Malacandra is an old world, but all new worlds (like Perelandra) will have humanoid inhabitants. She reveals that, after Jesus took human form on Earth, all created life will now take the human form in homage to him. She is like a child in her knowledge of evil and fallen things, but she is the one who imparts most of the wisdom to Ransom. Later in the day, he discovers several more types of life on the island, all of which converge on a single 'carpet.' He makes his way there and meets Tinidril, the Queen of Perelandra, a green but humanoid person who is strikingly beautiful and serene. He also makes a new friend: a dog-sized red dragon who acts like a dog. The next day, Ransom discovers the 'bubble trees,' which grow and dispel bubbles of air and water that, when popped, emit a highly pleasurable sensation of seeing the world with great color, clarity, and hope. He falls asleep as night comes, pulling himself 'inland' to the trees on the floating island. Ransom eventually pulls himself onto one of these, noting the dim light and bright colors of this new, stunning paradise. The landscape of the beautiful planet is quite unlike that of Malacandra it consists of almost entirely ocean, with large floating 'mattresses,' or 'carpets,' of vegetation that serve as dynamic islands. From here on, the majority of the novel is told from the perspective of Ransom, who details his journey and mission.Īfter a mind-bending journey through the celestial spheres (or something of the sort), Ransom lands on the planet Perelandra. The next year, Ransom returns, and Lewis and Humphrey notice a physical improvement in his condition along with an injured heel.

Lewis does so, recruiting a doctor named Humphrey in the meantime.

He has appointed Lewis as the trustworthy man who should 'package' him up before his departure and be present at his return sometime in the indeterminate future. Ransom has been called to travel to Perelandra (Venus) and prevent an attack on its inhabitants by the Earthly fallen Oyarsa (the 'black archon'). Ransom returns and explains the situation: the doubts Lewis felt on the way were placed in his mind by evil eldila (angel spirits). When he comes to Ransom's house, he discovers an ice-like coffin and the Oyarsa (angel guardian) of Mars in one of Ransom's rooms. Ransom calls Lewis to his house to talk 'business,' and when Lewis is on the way, he feels severely tempted to go back and disbelieve Ransom's story about Malacandra. It continues the trend from the previous novel ( Out of the Silent Planet) of using Lewis himself as a narrator for the beginning and ending, relating his experiences with Ransom, whom he portrays as being a real person. Elwin Ransom, a well-meaning philologist. Perelandra continues to follow the interplanetary adventures of Dr. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community.

Sparknotes perelandra