On this crossover episode, Adam Haman and economist Bob Murphy return to their series of literary analysis with a classic by GK Chesterton, The Man Who Was Thursday. Warning: There will be spoilers galore! First Frank Miller, now Chesterton. What’s next? Enjoy!
The Chronicles of Narnia can be read as celestial bodies based on Michael Ward's "Planet Narnia" thesis, which posits that Lewis structured the seven books around the seven medieval planets (Jupiter, Mars, Sol, Luna, Mercury, Venus, and Saturn), with each book embodying a planetary personality through themes, characters, and atmosphere. For instance, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is seen as Jovial (Jupiter), while Prince Caspian is martial (Mars).
I think that GK may have been linking the “day” characters to their corresponding “gods”. CS Lewis is said to
Have done similar things with his Chronicles of Narnia. 7 books, 7 days, 7 celestial bodies in the pre-modern conception of the heavens, each associated with a god or Titan. Both Chesterton and Lewis were Christians, and so did not literally believe in the Roman/greek deities. However, they saw them as important literary ideas that were all under the Sovereignty of the one True God of the Bible.
That sounds like it's in the ballpark. I knew he was doing something symbolic there, but I'm too ignorant of Christianity and symbolism and whatnot to figure it out.
I highly recommend Ward’s book . Here’s a little essay written about it. Lewis was a big admirer of Chesterton. I think there is a connection here between the characters in A Man Called Thursday, and Lewis use of a similar allegory in the Narnia series…. https://www.modernreformation.org/resources/articles/planet-narnia-the-seven-heavens-in-the-imagination-of-c-s-lewis-by-michael-ward
This may seem a stretch, but would love to hear yours and Bobs thoughts.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Jupiter): Embodies kingship, festal joy, and tragic splendor.
Prince Caspian (Mars): Reflects themes of war, knightly discipline, and courage.
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Sol): Symbolizes wisdom, enlightenment, and freedom from greed.
The Silver Chair (Luna): Characterized by envy, wateriness, confusion, and the boundaries of certainty.
The Horse and His Boy (Mercury): Associated with swiftness, speech, learning, and the ability to divide and recombine.
The Magician's Nephew (Venus): Evokes sweetness, beauty, fertility, and motherliness.
The Last Battle (Saturn): Represents themes of sorrow, penitence, and contemplation, alongside potential disaster and treachery.
I loved that series when I was a lad.
5
Gospel Vision
The Chronicles of Narnia can be read as celestial bodies based on Michael Ward's "Planet Narnia" thesis, which posits that Lewis structured the seven books around the seven medieval planets (Jupiter, Mars, Sol, Luna, Mercury, Venus, and Saturn), with each book embodying a planetary personality through themes, characters, and atmosphere. For instance, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is seen as Jovial (Jupiter), while Prince Caspian is martial (Mars).
I think that GK may have been linking the “day” characters to their corresponding “gods”. CS Lewis is said to
Have done similar things with his Chronicles of Narnia. 7 books, 7 days, 7 celestial bodies in the pre-modern conception of the heavens, each associated with a god or Titan. Both Chesterton and Lewis were Christians, and so did not literally believe in the Roman/greek deities. However, they saw them as important literary ideas that were all under the Sovereignty of the one True God of the Bible.
That sounds like it's in the ballpark. I knew he was doing something symbolic there, but I'm too ignorant of Christianity and symbolism and whatnot to figure it out.
Lundi (Monday): From the Latin dies Lunae, or "day of the moon" (Luna).
Mardi (Tuesday): From the Latin dies Martis, meaning "day of Mars".
Mercredi (Wednesday): Named for Mercury (Latin Mercurii dies), the Roman messenger god.
Jeudi (Thursday): From the Latin dies Iovis, or "day of Jupiter".
Vendredi (Friday): Named after Venus (Latin Veneris dies), the goddess of love.
Samedi (Saturday): Derived from the Latin Sabbati dies, or "day of Shabbat," with origins in the Judeo-Christian tradition.
Dimanche (Sunday): From the Latin dies Dominica, meaning "the Lord's day".
“Were all the things which appeared as mythology on Earth scattered through other worlds as realities?” —Perelandra, C.S. Lewis1