Caspian X and “Progressives”

S.D. Smith — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:00:01 +0000

We’re listening to this fine book and this fine series once again right now (first time for my kids), and I’m struck again at how Lewis views so-called “progress.” Delightful. This notion is throughout the book, and the series, and indeed in much of Lewis. But here is one exchange that demonstrates it quite nicely. Isn’t it alarming what deeply evil things are often veiled in a black fog of “progress?”

“Tender as my years may be,” said Caspian, “I believe I understand the slave trade from within quite as well as your Sufficiency. And I do not see that it brings into the islands meat or bread or beer or wine or timber or cabbages or books or instruments of music or horses or armour or anything else worth having. But whether it does or not, it must be stopped.”

“But that would be putting the clock back,” gasped the Governor. “Have you no idea of progress, of development?”

“I have seen them both in an egg,” said Caspian. “We call it Going bad in Narnia. This trade must stop.”

C.S. Lewis, from The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

(By the way, Caspian X = King Caspian the 10th.)

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Caspian X and “Progressives”