Monday, September 27, 2010

How Narnia Became Susan's Problem

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After reading the short story "The Problem With Susan" it got me thinking about what may really be her problem. To me, it seems as if her adventures in Narnia may have not been as dazzling as what the books sort of bring them out to be. Throughout the story, it is evident that she is suppressing her memories of being in Narnia, but certain events causes those memories to slowly float back to her. For instance, the dead mouse that she found on her doorstep brings back the memories of having to go and identify the bodies of her beloved siblings.

Furthermore, it seems like she has completely suppressed her sexuality. She ponders about her past relationship with Peter-Burrell-Gunn and how he had taken her virginity as well as the reason why she said no, which she of course could not remember.

To me, it seems like Gaiman is implying that Narnia became Susan's problem. Each experience she had in Narnia brought misfortune to her in the end. Perhaps it wasn't because of her sudden interest in materialistic things and sexuality, but Narnia itself. Her travels in Narnia resulted in the loss of her siblings and living a sad lonely life as an English professor. With these thoughts in mind, it's as if Susan is suppressing all such memories, but constantly being plagued with these peculiar dreams, therefore they have never really left her. Her mind begins filling in these strange happenings out of anguish and anger for being abandoned by her loved ones and her friends. Perhaps it would have been better for Susan if she never ventured forth into Narnia in the first place.

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