Maskull and Ransom: The Dark Night of the Soul

Volume 14 Number 2 Article 6 Winter 12-15-1987 Maskull and Ransom: The Dark Night of the Soul Matt Fisher Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore Part of the Children's and Young Adult Literature Commons Recommended Citation Fisher, Matt (1987) "Maskull and Ransom: The Dark Night of the Soul," Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature: Vol. 14: No. 2, Article 6. Available at: https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol14/iss2/6 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Mythopoeic Society at SWOSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature by an authorized editor of SWOSU Digital Commons. An ADA compliant document is available upon request. For more information, please contact [email protected]. To join the Mythopoeic Society go to: http://www.mythsoc.org/join.htm Online Midwinter Seminar 2023 January 27-28, 2023: Fantasy Goes to Hell: Depictions of Hell in Modern Fantasy Texts https://mythsoc.org/oms/oms-2023.htm Maskull and Ransom: The Dark Night of the Soul Abstract Traces the spiritual development of Maskull in A Voyage to Arcturus and Ransom in Out of the Silent Planet and Perelandra. Focuses on the concept of the “dark night of the soul” endured by both. Additional Keywords Dark night of the soul in C.S. Lewis; Dark night of the soul in David Lindsay; Lewis, C.S.—Characters—Ransom—Spiritual development; Lewis, C.S. Out of the Silent Planet; Lewis, C.S. Perelandra; Lindsay, David—Characters—Maskull—Spiritual development; Lindsay, David. A Voyage to Arcturus—Sources This article is available in Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature: https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol14/iss2/6 M Y T H L O R E 5 2 : W in te r 1 9 8 7 P age 3 0 JVlaskull andRansom: M a tt I n h i s e s s a y " O n S t o r i e s , " C .S . L e w i s w r o t e " H is ( D a v i d L i n d s a y ’s ) T o r m a n c e i s a r e g i o n o f t h e s p i r i t . . . T o c o n s t r u c t p l a u s i b l e a n d m o v i n g ’o t h e r w o r l d s ’ y o u m u s t d r a w o n t h e o n l y r e a l ’o t h e r w o r l d ’ w e k n o w , t h a t o f t h e s p ir i t . " * L e w is i s q u i c k t o i d e n t i f y w h a t i t is th a t c o n tr ib u te s to th e s p e c ia l r e p u ta tio n of A V oyage to A r c tu r u s . P erh ap s th e m o st f u n d a m e n t a l s p i r i t u a l q u e s t c o n c e r n s t h e n a t u r e o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l ’s r e la t io n s h ip t o R e a lity . B o th A V o y a g e to A r c t u r u s a n d L e w is ’ " S p a c e T r ilo g y " (w h ic h L e w is s t a t e d sev era l t i m e s w a s p a r t i a l l y i n s p i r e d b y L i n d s a y ’s b o o k ) r e f l e c t t h is c o n c e r n . In p a r tic u la r , b o th o f t h e s e w o r k s c a n b e v ie w e d a s p o r tr a y in g th e s p ir itu a l d e v e lo p m e n t a n d m a t u r a t i o n o f a n i n d i v i d u a l . B y l o o k i n g a t h o w L e w is a n d L in d sa y e a ch d e s c r ib e th is p r o c e s s , w e n o t o n ly g e t a s e n s e o f ho w th e tw o w o r k s a r e c o n n e c te d , b u t m or e im p o r t a n t ly w e g a in a n u n d e r s t a n d in g o f th e d y n a m ic s of th is q u e s t, p a r tic u la r ly in i t ’s "D ark N ig h t " a s p e c t . T h e D a r k N i g h t o f t h e S o u l , a c o n c e p t t h a t r e o c c u r s o f t e n in v a r io