That Hideous Strength - Ch 16 - Banquet at Belbury

The scheduled dinner party commences at Belbury, with Jules, the figurehead Director, as the scheduled speaker, with the tramp (whom they believe to be Merlin) sitting at the high table and the interpreter priest (the real Merlin) standing behind him.

Jules begins speaking, but the Deputy Director, Withers, soon noticed that everything Jules said seemed utterly nonsensical.  He noticed the others, who usually only minimally listened to the speaker so they could laugh or applaud when customary, were all staring agog at Jules.  Withers debated whether he should interfere, but when he did, though he thought he said perfectly sensible words to calm everyone, they stared at him agog, and then panic began to set in as no one could understand anyone else - everything everyone said sounded like gibberish.

We learn that Merlin uses the power Viritrilbia (Mercury) - the master of language - gave him to confuse their speech - similar to the confusion at the Tower of Babel.  He then sneaks out of the banquet room and releases the animals the NICE confine for their experiments.  These animals find their way to the banquet room where they cause more panic, mayhem, and even death, especially at the feet of the elephant who breaks in through the front door, causing sheer terror.  In the confusion, Miss Hardcastle, the head of the NICE police, shoots Jules (the figurehead Director) who dies.  She keeps shooting again and again which furthers the wild terror.  Soon Miss Hardcastle herself turns up dead.

Mark blacked out during the commotion.  Merlin woke him with a splash of cold water in his face.  Mark noticed an empty room filled a hideous confusion of mangled people awash in food, filth, and spoiled luxury. Merlin handed him a note which informed him his wife awaited him at St. Anne's and to come quickly.  Mark went outside, Merlin struck him on the back, and Mark found himself running as never before - his legs would not stop.

Meanwhile, Withers somehow escapes the dining room.  He understands all is lost, the powers of Deep Heaven reached the Earth (Tellus) - despite the assurances of the dark Masters they could not.  He, Straik, and Filostrato went before the talking head (actually the voice of dark Masters), worshiping him.  The talking head demands a further sacrifice, to they killed Filostrato - and then demands a further sacrifice - so Withers kills Straik.  Then Mr. Bultitude (the bear) shows up, also released by Merlin, and upset at his captivity.  He kills Withers, and thus Belbury practically ends defeated in one evening.

Feverstone decides to escape Belbury by car.  However, he finds his car follows an old Roman road between Belbury and Edgestow apart from his control.

Frost, who denies everything, including his own emotions and self, goes into the room adjacent to the talking head (the voice of the dark masters).  Seeing his close companions mutilated, but denying the reality and his own emotions, he pours out petrol and lights it, killing himself and only realizing at the last moment everything he believed in was wrong.

Ch. 15 - The Descent of the Gods

Ch. 17 - Venus at St. Anne's

Overview - That Hideous Strength

Character List

That Hideous Strength - Ch 15 - The Descent of the Gods

Lewis titles this chapter "The Descent of the Gods," but as you read it, it's clear he's not promoting multiple gods (polytheism), but instead referring to the chief angels of each planet, which the ancient world considered gods (which Lewis clearly rejects).  Instead, in this chapter, Lewis, a medieval scholar, brings out the medieval beauty and majesty view of the cosmos.

Medieval planet names 

This chapter begins with the chief angel (oyarsu) of each world known to the medieval age descending to St. Anne's.  Though they specifically descend to the Blue Room where the Director (Ransom) and Merlin await them alone, still their descent affects all others at the household. First descended Viritrilbia (Mercury, also known as Thoth or Hermes), accompanied by the doubling, splitting, and recombining of thoughts, which they only endured with some knowledge of poetry. Second Perelandra (Venus, also known as Aphrodite) descended, accompanied by a summer breeze England never had and Charity such as no one on Earth had ever experienced.  Third Malacandra (Mars, also known as Ares, Mavors, and Tyr) descended accompanied by a sense of the ordered rhythm of the universe, sharing in a processional pomp, and a readiness for action.  Fourth Lugra (Saturn) descends accompanied by incredible pressure, freezing cold, and sorrow.  Finally, Glundandra (Jupiter, also known as Jove and Zeus) descended accompanied by Kingship, power, festivities, and music, which dispelled the sorrow of Lurga.  These Oyarsus (often confused by men with the "gods") empowered Merlin for his task.  Finally, clean shaven, MacPhee drove Merlin down near Belbury and dropped him off.

