I think he's cutting Lewis too much slack (although he does point out, rightly, that Susan is not condemned to Hell). Lewis' intention may be "shallowness," but it comes off as "sexuality" for a few reasons:
1. "The silliest time of one's life" refers to an age at which one typically becomes, if not sexually active, at least sexually aware -- she's in her late teens or early twenties.
2. The indicators of this shallowness are also indicators of sexuality -- she's not interested in diamond earrings or purses or furs, all of which could be markers of trivial decadence in a more general sense -- but things that relate to interest in the opposite sex, specifically items that relate to female sexuality.
3. The argument that other female characters are allowed to grow up and be sexual is true, to a point. They're only, however, allowed this within the context of chaste courtship and marriage. My memory is a little hazy, but of all the human protagonists, only Aravis ever sees any action, and she's an infidel. Polly is a spinster, and Lucy and Jill get cheated out of sexual maturity. And during Susan's first adulthood, the one guy who actively pursues her gets turned into a donkey.
Of course, as many others have pointed out, if her flaw was being too shallow, she'll probably be cured of it after having her entire family die.
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Date: 2005-12-14 02:34 am (UTC)1. "The silliest time of one's life" refers to an age at which one typically becomes, if not sexually active, at least sexually aware -- she's in her late teens or early twenties.
2. The indicators of this shallowness are also indicators of sexuality -- she's not interested in diamond earrings or purses or furs, all of which could be markers of trivial decadence in a more general sense -- but things that relate to interest in the opposite sex, specifically items that relate to female sexuality.
3. The argument that other female characters are allowed to grow up and be sexual is true, to a point. They're only, however, allowed this within the context of chaste courtship and marriage. My memory is a little hazy, but of all the human protagonists, only Aravis ever sees any action, and she's an infidel. Polly is a spinster, and Lucy and Jill get cheated out of sexual maturity. And during Susan's first adulthood, the one guy who actively pursues her gets turned into a donkey.
Of course, as many others have pointed out, if her flaw was being too shallow, she'll probably be cured of it after having her entire family die.