u s m y s tic a l t r a d it io n s in t h e w o r ld ( p a r t ic u la r ly in t h e w o r k o f S t . J o h n o f t h e C r o s s , w h e r e t h i s p a r t ic u la r p h r a s e c o m e s fr o m 1) i s th a t p a r t o f t h e s p ir itu a l q u e s t w h e r e th e s o u l f e e ls a s if it h a s b e e n c u t o f f fro m i t s s o u r c e , t h a t it is m o v i n g a c r o s s a d e s e r t a n d m o v i n g w i t h o u t a n y i ll u m i­ n a t io n a s t o w h e r e i t i s h e a d e d . I t i s a p e r io d o f d e s p a ir a n d d o u b t t h a t m a n y m a in ta in i s n e c e s s a r y fo r th e e v e n t u a l a c c o m p lis h m e n t of th e q u e s t. T hom as M e r to n , t h e rek n ow n ed T r a p p is t m o n k , w r ite s "T he m on k c o n f r o n ts h is ow n h u m a n it y a n d th a t o f h is w o r ld a t th e d e e p e s t a n d m o st c e n tr a l p o in t w h e r e th e v o id s e e m s to o p e n o u t in to t h e C r o s s s a id " A n d i f h e b e ( th e h ig h e r a n d r a tio n a l p a r t ) , d a r k n e s s , h e a tta in s n o t to — n a m e ly , t h a t w h ic h i s t a u g h t A V oyage d e s p a ir ." 3 S t. J o h n o f n o t b lin d e d a s to t h is a n d r e m a in n o t i n t o t a l t h a t w h ic h is g rea ter b y f a it h ." 4 to A r c tu r u s A V oyage to A r c t u r u s s t a r t s w ith o u t a c le a r ly d e f i n e d q u e s t . M a s k u ll i s o f f e r e d t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o t r a v e l to T o r m a n c e a n d e x p e r ie n c e s t r a n g e a n d w o n ­ d r o u s a d v e n t u r e s . Y et n e ith e r K rag o r N ig h ts p o r e g iv e c l e a r a n s w e r s t o M a s k u ll ’ s q u e s t i o n s . I f t h e y a n s w e r a t a l l , t h e y a r e e v a s i v e . M a s k u ll h i m s e l f i s n ’t s u r e w h y h e c h o o se s to g o , an d w h en h e is a sk ed o n T or­ m a n c e w h y h e c a m e , h e a n s w e r s in it ia lly " P e r h a p s I w a s a ttr a c te d b y c u r io s it y , o r p e r h a p s it w a s t h e lo v e o f a d v e n t u r e . "s A t t h e e n d o f t h e j o u r n e y , h i s a n s w e r h a s b e c o m e " T o m e e t w it h n e w e x p e r ie n c e s , p e r h a p s . T h e o l d o n e s n o l o n g e r i n t e r e s t e d m e ." « R o b e r t A i t k e n R o sh i, a r e s p e c t e d A m e r ic a n Z e n t e a c h e r , w r i t e s " T h e r o s h i ( t e a c h e r ) w ill a s k w h y y o u w is h t o d o z a z e n . T h i s i s a n im p o r t a n t q u e s t i o n a n d y o u s h o u l d b e p r e ­ p a r e d in a d v a n c e t o a n s w e r it . H o w e v e r , i f y o u h a v e n o a n s w e r , t h a t i s a ll r ig h t . J u s t s a y so ; t h a t i s a n a n s w e r ." 3 I t is a c c e p t a b le to n o t h a v e c le a r r e a s o n s fo r b e g in n in g th e q u e s t — it i s t h e a c tio n o f s t a r t in g th a t is im p o r ta n t. T h is a m b ig u ity is m a in ta in e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e f i r s t p a r t o f t h e n o v e l , a s M a s k u ll w a n d e r s a c r o s s T o r m a n c e t r y in g t o b u ild a c o n c e p t u a l fra m ew o rk fo r u n d e r s ta n d in g th is n ew w o r ld . E v e n M a s k u l l ’s i n i t i a l e n c o u n t e r w i t h S u r t u r i s c l o t h e d w i t h a m b ig u it y — w h y i s i t n e c e s s a r y f o r M aB k u ll t o s e r v e S u r t u r ? H o w d o e s o n e s e r v e h im ? T h e a n s w e