Merlin appears at Belbury responding to their ad for someone familiar with obscure languages (so they can speak with the tramp they believe to be Merlin).  Frost and Withers mistake Merlin for a priestly type wearing a rusty cassock and a wide brimmed black hat.  Merlin speaks to the tramp in a strange language which the tramp recognizes and responds to (likely a language empowered by Viritrilbia - the master of languages).  Thus, Merlin can control Frost and Withers, since they are eager to please engage Merlin, whom they believe to be the tramp, and they believe Merlin to be a true interpreter of whom they believe to be Merlin.  Though privately and when alone, they have their doubts, they do not wish to challenge, and risk the displeasure of Merlin (the tramp) or the interpreter (the real Merlin).

Merlin says the tramp demands a tour of Belbury by Withers, and demands robes.  Withers dresses him with robes as a Doctor of Philosophy and begins the tour.  Mark remains with Frost, who demands that Mark trample a large crucifix on the floor and otherwise insult it.  Frost hopes this will confirm Mark is with them.  Though Mark does not believe in Christianity, the demand disturbs him, and after much consternation, he emphatically states he will not do so.

The NICE figurehead Director, Jules, shows up for a scheduled dinner party.  However, Jules does not know he is a figurehead, and believes he directs affairs.  He wonders why Withers (the Deputy Director) is not in attendance.  Withers soon shows up with the tramp (as Merlin) and Merlin (as his interpreter) in tow.  Jules is unimpressed with their appearance.  Mark tries to speak to Jules, but Withers and Frost interfere.  Jules expresses his displeasure at how things are being run.  Withers sympathizes and introduces the tramp (Merlin) as Dr. Ambrosius.  Jules doesn't like him, and even more dislikes his interpreter (the real Merlin).

Ch 14 - Real Life is Meeting

Ch 15 - Banquet at Belbury

Overview of That Hideous Strength

Character List

That Hideous Strength - Ch 14 - Real Life is Meeting

Martin Buber (1878-1965) lived as an influential existentialist philosopher, who also exerted a prominent role in theology.  He emphasized an "I and You" personal relationship with God, which deeply affected all our other relationships - making them more personal.  He contrasted it with an "I and It" impersonal relationship with God, which tended to affect all our other relationships - making them more impersonal.  He summarized these views in his saying, "All real life is meeting."  (I won't go into his theology here.)  C.S. Lewis seemed to have picked up on some of this as indicated in his title for this chapter, "Real Life is Meeting."

Mark remains in a cell at Belbury, visited at times by Frost, who seeks to remove all emotions from him (all humanity and the personal), and replace it with complete objectivity (the impersonal and inhuman).  Though Mark inwardly resists, he outwardly plays along, thinking he will only eventually gain his freedom this way. As part of this process, he had to endure exposure to art intended to offend him in an effort to numb his human emotions.  Instead, they produced an opposite effect of reinforcing his determination to resist this sort of training, and instead more determined to choose the opposite - the normal, all wrapped up in his wife, Jane.  At this point, Frost led Mark to a bedroom with a roaring blaze and an old man in the bed.  Frost told Mark he was to remain on duty here until relieved, and that if the old man said anything, to call the Deputy Director, but not to speak to him since the old man did not speak English.  However, soon after Frost left, the old man awoke - and he did speak English.

Song of Songs

Meanwhile, Jane helps Mother Dimble prepare a bedroom for the reuniting of Ivy Maggs with her husband, Mr. Maggs, who is being released from prison for a petty theft crime he committed before their marriage, but which was discovered six weeks later.  Jane reflects on the "solemn, yet roguish, company of old women who had been tucking young lovers into beds since the world began," who could "kneel devoutly at alters" one moment, but at the next moment cheerfully make ribald comments about young lovers.  Jane begins to wonder how her relationship with Mark will develop when he returns.  When Jane sits alone, she sees an enticing woman in a flame colored robe, who reminds her somewhat of Mother Dimble.  She soon notices a group of five fat dwarfs accompany her - who mock Jane.  The woman holds a torch, but when she touches items, instead of burning, it causes ivy, honeysuckle, red roses, and lilies to grow.  Meanwhile, the dwarfs tore up the room.  Suddenly, Jane realized she was dreaming - yet the room was empty but for the bed which had been pulled to pieces.  She decides to see the Director at once.

Mr. Bultitude (one concept)

Mr. Bultitude, the bear, unattended by Ivy Maggs, his caretaker, who left to meet her husband being released from prison, climbed a tree over the walls of St. Francis, and landed on the other side.  Len and Sid from Bebury see Mr. Bultitude, and wonder if he's the bear they keep there escaped.  Anyway, they were out to purchase a wolf from someone who backed out upon learning how Belbury uses animals.  They are worried their boss at Belbury might fire them for not returning with the wolf.  They decide its better to return with a bear rather than empty-handed, whether or not its the bear from Belbury.  They throw Mr. Bultitude a drugged sandwich, which he eats, and which soon knocks him out.  They tie him up - throw him in the van - and take him back to Belbury.

Meanwhile, Mark got to spend more time with the tramp, and got to know more about him, though the tramp always acted elusively.  From time to time, Withers and Frost brought someone else in who tried to speak to him in another foreign language.  Each time, the tramp would not respond, with an expression of tranquil indifference.  Mark felt that he achieved a special secret and strong circle with the tramp.

Back at St. Francis, the Director explains to Jane that as long as Merlin remains with them, they are not exactly in the 20th Century, they have entered into an overlap.  Besides, as a seer, Jane was bound to run into the Old Woman, who resembled Mother Dimble, a Christian woman, but since Jane is not a Christian woman, she encountered a version that existed before Christ (before Maleldil), untransformed, demoniac, which reflected the history of Jane's life.  Jane begins to realize that the Director stands on the side of Mother Dimble.  While she hoped for a world where all differences of sex were taken away, she begins to suspect that a deeper reality may exist where the differences run all the way up the ladder.  The Director reinforces this view by saying, "What is above and beyond all things is so masculine that we are all feminine in relation to it."  The Director ventures the Huge Woman was the earthly Venus in anticipation of Oyarsa of Perelandra (Venus), since Director planned to bring Merlin before the various Oyarasas of the various planets - Vitribula (Mercury), Perelandra (Venus), Malacandra (Mars), Glund [or Glundandra] (Jupitar), and Lurga (Saturn) so they can empower him.  Then, since Belbury advertises for experts in archaic Western dialects, they will send Merlin in that capacity and so empowered.  At the last moment they find out Mr. Maggs has been sent to Belbury for "remedial treatment."

As Jane thinks about what the Director said, at first it seems nonsensical to her as a view of religion.  But as she reflects further, she realizes the Directors and others at St. Francis never spoke about religion, instead they talked about God.  Instead of steam rising upwards, they pictured strong, skillful hands thrusting downwards to make someone into a truer version of what that God had designed them to be.  She experienced a profound change.  She came into the presence of a Person who demanded everything right.  The "Me" she centered on vanished.  In its place, something new molded.  She found the experience resulted in the largest thing that ever happened to her in the shortest time possible.

Obviously, the title Lewis chose had to do with meeting with the personal God.

Ch 13 - They Have Pulled Down Deep Heaven on their Heads

Ch 15 - The Descent of the Gods

That Hideous Strength - Overview

Character List

That Hideous Strength - Ch 13 - They Have Pulled Down Deep Heaven on Their Heads

Medieval heaven - Thulacandra
is the Earth.  Sulva is the Moon.
Malacandra is Mars.  Perelandra
is Venus.  Arbol is the the Sun.

Merlin stands at the door of St. Francis.  The Director (Ransom) addresses him in Latin, but Merlin insists on speaking to the master of the house.  Since the Director is dressed in modern clothes, Merlin mistakes him for a slave, and it takes some convincing before Merlin believes the Director is the Pendragon whom he must obey.  Merlin only believes in the Director after a series of three questions, which only the Pendragon would be able to answer, and which the Director correctly answers.  (Look at earlier chapters if you want reminding about the role of the Pendragon.)

Meanwhile at Belbury, Frost and Withers distress about their inability to communicate with the person they believe to be Merlin (actually a simple tramp).  They wonder who they have who can communicate with him, and after much pondering, decide upon both Mark and Straik, even if that means bringing them into the inner circle sooner than they had planned to do later, rather than sooner.

Merlin puts most members of the St. Francis house asleep.  Once they awaken, they go looking for him, only to find him and the Director (Ransom) clothed in full robes (the dress of his office) talking intimately with Merlin.  They begin to suspect the Director - who earlier referred to Merlin as the enemy.  However, the Director assures them Merlin adheres to their position.  Suddenly, Merlin loudly objects to Jane.  Apparently, she and Mark should have had a son who would have saved Logres (England).  The Director assures Merlin that Jane adheres to their position and she and Mark have plenty of time to have their child.

The members of St. Francis have a long conversation about Merlin and his times.  They conclude that considering everything, Merlin must be on their side and against the forces at work Belbury, even though it might appear to be otherwise (which is why, apparently,  the folks at Belbury seem to assume Merlin must be on their side).

Merlin hails from a much earlier time in Britain, and finds himself confounded by modern England.  He wants to use magic and his old relationship with nature to fight against the modern forces.  The Director says those methods were never very lawful, and quite ineffectual these days.  Merlin considers the Director (the Pendragon) the King, and does not understand why he does not simply command things to be as they should be, or command others to follow his edicts.  The Director takes pains to explain he is not the king, and he cannot command others.  Instead, he explains their battle engages spiritual reality, and involves angelic beings with supernatural powers.  Merlin wonders how the Director knows the password (about the Oyeresu as Masters).  The Director explains he did not know this was a password, he simply knew it's truth from his experiences (as explained in the first book of the Trilogy).  Merlin seeks help from other quarters, but the Director explains no other help can be found but through elildels.  "The Hideous Strength holds all this Earth in its fist to squeeze as it wishes.  But for their one mistake, there would be no hope left."  And later, "They have gone to the gods who would not have come to them, and have pulled down Deep Heaven on their heads."

Ch 12 - Wet and Windy Night

Ch 14 - Real Life is Meeting

Overview of That Hideous Strength

Character List

That Hideous Strength - Ch 12 - Wet and Windy Night

Jane, Dimble, and Denniston continue to tramp through the wet countryside looking for Merlin, unsure if they are following a tramp and his trail.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Director of the NICE (Withers) hardly ever sleeps.  He learned to withdraw his mind from the task of living.  He had achieved a detachment of the spirit, which pursued its own life, while his body carried out routines on an independent basis.

He spoke with a Mr. Stone selected to head up a search party.  Stone reported they found the chamber, but it was empty.  They followed a long tunnel leading out of it upwards, and found the end of the tunnel appeared to have been blasted open.  Stone reported they split into parties, and continued searching for an old man with a very long beard and unusual clothes.

At the same time, Jane, Dimble, and Denniston continue their search for Merlin.  Suddenly they saw a horse passed close to them  with a man on his back and streaming garments.  They tried unsuccessfully to shout out to him, and before they knew it, the horse leaped over a hedge, and they were gone.

Over at Belbury, Frost greets Mark in the prison cell by telling him he is great danger, but also within reach of a great opportunity.  The danger lies in that the NICE may decide to kill him (as they have done with others).  The great opportunity lies in the NICE allowing entry for Mark into their most inner circle.  To gain admission, Mark must learn to be completely objective, and to ignore any emotions, which only result from chemical phenomena.  Objectivity is the only basis of unity for the inner circle.

Frost also reveals the true source of direction for the NICE.  He says that while Filastro thinks it's Alcasan's head, Frost explains its macrobes that speak through Alcasan's head.  These macrobes exist above the level of animal life, including mankind.  They have influenced mankind in the past.  The inner circle cooperates with the macrobes to achieve their goals.  Frost discusses how society no longer requires a large population, it only requires about ten percent of the current population, the technocrats, those who can achieve objectivity and ignore the chemical phenomena of emotions.  The rest are dead weight well rid of by wars, other disasters, and possibly government action in the future.

Though Mark stands by his prior decision to not to trust anyone at the NICE any longer, he goes along with this discussion to keep his options open, especially by avoiding the NICE killing him.  However, he also felt the pull, like a tide, of joining this inner circle.  After some loud noises outside, Frost is handed a piece of paper.  When he reads it, he immediately leaves the jail cell, with Mark still in it.

Meanwhile, back at St. Anne's, the company anxiously awaits the return of Jane, Dimble, and Denniston, especially given the strength of the storm outside.  Suddenly, they hear a loud noise outside, and the Director and MacPhee go downstairs to open the door and investigate.  They saw a huge horse at the door, and a very tall man lept off his back.  His reddish-grey hair and beard were blown all about his face.  He wore a ragged ill-fitting khaki coat, baggy trousers, and boots that had lost the toes.

Back at Belbury, four men brought in an unconscious naked man in a blanket on a stretcher, and transferred him to a bed.  Withers stares at him, and soon Frost joins him.  The man regains consciousness, but doesn't talk or respond - staring blankly at his surrounding.  Frost tries to address him in Latin as Merlin.  But the man seems not to even listen.  They bring him wine, but  he indicates he prefers beer, which he eagerly drinks down.  They bring him all kinds of food, but he prefers simple food which he devours.  They again try to address him in Latin, but the man took no notice at all, and seemed ready to fall back asleep.  Frost and Withers leave to the next room to discuss.

When Frost left his jail cell, Mark soon realizes he must align with Jane and all those at St. Anne's against the NICE at Belbury, in fact he must take up the front lines.  The approval of his own conscience greatly relieved him.  He began to realize the pull to be part of the inner circle was similar to  the sin of lust.  He began to understand he had suffered some sort of attack.  Though he had been a materialist, he began to understand there were spiritual forces at work which could forcefully bend his free will, which he thought unfair, but he determined he wanted Jane and her companions.

