He throws the rest of the seaweed away in fear. He falls asleep again and awakens to see the Un-Man ahead of him. Ransom sees a fish leave the group following the Un-Man’s mount and realizes that his fight for Perelandra might not concern any creature on the planet, save for the King and Queen. He begins to feel irrelevant. After this, he notices that the Un-Man has stopped fleeing and is now moving toward him. Weston seems to have returned, crying and asking Ransom what has happened. Weston laments his oncoming death as Ransom tries to cheer him with thoughts of eternity. But Weston, an atheist, refuses to be consoled. He argues against all types of religious thought while Ransom responds with questions to understand his perspective. Suddenly, a sound can be heard, and Weston recognizes it as breakers just as the dark comes on. In his fear, Weston grabs onto Ransom and pulls him underwater.
Chapters 11-13 Analysis
In these chapters, Lewis shows us some of his purpose in retelling the creation myth, which is also a story about consequences. Lewis writes, “You might look upon the Perelandrian story as merely an indirect consequence of the Incarnation on earth” (123). He suggests that even though Christ performed his work thousands of years ago, the effects continue in variations. Ransom learns that his name was given to him on purpose, so that he could be a type or representation of God. Maleldil tells him, “My name is also Ransom” (126). This cements the players in the allegory, placing Ransom in the role of savior, rather than spectator, as he felt he was.
When he fights the Un-Man, we learn that it was the perception and influence of evil that caused Ransom fear. Now that he has courage from understanding his role, he sees, “Its bodily strength was merely that of Weston” (131). Moving further from his imperfect state, Ransom recognizes that it is allowable to feel what he previously considered shameful emotions. He feels “a torrent of perfectly unmixed and lawful hatred” (132). It is this righteous hatred that gives him the strength to defeat evil in the form of the Un-Man. Lewis is suggesting that our shame over hatred of evil is one of the tools that Satan uses to overpower us. Another is a sense of insignificance, as Ransom discovers later. As Ransom fights to win this battle of good versus evil, he wonders, “Where was Maleldil now?” (140). This sense of the self as small and insignificant seems to be another stumbling block that Lewis fears leads to defeat.
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By C. S. Lewis
