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Genesis and Peaceful Coexistence

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Animals in the Writings of C. S. Lewis

Part of the book series: The Palgrave Macmillan Animal Ethics Series ((PMAES))

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Abstract

This chapter focuses on images of species-diverse communities in Lewis’s writing and their evocations of the Genesis 2:18–19 palimpsest. It begins with a few biographical notes to illustrate the man’s affection for animals and then considers their inclusion within notions of the family, broadly defined. As Adam shared his garden with other species and Noah his ark, so too the redemption story is not limited to one species and is communal in nature. For Lewis, pets and the ‘tameness’ of animals—something characterizing the Garden of Eden and the ark—are theologically consequential.

And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.

—Genesis 2:18–19

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Providence University College, Otterburne, MB, Canada

    Michael J. Gilmour

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  1. Michael J. Gilmour
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Correspondence to Michael J. Gilmour .

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Gilmour, M.J. (2017). Genesis and Peaceful Coexistence. In: Animals in the Writings of C. S. Lewis. The Palgrave Macmillan Animal Ethics Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-55298-3_2

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