r s w i l l b e r e v e a le d la t e r . F o r n o w i t i s im p o r t a n t s im p ly t o c o n ­ tin u e o n th e jo u r n e y . The T)ark Tdight of the So F is h e r L in d sa y w a s v e r y m u ch in flu e n c e d b y th e th o u g h t o f A r th u r S c h o p e n h a u e r , w h o w a s o n e o f t h e f ir s t to p u t f o r t h t h e c o n c e p t t h a t t h i s w o r ld i s d o m in a te d b y W ill. F o r S c h o p e n h a u e r , t h e o n l y w a y t o p r o v i d e l i f e w it h m e a n in g w a s t o le a r n t o c o n t r o l t h e w ill. L in d s a y to o k t h is c o n c e p t a s t e p fa r t h e r a n d b e lie v e d th a t b y c o n tr o llin g th e w ill, le a r n in g to a c c e p t p a in and th e re b y d e v e lo p in g th e q u a lity o f e n d u r a n c e , M an c o u ld sta r t to tra n sce n d t h is w o r ld w it h a ll o f i t s v u l g a r it y a n d s o r d id n e s s a n d b e g in to r e a c h o u t to t h e S u b lim e , t h a t w o r ld t h a t i s s e p a r a t e a n d in so m e w a y s o p p o s e d t o o u r s . M e lv in R a f f h a s p o i n t e d o u t a tr in it y s tr u c tu r e th a t r u n s th r o u g h L i n d s a y ’s n o v e l — f e e li n g / r e l a t i o n / e x i s t e n c e .8 T h is t r ip le t is im p o r ta n t in u n d e r s ta n d in g th e d y n a m ic s o f M a s k u l l ’s q u es t. F e e lin g is a s t a g e w h e r e o u r a c tio n s a r e s u b j e c t to t h e d e s i r e s o f t h e w ill. I t i s p e r h a p s t h e c o a r s e s t l e v e l o f l i v i n g , t h e f a r t h e s t r e m o v e d f r o m t h e S u b l im e . R e l a t i o n i s a s t e p h i g h e r , b u t n o w i t b e c o m e s im p o r ­ t a n t w h a t t h e r e la tio n s h ip is e s ta b lis h e d w ith . I f th e o b j e c t th a t w e r e la te to i s w o r k , m o n e y , a n o th e r p e r ­ s o n , o r in d e e d a n y t h in g o f t h is w o r ld , w e a r e s t ill t r a p p e d b y t h e p o w e r o f W ill. I t i s w h e n t h e r e l a t i o n ­ s h ip is e s ta b lis h e d w it h s o m e th in g th a t le a d s us to w a rd s th e S u b l im e th a t r e la tio n ta k e s u s a step c lo s e r to t r a n s c e n d in g t h is w o r ld . T h e la s t sta g e, e x is t e n c e , i s t h e p o in t a t w h ic h w e a r e n o lo n g e r s u b ­ j e c t t o t h e p o w e r o f W ill, b u t r a t h e r a r e u n i t e d w it h t h e S u b lim e in t h e s t a t e t h a t w e w e r e in t e n d e d f o r . T h is p a t t e r n o f t h o u g h t i s n o t u n iq u e t o L in d s a y ; it l i e s b e h i n d B u d d h i s m a n d t h e R u le o f S t . B e n e d i c t , t o n a m e tw o e x a m p le s . T h e s lo w p r o g r e s s u p t h i s la d d e r of " s u b lim ity " can be h arsh and p a in fu l. In th e M um onk an, o n e o f th e c la s s ic Zen 'te x ts , is r e c o r d e d t h e s t o r y o f G u te i, " w h o r a is e d h i s f in g e r w h e n e v e r h e w a s a s k e d a q u e s tio n a b o u t Zen. A b o y a tte n d a n t b e g a n t o im i t a t e h im i n t h i s w a y . W h e n a n y o n e a s k e d th e b o y w h a t h is m a ste r h a d p r e a c h e d a b o u t, t h e b o y w o u ld r a i s e h i s f i n g e r . G u t e i h e a r d a b o u t t h e b o y ’s m is c h ie f. He s e iz e d h im a n d c u t o f f h i s f i n g e r . T h e b o y c r i e d a n d r a n a w a y . G u te i c a lle d a n d s t o p p e d h im . W h e n t h e b o y t u r n e d h i s h e