Greg Basch/Space Trilogy #2

Space Trilogy #2

                The title of the third book in the Space Trilogy is “That Hideous Strength.” The novel follows the story of the protagonist Elwin Ransom on earth as he struggles with the dystopian organization N.I.C.E., but the title of it has always seemed more interesting to me than even the plot itself.

                Lewis derived the title for this book from a 16^th century poem by David Lyndsay that refers to the Tower of Babel. Clearly this emerges as another facet of the complex network of Christian images that Lewis fashions together in writing this trilogy. The intriguingly poetic line, “that hideous strength,” creates a dark and beautiful illustration of both the idolizing efforts of mankind at the construction of the Tower of Babel, as well as the destructive patterns of the race in the Space Trilogy, especially N.I.C.E.

                It’s easy to see the correlation between Babel and earth as it is depicted in “That Hideous Strength.” The great potential of men is remarkable, and manifests itself in a “strength” that produces breathtaking structures such as Babel, as well as interplanetary civilizations in the trilogy. But the proposition that this strength is hideous is quite illustrative to understanding Lewis’ view of mankind. It strikes me that in our strength, or in attempt at strength, that we are in a way hideous. This contrasts powerfully with the Biblical view of Jesus, the perfect symbol of love, as a meek and willing servant.