Green-ness

The color green brings a complex set of associations to mind for a modern reader. These days, the most prominent one is the green that declares something ecologically friendly. But recycling and such aside, green is often used as a symbol for hope, most likely because of its associations with spring and the bursting forth of new life from the earth. Because of the color's connection with nature and growing things, it is often connected with Paganism, a spiritual practice that values all things natural and mystical.

Have you read read Sir Gawain and the Green Knight? It tells the story of King Arthur's court and an alarming visit from a bizarre and dangerous green man who wants to play a beheading game with the knights (good times…). The Green Knight scares people because he's a type of green man or wild man, a kind of spirit/man who ruled the forest and could behave in, well, uncivilized ways.

In the medieval English folk stories, the green man is connected with the devil and with dark magic. So even though greenness might have a positive meaning for modern readers of The Silver Chair, you've got to beware—Lewis knew all about the meaning of greenness in folk stories, and believe us, it's no mistake that the serpent/Lady is green. She's definitely dangerous, a practitioner of witchcraft, and a bit wild.

So it is that Lord Drinian has the right idea about the beautiful green lady the first time he sees her: "It stuck in Drinian's mind that this shining green woman was evil" (4.60). It appears that the Lord Drinian understands that a green woman should mean red alert—and now you do, too. Yay.