a d t o G u t e i, G u t e i r a i s e d up h is o w n fin g e r . In th a t in s ta n c e th e boy w as e n lig h t e n e d ." * T h a t sa m e h a r s h n e s s a n d p a in is p r e ­ s e n t in A V o y a g e to A r c t u r u s w it h i t s m a n y d e a t h s a n d a c tio n s t h a t r e s u lt in p a in fo r o t h e r s , a n d it m ay be o n e o f th e a sp e c ts th a t p r o v o k e s th e sh o ck and d isc o m fo r t th a t m a n y r e a d e r s h a v e fe lt. H ow d o e s t h e c o n c e p t o f t h e D ar k N ig h t f i t in t o th is p rocess? A s L in d sa y d e p ic ts th e p r o c e s s , th e D a r k N ig h t c o m e s b o t h a t t h e t r a n s it io n p o in t b e t w e e n tw o s t a g e s , a n d a ls o b e c o m e s m ore c o n t in u o u s ly p r e ­ sen t as one g e ts c lo s e r to th e S u b lim e . A ft e r h is e n c o u n te r w it h D r e a m s c in te r and th e a c c o m p a n y in g v i s i o n , M a s k u ll a w a k e s i n t h e W o m b f la s h F o r e s t i n a n a n x i o u s s t a t e , f u l l o f q u e s t i o n s . I t i s n o t c l e a r t o h im w h a t h e m u st d o o r w h e r e h e m u st g o . T h e o n ly c le a r t h o u g h t i n h im m in d i s t h a t t h e j o u r n e y m u s t c o n ­ t in u e . T h is p o i n t m a r k s t h e t r a n s it io n fr o m t h e f e e lin g s t a t e t o t h e s t a t e o f r e l a t i o n . 10 A s i m il a r t r a n s i t i o n o c c u r s a f t e r S u l l e n b o d e ’s d e a t h . T h e d i f f e r e n c e i s t h a t M a s k u ll i s u n a b l e t o s e e b e y o n d h i s d e s p a i r t h a t t h e j o u r n e y m u B t c o n t i n u e i n o r d e r f o r h im t o f i n d M u s p e l . M a s k u l l ’s d e a t h i s t h e o n l y w a y t h a t h e c a n o v e r ­ c o m e t h iB D a r k N i g h t a n d c o n t i n u e a s N i g h t s p o r e . N e i ­ t h e r o f t h e s e m a jo r t r a n s i t i o n s , a l o n g w it h m a n y o t h e r P a ge 31 M Y T H L O R E 5 2 : W in ter 1 9 8 7 sm a lle r c h a n g e s , o r tr iu m p h . occur in an a tm o sp h e r e of o p t im is m T h e c o n tin u o u s a s p e c t o f t h e D a rk N ig h t u n f o ld s f r o m t h e t im e t h a t M a s k u ll s e t s f o o t o n T o r m a n c e . T h e f i r s t t h r e e d a y s a r e s p e n t u n d e r t h e d o m in a tio n o f o t h e r w ills . A g a in , t h e e n c o u n t e r w it h D r e a m s c in te r c h a n g e s t h in g s . F rom t h i s p o in t u n t il h e m e e ts G a n g n e t , M a s k u ll w i l l n e v e r b e q u i t e s u r e h o w h e i s t o f in d S u r t u r a n d t h e s o u r c e o f t h e M u s p e l- lig h t . T h is u n c e r ta in t y le n d s a d is tu r b in g th r e a d o f d e s p a ir a n d d o u b t a s e a c h n e w e n c o u n t e r f a ils t o c le a r ly le a d t o M u s p e l. T h i s e l e m e n t o f p e s s i m i s m a n d d o u b t i s L i n d ­ s a y ’s l e g a c y f r o m S c h o p e n h a u e r ; n e i t h e r m a n b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e p a t h t h a t le a d s t o s u b j u g a t io n o f t h e w ill w a s e a s y o r j o y f u l . N i g h t s p o r e ’s r e a c t i o n u p o n r e a liz in g t h e t r u e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n M u s p e l a n d C r y s t a lm a n ’s w o r ld i s o n e o f d e s p a ir a n d d o u b t. He s e e s n o w a y t h a t K r a g c a n w in . Y e t h e c o n t in u e s , a s a ll m u s t c o n ­ t in u e t h