Other Opposing Views:
Neil Gaiman In a 2004 short story, entitled “The Problem of Susan,” Neil Gaiman imagines a character that strongly resembles and aged Susan Pevensie, who challenges the notion of Susan’s temptation and her ultimate falling away from the Narnian faith. The title has stuck with many feminists and critics of Lewis alike as a sort of catchphrase. The story can be found here if you might be interested. |
It turns out, J.K. Rowling also had many problems with the way Lewis handled the “Susan” conundrum. She said that “There comes a point where Susan, who was the older girl, is lost to Narnia because she becomes interested in lipstick. She's become irreligious basically because she found sex. I have a big problem with that.” [2] [I will say, here, I have to argue with this statement: I think Rowling missed the metaphor—like Pullman—for sin and temptation. I disagree that Susan is lost to Narnia because of her interest in lipstick, or her finding of “sex." Rather, I believe she is lost to Narnia because she has lost sight of the true Narnian values in favour of these things.] |