The Pilgrim's Regress
Encyclopedia
The Pilgrim's Regress is a book of allegorical
fiction by C. S. Lewis
.
This 1933 novel — Lewis's first-published work of prose fiction — and his third piece of work to be published; charts the progress of a fictional character through the philosophical landscape before eventually arriving where he started at traditional Christianity
. It is Lewis's personal revision of John Bunyan
's 17th century novel, Pilgrim's Progress, recast with the politics, philosophy and aesthetic principles of the early-20th century. As such the character struggles with the modern phoniness, hypocrisy and intellectual vacancy of the Christian church, Communism
, Fascism
, and various philosophical and artistic movements. It balances Lewis's neoplatonic mindset with a Kierkegaardian faith-based
understanding.
It is interesting to note that Lewis' character finds that many philosophical roads ultimately lead to a fascistic nihilism
that he associates with Nordic
Viking
culture – his explanation of the then flourishing Nazi movement and other fascist governments of World War II
. This also highlights his own attraction to paganism
and Norse mythology
as his first spiritual awakening that led him to Christianity (as detailed in Surprised by Joy
), while acknowledging the darker potential elements of paganism as well.
Pilgrim's Regress was originally panned by critics. In a footnote of the biography on Martyn Lloyd-Jones
, D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones: The Fight of Faith 1939-1981 by Iain Murray
, Murray notes the following: "Lewis is said to have valued ML-J's appreciation and encouragement when the early edition of his Pilgrim's Regress was not selling well. Vincent Lloyd-Jones and Lewis knew each other well, being contemporaries at Oxford. ML-J met the author again and they had a long conversation when they found both themselves on the same boat to Ireland in 1953. On the later occasion, to the question, 'When are you going to write another book?', Lewis replied, 'When I understand the meaning of prayer'."
First edition published by J.M. Dent and Sons Ltd., London
Allegory
Allegory is a demonstrative form of representation explaining meaning other than the words that are spoken. Allegory communicates its message by means of symbolic figures, actions or symbolic representation...
fiction by C. S. Lewis
C. S. Lewis
Clive Staples Lewis , commonly referred to as C. S. Lewis and known to his friends and family as "Jack", was a novelist, academic, medievalist, literary critic, essayist, lay theologian and Christian apologist from Belfast, Ireland...
.
This 1933 novel — Lewis's first-published work of prose fiction — and his third piece of work to be published; charts the progress of a fictional character through the philosophical landscape before eventually arriving where he started at traditional Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. It is Lewis's personal revision of John Bunyan
John Bunyan
John Bunyan was an English Christian writer and preacher, famous for writing The Pilgrim's Progress. Though he was a Reformed Baptist, in the Church of England he is remembered with a Lesser Festival on 30 August, and on the liturgical calendar of the Episcopal Church on 29 August.-Life:In 1628,...
's 17th century novel, Pilgrim's Progress, recast with the politics, philosophy and aesthetic principles of the early-20th century. As such the character struggles with the modern phoniness, hypocrisy and intellectual vacancy of the Christian church, Communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
, Fascism
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
, and various philosophical and artistic movements. It balances Lewis's neoplatonic mindset with a Kierkegaardian faith-based
Faith-based
The term faith-based is a neologism , mostly current in US English, to describe any organization or government idea or plan based on religious beliefs, specifically Christian beliefs....
understanding.
It is interesting to note that Lewis' character finds that many philosophical roads ultimately lead to a fascistic nihilism
Nihilism
Nihilism is the philosophical doctrine suggesting the negation of one or more putatively meaningful aspects of life. Most commonly, nihilism is presented in the form of existential nihilism which argues that life is without objective meaning, purpose, or intrinsic value...
that he associates with Nordic
Scandinavian folklore
Scandinavian folklore is the folklore of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and the Swedish speaking parts of Finland.Collecting folklore began when Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden sent out instructions to all of the priests in all of the parishes to collect the folklore of their area...
Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
culture – his explanation of the then flourishing Nazi movement and other fascist governments of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. This also highlights his own attraction to paganism
Paganism
Paganism is a blanket term, typically used to refer to non-Abrahamic, indigenous polytheistic religious traditions....
and Norse mythology
Norse mythology
Norse mythology, a subset of Germanic mythology, is the overall term for the myths, legends and beliefs about supernatural beings of Norse pagans. It flourished prior to the Christianization of Scandinavia, during the Early Middle Ages, and passed into Nordic folklore, with some aspects surviving...
as his first spiritual awakening that led him to Christianity (as detailed in Surprised by Joy
Surprised by Joy
Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life is a partial autobiography published by C. S. Lewis in 1955. Specifically the book describes the author's conversion to Christianity which had taken place 24 years earlier.-Overview :...
), while acknowledging the darker potential elements of paganism as well.
Pilgrim's Regress was originally panned by critics. In a footnote of the biography on Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Martyn Lloyd-Jones
David Martyn Lloyd-Jones was a Welsh Protestant minister, preacher and medical doctor who was influential in the Reformed wing of the British evangelical movement in the 20th century. For almost 30 years, he was the minister of Westminster Chapel in London...
, D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones: The Fight of Faith 1939-1981 by Iain Murray
Iain Murray
Iain Hamish Murray was educated in the Isle of Man and at the University of Durham. He entered the Christian ministry in 1955. He served as assistant to Martyn Lloyd-Jones at Westminster Chapel and subsequently at Grove Chapel, London and St. Giles Presbyterian Church, Sydney, Australia,...
, Murray notes the following: "Lewis is said to have valued ML-J's appreciation and encouragement when the early edition of his Pilgrim's Regress was not selling well. Vincent Lloyd-Jones and Lewis knew each other well, being contemporaries at Oxford. ML-J met the author again and they had a long conversation when they found both themselves on the same boat to Ireland in 1953. On the later occasion, to the question, 'When are you going to write another book?', Lewis replied, 'When I understand the meaning of prayer'."
External links
First edition published by J.M. Dent and Sons Ltd., London