r o u g h t h e ir o w n D a r k N ig h t i f t h e y a r e t o t r u ly g i v e m e a n in g t o t h e ir liv e s . O u t o f th e S ile n t P la n e t & P e r e la n d r a C .S . L e w i s d i d n o t i n t e n d e i t h e r o f t h e s e t w o n o v ­ e l s t o b e m o d e r n d a y r e t e l l i n g s o f A P i l g r i m ’s P r o g ­ r e s s . O u t o f th e S il e n t P la n e t w a s in te n d e d to c h a l­ le n g e th e id e a th a t M an i s d e s t in e d to r u le a ll o f th e p la n e ts , a n d P e r e la n d r a s ta r te d o u t a s a s t o r y a b o u t f l o a t i n g i s l a n d s t h a t e v o l v e d i n t o a s t o r y o f t h e F a ll . Y et b o th o f t h e s e b o o k s d e s c r ib e a p r o c e s s o f t r a n s ­ fo r m a tio n t h a t r e s u lt s in a d iffe r e n t an d stro n g er r e la tio n s h ip b etw een R an so m and G od. I n t h e o p e n i n g o f O u t o f t h e S i l e n t P la n e t, R an so m i s in it ia lly d e s c r ib e d a s t h e " P e d e s t r ia n " a n d c o m e s a c r o s s a s a v e r y o r d in a r y , if a b it s o lita r y , m an. W hat a d iff e r e n c e fro m t h e f i r s t im p r e s s io n t h a t t h e r e a d e r h a s o f M a s k u ll ! T h e r e i s n o s e n s e o f b e i n g i n t h e p r e s e n c e o f a g ia n t , a m an a lm o s t l a r g e r t h a n lif e . R an so m i s n o t t e m p t e d w it h t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o s e e w o n d r o u s s ig h t s — h e is a b d u c te d b y tw o in d iv id u a ls w h o p la n t o u s e h im a s a s a c r i f i c e t o t h e p o w e r s o f M ar s. Y e t t h e k i d n a p p in g o f R a n so m w ill le a d t o t h e e v e n t u a l d e v e lo p m e n t o f t h e m an w h o w ill h e lp a v e r t th e F a ll o n P e r e l a n d r a a n d serve as th e s p ir itu a l le a d e r o f L o g r e s . W h a t L e w is i s d e s c r ib in g h e r e i s n o t th e e ff o r t in itia te d by m an to becom e d iv in e , but r a t h e r t h e a c t i o n o f G o d b r e a k i n g i n t o t h e i n d i v i d u a l ’s lif e and in v itin g th a t p erso n to p a r tic ip a te in a u n i q u e r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h t h e H o ly . I n P e r e l a n d r a , t h e o p e n in g h a s b o th e le m e n ts o f d e s p a ir a n d jo y in it. R a n so m ’s f r i e n d e x p e r i e n c e s d o u b t a n d f e a r b o t h o n t h e r o a d t o R a n s o m ’s h o u s e ( w h i c h a l t h o u g h a m p l i f i e d b y d e m o n i c f o r c e s a r e s t i l l i n i t i a l l y p r e s e n t i n h im ) a n d a ls o in t h e p r e s e n c e o f a n e ld il . H e i s a t t h e sa m e le v e l t h a t R ansom w a s a t in t h e b e g in n in g o f O u t o f t h e S i l e n t P l a n e t C om p ar e t h i s w it h R a n so m , w h o h a s c o m p l e t e f a i t h i n t h e e l d i l ’s m i s s i o n . W h a t L e w i s i s d e s c r ib in g i s th e b e g in n in g o f a n in d iv id u a l r e ly in g le s s o n h is o w n p o w e r s a n d a b ilitie s a n d tr u s tin g m o re in D iv in e P r o v id e n c e . T h is c o m p le t e d e p e n d e n c e o n G o d h a s b e e n a h a l lm a r k o f t h o s e t h a t t h e C h u r c h h a s h a ile d a s s a in t s o v e r t h e c e n t u r ie s . J e a n n e tte H ume L u tto n has d e s c r ib e d R a n s o m ’s jo u rn ey to M a la c a n d r a as an e x p e r ie n c e th a t is fo c u se d around R e a s o n , w h ile h is la t e r jo u r n e y to P e r e la n d r a i s a n e x p e r ie n c e c e n t e r e d a r o u n d R e v e la ­ t i o n . 