by Leslie » January 17th, 2008, 2:40 am
I’m reading She by Rider Haggard, who is an author that Lewis mentions enjoying. When I got to the part where the hero is ushered into She-who-must-be-obeyed’s presence, I was struck by the similarities between She and the Witch in The Silver Chair.
The beginning of the description of She tells of her snake-like litheness and movements, which of course brings to mind the Witch’s alter ego of the snake. They are both very beautiful, with musical voices – the word “silver” is used to describe the laugh of both. Both are extremely long-lived. Both are evil. Both are associated with humans or human-like creatures (i.e. the giants in TSC) who eat humans. And both live underground.
It’s interesting, too, that both are described as being dressed in a kirtle – green for the Witch, and white for She. I first saw this word in TSC, and have never seen or heard it since, until I read She. (But then, maybe I haven’t read enough of the “right” books, where people go about all the time dressed in kirtles.)
"What are you laughing at?"
"At myself. My little puny self," said Phillipa.
--Rumer Godden, In This House of Brede