Women and C.S. Lewis

Sexism in Narnia? Or Screwtape? Or amongst the Inklings? Many critics have labelled C.S. Lewis a sexist, even a misogynist. Did the life and writing of the hugely popular author and professor betray attitudes that today are unacceptable, even deplorable? The younger Lewis was criticized for a mysterious living arrangement with a woman, but his later marriage to an American poet, Joy Davidman, became a celebrated love story. As a writer he, along with J.R.R. Tolkien, formed a legendary literary group, the Inklings - but without women. In this collection of short essays, opinion pieces, and interviews, academics and writers come together to investigate these accusations. They include Alister McGrath, Randy Alcorn, Monika Hilder, Don W. King, Kathy Keller, Colin Duriez, Crystal Hurd, Jeanette Sears, David C. Downing, Malcolm Guite, and Holly Ordway. The resulting work, Women and C.S. Lewis, provides broad and satisfying answers.

ContentsAcknowledgments 11INTRODUCTIONSWas C.S. Lewis sexist? Is he relevant today?Carolyn Curtis 13Not mere mortalsDr Mary Pomroy Key 21SECTION ONELewis, the man - and the women in his life 27Chapter OneThe enduring influence of Flora LewisDr Crystal Hurd 31Chapter TwoWhat do we make of Lewis' relationship with Mrs Moore?Paul McCusker 41Chapter ThreeHelen Joy Davidman (Mrs C.S. Lewis) 1915-1960: a portraitDr Lyle W. Dorsett 53Chapter FourFire and Ice: why did Lewis marry Joy Davidman rather thanRuth Pitter?Dr Don W. King 65Chapter FiveThe Divine Comedy of C.S. Lewis and Dorothy L. SayersDr Crystal L. Downing 73Chapter SixOn Tolkien, the Inklings - and Lewis' blindness to genderDr Alister McGrath 79Chapter SevenC.S. Lewis and the friends who apparently couldn't really havebeen his friends, but actually wereColin Duriez 85SECTION TWOLewis, the fiction author - how girls and women areportrayed in his novels 93Chapter OneAre The Chronicles of Narnia sexist?Dr Devin Brown 95Chapter Two"The Abolition of Woman": gender and hierarchy in Lewis'Space TrilogySteven Elmore 109Chapter Three"She is one of the great ones." The radical world of The Great DivorceDr Joy Jordan-Lake 121Chapter FourThe Pilgrim's Paradox: female characters in The Pilgrim's RegressDr David C. Downing 127Chapter FiveNew perspectives: Till We Have Faces, The Four Loves, and other worksAndrew Lazo 135SECTION THREELewis, the poet - surprises from his poetry 145Chapter OneSetting the man-woman thing to rightsBrad Davis 147Chapter TwoBridging the chasm between usKelly Belmonte 155Chapter ThreeGetting our goddesses together: Lewis and the feminine voicein poetryRevd Dr Malcolm Guite 161SECTION FOURLewis, the influencer - how his life and literature impact thetwenty-first century discussion about women 169Chapter OneJack, the "old woman" of Oxford: sexist or seer?Dr Monika B. Hilder 173Chapter TwoA generation longing for C.S. LewisBrett McCracken 187Chapter ThreeFrom feminist to mere ChristianDr Mary Poplin 191Chapter FourLewis as teacher and servant... and my respectful disagreementon women as priestsRevd Dr Jeanette Sears 199Chapter FiveOn women's roles in the church: Lewis' letters to me as a child litmy wayKathy Keller 209Chapter SixC.S. Lewis on love and sexDr Holly Ordway 217Chapter SevenMistress for pleasure or wife for fruit?Dr Michael Ward 223Chapter EightDorothy L. Sayers and C.S. Lewis: comrades against the zeitgeistKasey Macsenti 233SECTION FIVELewis, the mentor - how his views on women impact mine 243Chapter OneLewis inspired me to speak out for womenRandy Alcorn 245Chapter TwoOn being the father of immortals: lessons from "The Weight of Glory"John Stonestreet 253Chapter ThreeMore than a fairy princess: what Narnia teaches about being strong,courageous womenChristin Ditchfield 261CONCLUSIONWhat do Lewis' life and literature reveal for today's culture?Carolyn Curtis 265Questions for Reflection and Discussion 276Endnotes 278