11 L e w is m a y h a v e p a t t e r n e d t h i s a f t e r h i s o w n tw o p a r t c o n v e r s io n e x p e r ie n c e . I n S u r p r i s e d b y J o y h e in d ic a te s th a t h e cam e to a c c e p t th e e x is te n c e o f D e ity a s a lo g ic a l o u tc o m e o f h i s s e a r c h f o r m e a n in g , w h ile t h e a c c e p t a n c e o f t h e d i v in i t y o f C h r is t w a s a d e c is io n b a s e d m or e o n in t u it io n a n d l e s s o n r a tio n a l th o u g h t . E v e n th o u g h t h e tw o s t a g e s m ay h a v e d iff e r ­ e n t f o u n d a t io n s , i t i s n o t e w o r t h y t h a t L e w is d e s c r ib e s a sim ila r p a t t e r n o f m o v e m e n t fr o m s o lit u d e t o c om m u ­ n io n . I t i s in t h is p r o c e s s th a t w e f in d t h e e le m e n ts o f d e s p a ir a n d d o u b t t h a t m ar k t h e D a rk N ig h t s t a g e . A f t e r h i s a r r i v a l o n M a la c a n d r a a n d e s c a p e f r o m W e s ­ t o n a n d D e v in e , R a n so m w a n d e r s o n t h e p l a n e t , a lo n e a n d a f r a i d o f w h a t m a y s u r r o u n d h im . H is i m a g i n a t i o n t o r m e n ts h im w ith v i s i o n s o f b u g - e y e d m o n s t e r s a n d h e h a s n o c le a r w a y to r e t u r n b a c k to E a r th . T h e e n c o u n t e r w it h t h e h r o s s a n d h i s e v e n t u a l a c c e p t a n c e b y t h e h r o s s a c o m m u n ity m a r k s t h e e n d o f h is s o li­ tu d e a n d t h e d im in is h m e n t o f h i s f e a r s . A s L u tt o n p o i n t s o u t , R an so m has been in c o r p o r a te d in to th e c o m m u n it y o f h n a u . B u t i n a d d i t i o n , i n h i s m in d t h e r e i s a g r e a t e r a w a r e n e s s a n d a p p r e c ia tio n o f th e w o n d e r a n d d i v e r s i t y o f t h e C r e a ti o n . M an i s n o l o n g e r t h e s o le c e n te r o f t h e u n iv e r s e . In P e r e la n d r a , R a n s o m 's p e r io d o f d e s p a ir and d o u b t c o m e w h e n h e r e a liz e s t h e m a g n it u d e o f w h a t i s o c c u r r in g . He t r ie s to u n d e r s ta n d w h y h e w a s c h o s e n , h o w h e is to d e f e a t t h e U n -m a n , b u t t h e r e a r e n o s im p le a n d e a s y a n s w e r s . H e i s a lo n e o n a s t r a n g e w o rld , a s k e d to d o so m e th in g th a t h e f e e ls is b e y o n d h i s p o w e r s . I t i s h e r e t h a t L e w is p r o v id e s u s w it h a m o v i n g e x a m p le o f g r a c e a t w o r k . R a n s o m r e a l i z e s s e v ­ e r a l t h in g s , n o n e o f th e m by lo g ic b u t r a th e r by D i v i n e g u i d a n c e . H e i s n o t a l o n e , f o r M a le ld il i s in som e w ay w ith h im . I f R an so m f a ils , M a le ld il w il l r e d e e m P e r e la n d r a in so m e o th e r m a n n e r . A s fo r d e a l­ in g w it h t h e U n -m a n , t h e s o lu t io n i s s im p ly t o e n g a g e in p h y s ic a l c o m b a t to t h e d e a th . I t is in t e r e s t in g to n o t e t h a t a s s o o n a s R a n so m c o m e s t o t h i s r e v e la t i o n , h i s a n x i e t y d i s a p p e a r s . W h a t i s im p o r t a n t i s t h a t h a v ­ in g crossed th is d e se rt, R an so m th en d ir e c tly e x p e r i­ e n c e s t h e p r e s e n c e o f M a le ld il t h e Y o u n g e r . L e w i s h a s g iv e n u s a