David Thornton - Orual's Trial

“The complaint was the answer. To have heard myself making it was to be answered.” (Lewis 294) Orual’s accusations and complaints she gives to the gods ultimately silence her. For she recognizes that as a mortal she has no right nor ability to accuse the gods of anything. For it is them that have revealed themselves to her. Thus, she cannot control that nor manipulate it to be or occur as she wants it too. This quote is the climax of the book that represents Orual’s final understanding of her true face. To face the gods, man must understand his inability and undeserving right to do so. As he recognizes that, he can wear his true face, which he now understands is not his anyways. Man must submit himself to the Creator, otherwise his autonomous lifestyle will merely lead him towards a death he fears. Despite the transformation of Orual, this quote reveals how things like human language and knowledge are completely limited as they pursue knowing, experiencing, or communicating with the divine. Thus, man is ultimately humbled into pure silence as Orual was, for nothing he can say or articulate would be worthy of the gods anyways.