Ch 11 - Battle Begun

Ch 13 - They Have Pulled Down Deep Heavens on their Heads

Overview of That Hideous Strength

Character List

That Hideous Strength - Ch 11 - Battle Begun

Jane, Dimble, and Denniston try looking for what Jane saw in her dream about finding Merlin.  However, it's dark, it's raining, making it difficult to see out in Bragdon Woods.  Besides, it feels scary.  As they go tramping about the countryside, exploring hill and dale, they start to feel like they experience an Ancient Britain.  Jane began to think about her childhood religion, something she left long ago, and began to wonder if there was a deeper, truer religion she might need to face all this.  They think they see a man, but are not sure if he is simply a tramp in modern clothes.

Meanwhile, Fairy Hardcastle tries to convince Withers (the Deputy Director) to let her try to use her methods to get Mark to disclose Jane's location (though Mark doesn't know).  But Withers resists, saying the worst thing in this situation would be to use torture.  Even if this obtained Jane's location, and they brought her to Belbury, her shock at discovering Mark had been tortured might be enough to dislodge her gift, which would render her useless to them.  Professor Frost (with the nez-pince glasses) concurs.  They dismiss the Fairy and begin their own private conversation about this.  Frost reminds Withers that "the authorities had access to the woman's mind for only a very short time," inspecting only one of her dreams.  They (the authorities) warn that if Jane falls into the wrong hands, she could pose a grave danger to them.  Since then, they cannot read Jane's mind, which means she has fallen into enemy hands.  They agree they must induce Mark to bring his wife to Belbury, and they agree the best means of achieving this comes by inviting Mark into a deeper unity with their deepest inner circle.  As they discuss this, Withers and Frost sit so close that they finally embrace each other swaying to and fro.

During this conversation, Frost reveals that though Filostrato really believes they are keeping the Head (Alcasan's) alive, this is not the case.  (More about this later.)

They also reveal they are interested in Mark and Jane for eugenics purposes.

Meanwhile, Mark despairs of life, sitting in a cell, facing a charge of murder, and facing the death penalty.  It slowly begins to dawn on him he might be a Belbury.  He begins to believe all there are his enemies and he was a fool for every having trusted them.  He also began to clearly see his folly at always seeking inclusion in the most inner circle he could find.  He looked back upon his life with "disgust at its dreariness."

His thoughts turned to Jane.  He began to recognize what a deep person she truly was.  He began to think his death would be lucky for Jane since she would be free to someone worthy of her.

Finally, Professor Frost entered his cell, which confirmed to Mark he was at Belbury.  But Mark saw something about Frost he never noticed before - he appeared more frightening than death itself.

Ch. 10 - The Conquered City

Ch. 12 - Wet and Windy Night

Overview of That Hideous Strength

Character List

That Hideous Strength - Ch 10 - The Conquered City

The D. D. (Withers) asks Mark to an immediate meeting where Fairy Hardcastle appears.  There they inform him the NICE Police found his wallet (which Mark was missing) about five yards from the dead body of Hingest (Bill the Blizzard).  Withers talks about how fortunate the NICE Police made this discovery instead of the regular police, since he views the NICE as one big, happy family.  Mark finds offense at this, since he knows he was nowhere near Hingest, and suspects someone in the NICE not only pilfered his wallet, but planted it near Hingest, so they could hold it over him, and thereby manipulate him (with the implicit threat of taking this to the regular police if he resists.  At first he protests, but then realizes its better to play along and express his gratitude that the NICE Police made this discovery (instead of the regular police).  Mark then discovers their real aim is get him to bring Jane to Belbury to live with him.  He realizes he must warn Jane.

As soon as Mark can leave this meeting, he immediately leaves the NICE.  He encounters Withers outside, but when he strikes a blow, the shape mysteriously vanished.  As he began to leave Belbury, he begins to see signs that tell him refugees flee Edgestow (where the NICE was building its new facilities) because of the terror being established in the town - turned out of their houses, riots, and rule by the NICE Police.

Mark easily found an empty bus to Edgestow (since all the traffic headed out of it).  When he arrived, he found one house of three empty, half the shops boarded up, and large villas taken over with large placards with the NICE symbol in front.  NICE Police were everywhere, along with notices of EMERGENCY REGULATION.  Mark went into his home, but clearly Jane had not been there for quite some time.  He noticed an unmailed letter from Jane to Mrs. Dimble, and Mark figured Jane went to stay with the interfering Dimbles (whom he didn't like).

Mark went to see Prof. Dimble, and demanded to know where Jane was, but Dimble refuses, for Jane's safety.  Mark doesn't understand.  Dimble explains the NICE Police tortured Jane.  Mark still believes the story the NICE Police told him that this didn't happen and is evidence Jane suffers from a nervous breakdown.  Dimble corrects him by informing that a doctor, who dressed the burns, thinks otherwise.