p ic tu r e o f th e r e s u lt o f r e ly in g n o t o n o u r o w n e g o s , b u t r a t h e r s u b m i t t i n g o u r s e l v e s t o t h e w il l o f G od . T h e r e s u l t i s n o t t h e e lim in a t io n o f a r d u o u s t a s k s , b u t r a t h e r c o m m u n io n w i t h G o d t h a t p r o v i d e s u s w it h a s e n s e o f p e a c e e v e n in t h e m id s t o f t h e tu r m o il a r o u n d u s. C o n c lu s io n W h y i s t h i s D a rk N ig h t t h a t a p p e a r s in b o t h t h e s e a u t h o r s ’ w o r k t h o u g h t to b e n e c e s s a r y ? T h o m a s M er­ to n w r ite s " th e m on k f a c e s th e w o r s t, a n d d is c o v e r s in i t t h e h o p e o f t h e b e s t . F rom t h e d a r k n e s s c o m e s lig h t . F rom d e a t h , lif e . F ro m t h e a b y s s t h e r e c o m e s , u n a c c o u n ta b ly , th e m y s te r io u s g if t o f t h e S p ir it s e n t b y G od t o m a k e a ll t h i n g s n ew , to tr a n sfo r m th e c r e a te d t h e r e d e e m e d w o r ld , a n d t o r e - e s t a b l i s h a ll t h i n g s i n C h r i s t . " 12 I f o n e s u b s t i t u t e s t h e S u b l im e f o r th e c o n c e p t o f G o d /C h r is t in t h e a b o v e p a s s a g e , th e n o n e h a s a s t a te m e n t t h a t m ig h t p r o v e t o b e a c c e p t a b le to L in d s a y . R e g a r d le s s o f th e p a r tic u la r fr a m e w o r k o f t h o u g h t c h o s e n , i t i s c le a r t h a t b o t h L e w is a n d L in d ­ s a y s e e v a l u e a n d im p o r t a n c e i n e x p e r i e n c i n g t h e D a r k N ig h t , in c o n f r o n t i n g o u r d e s p a ir a n d d o u b t , in o r d e r to b e a b le to p a s s th r o u g h to th e t r u th o n th e o th e r N o te s 1 2 3 C .S . L e w i s , O f O t h e r W o r l d s , ( L o n d o n : G e o r g e B l e s , 1 9 6 6 ), p . 12. S o m e o f t h e m a jo r w o r k s a r e T h e A s c e n t o f M o u n t C a r m e l, The D a rk N ig h t o f th e S o u l, a n d The L i v i n g F la m e o f L o v e . T h o m a s M e r t o n , C o n t e m p o r a r y P r a y e r , ( G a r d e n C it y : D o u b l e d a y & C o ., 1 9 7 1 ) , p . 2 5 . c o n tin u e d o n p a g e 4 0 M Y T H L O R E 5 2 : W in ter 1 98 7 P age 4 0 c o n tin u e d f r o m In 25 d o n , 15 M ay 1987 P a t r ic k K. F o r d T r a n s , a n d E d . T h e M a b i n o g i a n d o t h e r W e ls h T a l e s ( L o n d o n : U n i v e r s i t y o f C a li f o r n i a 22 28 28 30 31 32 33 34 p ap er read 10 *« 26 a page at The T o lk ie n W ork sh op in - L o n ­ P r e s s 19 77 ) E v a n g e l i n e W a lt o n The Song o f R h ia n n o n (N e w Y ork : B a lla n tin e 197 2) M a r ily n E. H ic k e n ( C u m u la te d F ic tio n In d ex 1 9 7 5 -1 9 7 9 (E n g la n d : A s s o c ia tio n of A s s is ta n t L ib r a r ia n s 19 80); M a r il y n E. H ic k e n C u m u la te d F ic tio n I n d e x 1 9 8 0 -1 9 8 4 (E n g la n d : A s s o c ia tio n o f A s s is t a n t L ib r a r ia n s 198 5) M a r y S t e w a r t , T h e C r y s t a l C a v e (L o n d o n : H o d d e r a n d S to u g h to n 19 70 ) J o h n G lo a g , A r t o r i u s R e x ( L o n d o n : C a s s e l l & C o . 