C.S. Lewis, Beyond Personality

A few days ago in class we listened to a radio program on BBC in which many of C.S. Lewis' friends and colleagues commented on the man's character/personality. I found this presentation to be highly enlightening. Since the first time I read the Chronicles of Narnia, my impression of C.S. Lewis has always been of a tenderhearted man with a big imagination and a big place in his heart for children. I found this to be more or less true, although there were far more dimensions added to him when listening to the comments of those who knew him. For instance, I never would have pictured Lewis as a stubborn man, who could not accept defeat in an argument, which came to my attention when listening to the program. I think as a child, not knowing anything about the man other than that he wrote a fascinating fantasy series, he took a place of revered awe in my mind. This radio program further dispelled that notion and brought him back down to earth for me. He became human, just as subject to the infectious virus of sin as anyone else. A brilliant man for sure. He had a sense of cleverness as well as skill with the English language that is only rarely seen. I have enjoyed reading what I have of his works, and look forward to reading more. But I think we ought to look at him in the light of the fact that there is a sinful nature to every human being, although we can take instruction from his writings nonetheless.