Painting of the Fall of Constantinople,
by Theophilos Hatzimihail (1932)
(A conquered and occupied city)

Mark asks - why didn't Dimble go to the ordinary police about this? Dimble replies there are no ordinary police left over in Edgestow, everything is ruled by the Emergency Commissioner, Lord Feverstone.  Effectively, Edgestow has become a "conquered and occupied city."

While Mark tries to insist on his right to know Jane's whereabouts as her husband, Dimble points out that he is a high ranking NICE official, and for now, the NICE presents a real threat to the safety of Jane.

Dimble offers to rescue Mark from the NICE, but Mark hesitates, delays, and eventually leaves Dimble.  Outside, the ordinary police arrest Mark for the murder of Bill Hingest.

Merlin

Dimble goes back to St. Anne's, and while eating dinner, the Director tells him he must go back out because of the most recent dream of Jane.  She dreamed about a long tunnel with a very gradual ascent with an entrance under a heap of stone that would lead them Merlin (whom she had dreamed about before).  The Director deduces the NICE have not yet found Merlin (whom they are looking for) and this is the one chance they have to find him first.

MacPhee (the resident atheist or agnostic) tries to argue he should go, but the Director decides otherwise.  Only Dimble knows the "Great Tongue," and the Director tells him what he should say, and asks him to repeat it.  As he does, Jane heart leaps, while everything else in the room suddenly quiets.  The narrator tells us this is the language before the Fall and beyond the Moon.

As the others take a break before setting out, the Director asks Jane if she is in obedience to Maleldil (God).  Jane says she doesn't know Meleldil yet, but she places herself in obedience to the Director, to which he replies that is enough for the present.

Ch. 9 - The Saracen's Head

Ch. 11 - Battle Begun

Overview of "That Hideous Strength"

Character List

That Hideous Strength - Ch 9 - The Saracen's Head

Medieval Europeans used the word Saracen to describe a Muslim.  (If you recall from Ch. 1, Alcasan, beheaded for poisoning his wife, was an Arabian radiologist - and could be referred to as a Saracen.)

Jane tells her latest dream to Grace Ironwood and the Director.  She saw a head floating before her - a face with a beard, nose, and eyes with colored glasses on.  The top of its removed skull boiled over with a great mass as though something inside had boiled over.  Then she realized the head did not actually float.  It was fixed on something with rubber tubes, bulbs, and little metal things hanging below it - with the tubes going into a wall.  It began an imitation of breathing, in a rhythmic - huff, huff, huff - and it dribbled at the mouth, but had no hands to wipe it.  It worked its mouth and licked its lips.  It seemed to Jane like a machine someone was getting into working order.

Then Jane saw three persons enter the room all dressed in white with masks on - walking extremely carefully.  She recognized the third person as her husband, Mark.  They bowed to it and it spoke to them in French, so that Jane didn't understand it well.  One of the three seemed to introduce Mark to it.  It said something to Mark, and Mark replied something about trying to do it in a few days if possible.  She could tell Mark couldn't stand it and was going to fall sick, but the others got him out of the room before that could happen.

A Council

Jane felt horror about the dream, to the point of nausea, as she realized Mark's real surroundings as associates.  The Director confirms Mark suffers, and they will try to rescue him.  He calls for a council, but says he must exclude Jane since some believe too much information could affect her dream abilities which they rely upon as a news source.

Meanwhile, Mark resolved he must bring Jane to Belbury, but not for whatever purpose NICE had in mind, but to save his life, which he now worries about after seeing the head artificially kept alive with air and saliva pumped from the next door room.  With his "modern" education, he has nothing else to fall back on.  But then he worried if she comes there - would they bring her before the Head?

Suddenly, Fairy Hardcastle appears.  She tries to convince Mark to sign a form which would allow the Fairy to bring Jane immediately to him at Belbury.  She argues otherwise she might be sent to an Asylum for accusing the Fairy of burning her with cigarettes.  Mark responds he must go home at once to talk with Jane about this.  He tries to see the Deputy Director to report his decision, but can't at first, and then later finds him in a trance-like mostly unresponsive state.  Mark leaves, but then finds the D.D. blocks his path outside, and walks back to Belbury, tired, with his eyes tear filled.

Back at St. Anne's, MacPhee (the resident skeptic) invites Jane into "his little room" - his office.  He mentions the Director is actually Ransom, a philologist.  Jane recognizes the name as the author of " Dialect and Semantics."  MacPhee relates skeptically the Director's story that he had been to Mars (Book 1 of the Space Trilogy - Out of the Silent Planet).  Jane believes it.

A depiction of Eldils

MacPhee relates, skeptically, the Director says he met eldils on Mars, not exactly Martians, who live in empty space and don't breathe, as he has been told - they alight on planets like birds on trees, except those on earth are hostile.  Again, MacPhee skeptically relates the Director claims to continuously receive communications from the eldils, those not on earth, who sent him to Venus (Book 2 of the Space Trilogy - Perelandra).  They informed the Director about a conspiracy against the human race.

Later, Jane talks with Camilla Denniston.  She asks why the Director looks so young.  Camilla replies that's because he returned from Perelandra (Venus), where Paradise still goes on, and those who return from there never age, never die - they eventually move onto the Deep Heaven.  She reveals him as the Pendragon of Logres.  (In the last chapter, I explained about the title of Pendragon.  As for Logres, it's an ancient name for England associated with the Arthurian legends.)

One map depicting ancient Logres

Later, the Director holds Council with those at St. Anne's.  He finds that Jane's dream reveals the NICE have "discovered a way of making themselves immortal," which they will call the next step in evolution.  MacPhee wants to know what the Director plans to do about it.  However, the Director says he never brought the company together, nor selected them.  Instead, he says he acts under the directions of the eldils, who somehow brought them all together, and will reveal their plan in their good time.

The Company tries to figure out why the NICE wanted Bragdon Woods.  They come to some conclusions.  It has something to do with the Arthurian legends where Merlin was buried, or at least fell asleep.  They wanted to join his ancient powers to their modern powers.  His ancient powers were not exactly magical, but somehow more profound than the powers we possess in the modern world.  It belonged to Numinor (which ties Lewis' world to Tolkien's, as well as to the Atlantis' legends).  Their combined powers would seek to subjugate Tellus (the ancient word for Earth).

Ch. 8 - Midnight at Belbury

Ch. 10 - The Conquered City

Overview of "That Hideous Strength"

Character List

That Hideous Strength - Ch 8 - Moonlight at Belbury

The Deputy Director (Wither) expresses his displeasure, diplomatically of course, to Fairy Hardcastle (the NICE Police Chief) about how she handled Mrs. Studdock (Mark's wife) [arrested and tortured her].  The Fairy replies that they all badly want Jane, and she had to take the chance, especially to try and find out the headquarters of the enemy, which she tried to press out of her before she lost her in the tumultuous crowd.  In any event, the Head of NICE summons the Fairy.

Meanwhile, Jane wakes up at St. Anne's with Ivy Maggs (her prior servant) serving her, but it all feels different now.  She begins to become acquainted with various people living at St. Anne's, several she knows, but it all seems different now.  Jane meets Mr. Bultitude and receives a shock to find he's a bear who lives there at peace with all.  All there support Jane, though a Mr. MacPhee doesn't believe in her dreams, because he says he insists on empirical evidence to support any beliefs.  Jane discovers much more about life at St. Anne's - and more about the Director, who has charitably taken in many there who have lost their homes.  Jane admits her puzzlement about the Director's views about marriage.  Mother Dimble admits its a lot of fuss "about something so simple and natural that it oughtn't be mentioned at all."  However, she admits she was raised with the intention "to love, honour, and obey."

Meanwhile, Mark found himself in good spirits.  Everyone at Belbury talked about how the riots went well, and he enjoyed reading his account of it in the newspaper.  Most at Belbury, except the inner circle, did not know he wrote those articles, which please Mark even more.  It seemed clear now that the government would put Belbury under the temporary control of the NICE police, and appoint an emergency governor, most likely Lord Feverstone (but who could be sacrificed if things went wrong).

The D.D. (Withers) now warmed up to Mark, speaking about the great work he was doing.  He encouraged Mark to invite Jane out to join them.  Suddenly, Mark realized he would not like this.  She wouldn't understand the NICE or what he did for them.  Her presence would make the laughter of the inner circle sound hollow.  He excused himself, and got away from the D.D. as quick as he could.

Later he ran into the Fairy, who chided Mark for giving the D.D. the cold shoulder about inviting Jane to Belbury.  She informed him the D.D. now says Mark is not really "settled" at the NICE.

At dinner, Mark converses with Filastro and others.  Filastro presses that he would like to do away with the messiness of organic life - do away with trees, birds, and even humans.  All we need preserve is the mind, and clean metal (such as artificial metallic trees). After dinner, Filastro invites Mark to his sitting room for a private conversation.

