I’m only a little ways through this chapter about Love and I find C.S. Lewis’s statements surprising, slightly optimistic, and supported. To think that a man (as it is specifically described as a man so far) is all about the specific woman at first, and not his sexual desire is contradictory of course to many beliefs. I find it optimistic in the fact that i do believe it is what anyone would want to be the case. In a modern setting I do feel his beliefs have merit however. Sex is of course prominent now, but is searching for it really searching for Eros? Has sex now become the medium in which we use to then find that one person you want to go on thinking about?

Lewis goes on to discuss the seriousness of sex, or Venus. He states that though it is nothing to take for granted, it is not something we do with a bible duct taped to our torsos. In modern times, I think we have embodied this more as an entire people. on a college campus, vastly more so. We take sex serious in the sense that it is important to have, but not so much of an important act. The religious aspects of it is perhaps less meaningful than ever now. Being a devout Christian, i suspect Lewis would suggest the same, yet maybe not be appalled by it. Or even surprised.

The last few pages of the chapter discuss Eros exclusively, or as exclusively as they can given Venus is within Eros undoubtedly. I would not consider his approach here as optimistic as i originally deduced. Lewis states that Eros is not concerned with happiness in the slightest. He explains that a man who possesses Eros may be, and will likely be, unhappy. However, if it is the voice of Eros, or “being in love” speaking to him then he would rather be unhappy with her than be apart from her at all. A pairing will remain together not because they are happy, but because they know that separating would be too painful. Even today, many believe that being in love is incredibly rare. I feel Lewis’s conclusions apply here. Marriage has become less of a religious sacrament, and more of an emotional confirmation. Couples don’t stay together because they feel it is their connection to God, they do it because of Eros. Now more than ever.

Colorado born and raised, I’m Isaac Walston and next year i will be a sophomore. I am passionate about streetwear fashion, futball is my favorite sport even though I’m horrendous at actually playing, I drive a 2007 Acura with twin turbos named Liana, I personally hate these customary introductions, and I believe that 90’s rap was the pinnacle of music.

As I was a typical overly imaginative kid, the worlds of fantasy governed my life. Whether it was temporarily deciding I was going to revitalize belief in the Olympian pantheon after reading Percy Jackson, or it was believing that if I could find ancient Elven words they would carry magic within them, fantasy played a huge role in my development. In fact, so much so that when i saw a class named The Worlds of C.S. Lewis, there was no question I would be taking it. I still remember the leather bound collection of the entire Chronicles of Narnia (with the Magician’s Nephew placed first, as it should be in my eyes) being read to me by my Dad.

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton