Out of the Silent Planet

by

C. S. Lewis

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Oyarsa Character Analysis

The specific oyarsa (guardian spirit) of Malacandra and the greatest of the spiritual beings known as eldila, roughly analogous to angels on Earth. Oyarsa appears to Ransom as a being of pure light. Oyarsa is fundamentally good and wise, acting as a liaison between the intelligent inhabitants of Malacandra and the ultimate power in the universe, represented by the Old One and Maleldil. Oyarsa helps Ransom understand the bent nature of humanity and assists Ransom, Weston, and Devine’s mission back to Earth once Oyarsa proclaims Weston and Devine unfit to live in the peaceful utopia of Malacandra.

Oyarsa Quotes in Out of the Silent Planet

The Out of the Silent Planet quotes below are all either spoken by Oyarsa or refer to Oyarsa. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Christian Imagery and Thought  Theme Icon
).
Chapter 11 Quotes

On Malacandra, apparently, three distinct species had reached rationality, and none of them had yet exterminated the other two. It concerned him intensely to find out which was the real master.
"Which of the hnau rule?" he asked.
"Oyarsa rules," was the reply.

Related Characters: Dr. Elwin Ransom (speaker), Lewis (The Narrator) (speaker), Oyarsa
Page Number: 70
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 13 Quotes

“No,” said Whin. “I have been thinking. All this has come from not obeying the eldil. He said you were to go to Oyarsa. You ought to have been already on the road. You must go now…”

Related Characters: Whin (speaker), Dr. Elwin Ransom, Hyoi, Oyarsa
Page Number: 83
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 16 Quotes

They were astonished at what he had to tell them of human history—of war, slavery and prostitution.
"It is because they have no Oyarsa," said one of the pupils.
"It is because every one of them wants to be a little Oyarsa himself," said Augray.
"They cannot help it," said the old sorn. "There must be rule, yet how can creatures rule themselves? Beasts must be ruled by hnau and hnau by eldila and eldila by Maleldil.”

Related Characters: Augray (speaker), Lewis (The Narrator) (speaker), Dr. Elwin Ransom, Oyarsa
Page Number: 103
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 18 Quotes

“It was not always so. Once we knew the Oyarsa of your world—he was brighter and greater than I—and then we did not call it Thulcandra. It is the longest of all stories and the bitterest. He became bent. That was before any life came on your world. Those were the Bent Years of which we still speak in the heavens, when he was not yet bound to Thulcandra but free like us. It was in his mind to spoil other worlds besides his own.”

Related Characters: Oyarsa (speaker), Dr. Elwin Ransom, The Bent One
Page Number: 119-120
Explanation and Analysis:

They thought I wanted one of your race to eat and went to fetch one. If they had come a few miles to see me I would have received them honourably; now they have twice gone a voyage of millions of miles for nothing and will appear before me none the less. And you also, Ransom of Thulcandra, you have taken many vain troubles to avoid standing where you stand now.

Related Characters: Oyarsa (speaker), Dr. Elwin Ransom, Dr. Weston, Dick Devine
Page Number: 121
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 20 Quotes

"It is well that I have heard you," said Oyarsa. "For though your mind is feebler, your will is less bent than I thought. It is not for yourself that you would do all this."
"No," said Weston proudly in Malacandrian. "Me die. Man live."

Related Characters: Dr. Weston (speaker), Oyarsa (speaker)
Page Number: 136
Explanation and Analysis:

"Trash! Defeatist trash!" he shouted at Oyarsa in English; then, drawing himself up to his full height, he added in Malacandrian, "You say your Maleldil let all go dead. Other one, Bent One, he fight, jump, live—not all talkee-talkee. Me no care Maleldil. Like Bent One better: me on his side."

Related Characters: Dr. Weston (speaker), Oyarsa, The Bent One
Page Number: 139
Explanation and Analysis:
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Oyarsa Quotes in Out of the Silent Planet

The Out of the Silent Planet quotes below are all either spoken by Oyarsa or refer to Oyarsa. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Christian Imagery and Thought  Theme Icon
).
Chapter 11 Quotes

On Malacandra, apparently, three distinct species had reached rationality, and none of them had yet exterminated the other two. It concerned him intensely to find out which was the real master.
"Which of the hnau rule?" he asked.
"Oyarsa rules," was the reply.

Related Characters: Dr. Elwin Ransom (speaker), Lewis (The Narrator) (speaker), Oyarsa
Page Number: 70
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 13 Quotes

“No,” said Whin. “I have been thinking. All this has come from not obeying the eldil. He said you were to go to Oyarsa. You ought to have been already on the road. You must go now…”

Related Characters: Whin (speaker), Dr. Elwin Ransom, Hyoi, Oyarsa
Page Number: 83
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 16 Quotes

They were astonished at what he had to tell them of human history—of war, slavery and prostitution.
"It is because they have no Oyarsa," said one of the pupils.
"It is because every one of them wants to be a little Oyarsa himself," said Augray.
"They cannot help it," said the old sorn. "There must be rule, yet how can creatures rule themselves? Beasts must be ruled by hnau and hnau by eldila and eldila by Maleldil.”

Related Characters: Augray (speaker), Lewis (The Narrator) (speaker), Dr. Elwin Ransom, Oyarsa
Page Number: 103
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 18 Quotes

“It was not always so. Once we knew the Oyarsa of your world—he was brighter and greater than I—and then we did not call it Thulcandra. It is the longest of all stories and the bitterest. He became bent. That was before any life came on your world. Those were the Bent Years of which we still speak in the heavens, when he was not yet bound to Thulcandra but free like us. It was in his mind to spoil other worlds besides his own.”

Related Characters: Oyarsa (speaker), Dr. Elwin Ransom, The Bent One
Page Number: 119-120
Explanation and Analysis:

They thought I wanted one of your race to eat and went to fetch one. If they had come a few miles to see me I would have received them honourably; now they have twice gone a voyage of millions of miles for nothing and will appear before me none the less. And you also, Ransom of Thulcandra, you have taken many vain troubles to avoid standing where you stand now.

Related Characters: Oyarsa (speaker), Dr. Elwin Ransom, Dr. Weston, Dick Devine
Page Number: 121
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 20 Quotes

"It is well that I have heard you," said Oyarsa. "For though your mind is feebler, your will is less bent than I thought. It is not for yourself that you would do all this."
"No," said Weston proudly in Malacandrian. "Me die. Man live."

Related Characters: Dr. Weston (speaker), Oyarsa (speaker)
Page Number: 136
Explanation and Analysis:

"Trash! Defeatist trash!" he shouted at Oyarsa in English; then, drawing himself up to his full height, he added in Malacandrian, "You say your Maleldil let all go dead. Other one, Bent One, he fight, jump, live—not all talkee-talkee. Me no care Maleldil. Like Bent One better: me on his side."

Related Characters: Dr. Weston (speaker), Oyarsa, The Bent One
Page Number: 139
Explanation and Analysis: