5. The ending of the book

[Manuel]

Did you understand the last chapter of the book, or did you lose your bearings? What do you think Lewis intended when he wrote this difficult chapter? For instance, when Orual comes to the end of her trials, she hears this sentence: "You also are Psyche." What do you think this means?

[Mariangel]

The ending of the book reminds of the ending of the book of Job.

I have a few more things to say but I am waiting not to spoil it for others.

[John]

Mariangel wrote: "The ending of the book reminds of the ending of the book of Job.

I have a few more things to say but I am waiting not to spoil it for others."

Hmmm, I didn't see that. I look forward to your additional comments.

[John]

Manuel wrote: "Did you understand the last chapter of the book, or did you lose your bearings? "

Count me with the lost.

[Mariangel]

Orual is writing her book as a complaint to the gods, and the gods grant her an audience, the same as Job:

"Oh, that I had one to hear my case:
here is my signature: let the Almighty answer me!
Let my accuser write out his indictment!" Job 31, 35

The difference is that Job is blameless, while Orual is not in regards to Psyche. But the gods hear her complain and answer. And the very last words of the book are:

"I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer. You are yourself the answer. Before your face questions die away. What other answer would suffice?"

And Job similarly replies to God:

"I have spoken but did not understand;
things too marvelous for me, which I did not know.
“Listen, and I will speak;
I will question you, and you tell me the answers.”
By hearsay I had heard of you,
but now my eye has seen you.
Therefore I disown what I have said,
and repent in dust and ashes." Job 42, 3-6.

When Job sees God and hears his answer, despite being blameless, he recognizes that he is nothing (dust and ashes) and that God's plan is too high for him to understand. In this sense, God himself is the answer.

Similarly, as Orual is reading her complaint in front of the Gods, the words she had written are changed, and the jealousy that she was hiding from herself as she wrote the book appears unmasked: "The girl was mine", "What should I care for some horrible new happiness that I hadn't given her and which separated her from me?" "It would have been better if I had seen the Brute tear her in pieces before my eyes".

The closer we come to God, the more clearly we see in his light all the nothingness and sin. Saints are more aware and more sorrowful of their smaller sins than greater sinners who are blinded and cannot even recognize they are wrong.

[Harry]

Mariangel wrote: "The closer we come to God, the more clearly we see in his light all the nothingness and sin. Saints are more aware and more sorrowful of their smaller sins than greater sinners who are blinded and cannot even recognize they are wrong. "

Thank you, Mariangel. The comparison with Job and your explanation helps me immensely.

[Manuel]

Job complains at God, and God just says: "Who are you to hold me accountable? I'm too high and my ways are not your ways."

In the same way, Orual has been complaining all her life against Ungit, and at the end sees that she's too low to complain against Divinity.

See also my comment in question 7. Allegory.

[Manuel]

Mariangel wrote: "And the very last words of the book are: "I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer. You are yourself the answer. Before your face questions die away. What other answer would suffice?""

This reminds me of "The Lord" by Romano Guardini: The figure of the Messiah has an infinite meaning. The decisive thing is not the word that he speaks, the work that he does, the instruction that he offers, but he himself, what he is.

And of Chapter 1 in John's Gospel: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

"You are yourself the answer." "You are yourself the Word."

[Crystal]

I was both enlightened by some things in the last chapter and confused by others. I am still mulling it over and appreciate the perspectives here.

I did have the take away that while Orual has a negative view of the gods; specifically the god of the mountain who she says hates her, and Ungit, she doesn’t know them. She sees the results of the gods in her pain only. He lack of trust comes from what she believes they are but not what they actually are. We see this sometimes when unbelievers mock believes. Often times they do not have the same definition or understanding of God. I can relate this to her relationship or lack of with the gods.


The comparison with the book of Job is interesting. I never thought of that but I can see the connection in the stories. Thanks for sharing it.

[Crystal]

Also I found it fascinating that while Orual is reading her complaint it isn’t what she wrote. We can’t hide ourselves from God. In the end we will be there with the truth.