Moon Surface

Filastro says he believes the request to invite Jane came not from the D.D., but directly from the Head.  Mark thinks he means Jules, but Filastro asserts Jules is not the Head.  Instead, Filastro asserts Mark will meet the Head and hear the request from his lips.  But then Filastro begins talking about the cleanness of the moon - with no vegetation, no atmosphere, no moisture, and its clean, white powder.  Mark thinks it a dead world, but Filastro believes its Masters, who live below ground, disinfected most of their world, dispensed with their organic bodies, and keep their minds alive without organic food.

Filastro claims the real purpose of the NICE is the conquest of organic life, in a similar manner.  He says the process already began, and that the Head has survived death, and his brain lives on.  He reveals the Head is Francois Alcasan (who was previously guillotined in punishment for killing his wife).  Filastro takes him to another room in the outer reaches of the building to a room with many tubes and dials, all leading to an adjacent room.  They must strip to their underclothes, wash, and put on white clothes, gloves, and a surgical mask and go through an air lock to enter the adjacent room.  (The Chapter ends here.)

Ch. 7 - The Pendragon

Ch. 9 - The Saracen's Head

Overview of the Book

List of Characters

That Hideous Strength - Ch 7 - The Pendragon

The Pendragon

I previously mentioned "Fisher-King" as a title belonging to King Arthur.  He held another title in the later Arthurian cycles - Pendragon - a title first held by his uncle in the Vulgate cycles (earlier), and then by his successor brother, Uther, father of Arthur, and then finally by Arthur himself.  In Welsh, this roughly means the dragon head - the leader.  As I mentioned before, Lewis, a medieval scholar, held an intense interest in Arthurian legends, since his other Inkling friends held a similar interest, Tolkien, but especially Charles Williams, who wrote some books about this.

When Jane arrives at St. Anne's, she first meets Mr. Denniston (her old professor), then Ivy Maggs (her last servant), and then found herself before Miss Ironwood (the therapist), along with Camilla Denniston.  Jane told them about her new dream about the corpse, which raptured their interest.  They asked Jane if she was prepared to meet the Director, and she replied she was.  Miss Ironwood then spoke with her alone and explained the Director might look young, but wasn't, he traveled where no one else had ever traveled, and he often undergoes great pain.

As soon as Jane saw him, "her world was unmade."  He laid on a sofa before her upon a dais which looked like a throne-room with with the blue screen behind him.  He appeared like a 20 year old golden boy, but his full beard and strength made it clear he was much older.  One foot bore a wound bandaged, and "pain came and went in his face."  His voice was seemed like sunlight and gold.

While the Director wants Jane to join them, he finds it difficult while Mark belongs to the NICE, and he urges Jane to ask Mark to leave the NICE.  While Jane sort of sees the point, she also insists upon their independence as separate persons - so that she protests - she feels she can join the Director's group with or without Mark.

The Director asks - does she wants to save Mark as well as herself?  Jane tries to ignore this question.  She confesses her unhappiness with Mark, but then - seeing the truth, denies it.  The Director says much depends on how Mark lost her love.  Jane can't seem to articulate this, so the Director offers to tell her, and Jane accepts his offer.  The Director says "you do not fail in obedience through lack of love, but have lost love because you never attempted obedience."  (Keep in mind, Lewis, at this time, was a confirmed bachelor.  He well might have written something different after he finally married Joy Davidman Gresham later in life, which he wrote about in, A Grief Observed.)  The Director says these are not his views about marriage, but those of his supervisors.  As Jane deeply reflects on this, she first finds grievances against her husband, but then pity.  The Director urges her to go back and talk to Mark.

When Jane left the Director, she felt like four different women:  the first simply receptive to what he said; the second deeply resistant; the third - a sort of moral Jane - agreed with the outlook presented by the Director; and the fourth Jane simply in a state of joy about what the Director said.

A Riot

When Jane arrived by train in Edgestow, she found the town in a riot, which she tried to avoid by finding some direct route home.  However, she got picked up by the NICE police, and soon faced Fairy Hardcastle, who wanted to know where she had come from.  By now, Jane felt enough loyalty to the group at St. Anne's that she did not want to disclose their location.  Though the Fairy inflicted severe torture upon Jane with a cigarette, and more than once, Jane did not disclose their location.  Eventually one of the rioting crowds burst in upon them, and Jane lost the NICE police in the crowds.

Finally, Jane got picked up by a couple, who, distressed by her appearance, offered to take her home.  Jane replied, somewhat to her surprise, that the Manor at St. Anne's was her home.  The couple drove her there, where Mrs. Maggs received her, but Jane was so tired, she couldn't remember how she got to bed.

Ch. 6 - Fog

Ch. 8 - Midnight at Belbury

Overview of the book

List of Characters