19 77) T .H . W h i t e T h e O n c e a n d F u t u r e K i n g ( L o n d o n : C o ll in s 1 9 5 8 ) L e s l i e A lc o c k A r t h u r 's B r ita in (L on d on : P e lic a n B o o k s 197 3) K a th le e n H e r b e r t, The L a d y o f th e F o u n ta in (F r o m e : B r a n ’s H e a d 1 9 8 2 ) I t c a n n o t b e c o in c id e n c e t h a t F in n b o g i i s a ls o m e n tio n e d in G r a e n le n d in g a S a g a a s o n e o f t h e e a r lie r s e t t l e r s o f G r e e n la n d . He i s u n lik e l y t o b e S n o r r i ’s f a t h e r , a s h e w a s m u r d e r e d i n h i s f i r s t w in t e r t h e r e . J e f f e r s o n P S w y c a f f e r , " H is t o r ic a l M o t i v a t i o n s f o r t h e S i e g e o f M in a s T i r it h " i n M y t h l o r e N u m b e r 3 5 , page 47; J e s s ic a Y a te s in M y th lo r e N u m b er 39, p a g e 41 c o n tin u e d fr o m p a g e 25 C o m p a n io n s, w h o lo o k o u t s id e t h e m s e lv e s , a r e m ad e b e t t e r . C h ild is h P ip p in a n d r u s t ic S am b e c o m e h e r o e s . V u lg a r S t a n z i b e c o m e s a p r o p t o h e r g i f t e d , n e o t e n o u s h u s b a n d . J e a l o u s l i t t l e in h u m a n T i n k e r B e l l s h o w s h e r ­ o is m w h e n s h e d r i n k s H o o k ’s p o i s o n . O u r v illa in s b u t t h e y a r e n ’t . s e lf. c o n tin u e d f r o m p a g e 31 * S t . J o h n o f t h e C r o s s , A s c e n t o f M o u n t C a r m e l, I I , iv , 2 , q u o te d in M e r to n , o p . c it ., p . 8 0 . 8 D a v id L i n d s a y , A V o y a g e to A r c t u r u s , ( S e c a u c u s , C i t a d e l P r e s s , 1 9 8 5 ) , p . 4 8 . A ll t e x t q u o t a t i o n s a r e 6 7 8 fro m t h is e d it io n . A V o y a g e to A r c tu r u s , p . 218. R o b e r t A itk e n , T a k in g th e P a th o f Zen, (S a n F r a n c is c o : N o r th P o in t P r e s s , 1 9 8 2 ), p p . 9 2 - 3 . M e lv in R a f f , " T h e S t r u c t u r e o f A V o y a g e t o A r c t u ­ r u s " i n S t u d i e s i n S c o t t i s h L i t e r a t u r e , (C olu m b ia : U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h C a r o l in a P r e s s , 1 9 8 0 ) , V o l. X V , p p . 2 6 2 -6 7 . P au l R ep s, Z e n F le s h , Z e n B o n e s , ( G a r d e n C it y : D o u b l e d a y & C o ., 1 9 5 7 ) , p . 9 2 - 3 . R a ff , o p . c i t . , p . 2 6 4 . J e a n e tte H ume L u tto n , "T he F east of R ea so n " , M y t h l o r e , W h o le # 4 7 ( A u t u m n 1 9 8 6 ) , p . 3 7 - 4 1 . M e r to n , o p . c it ., p . 2 5. 8 30 “ 12 M o v in g ? W hen you m o v e, p le a se le t u s know , so your i s s u e s w ill a r r iv e a t y o u r n e w a d d r e s s in t im e ly m an ­ n e r . S e n d c h a n g e o f a d d r e s s in f o r m a t io n to : M y t h l o r e , P .O . B o x 6 7 0 7 , A l t a d e n a , C A 9 1 0 0 1 . C h eck Y o u r L a b el P l e a s e lo o k a t t h e m a il in g l a b e l o n t h e e n v e l o p e y o u r c o p y o f M y t h l o r e w a s m a il e d i n . T h e n u m b e r f o l ­ lo w in g y o u r n a m e in d ic a t e s t h e i s s u e y o u r s u b s c r i p ­ tio n is d u e to e x p ir e . I f th a t n u m b e r i s ”5 2 ” o r "5 3" , p le a se ren ew no w to a v o id a n y in te r r u p t io n t o y o u r c o n tin u in g is s u e s . c la im t o b e p o i s o n e d b y t h e O t h e r , E a c h i s o v e r d o s e d t o d e a t h w it h h im ­ N o te s 1 2 3 4 5 « 7 8 • N ot fa r -fe tc h e d : h is to r ic a lly , th a t M ass w as c o m m is s i o n e d b y s o m e o n e w h o w a n t e d t o s t e a l t h e c r e d i t , t h o u g h i t w a s n ’t S a l i e r i . J .M . B a r r i e , P e t e r a n d W e n d y (N ew Y o rk , S c r ib ­ n e r ’s , 1 9 2 6 ) , p . 7 2 . F u r t h e r q u o t a t i o n s f r o m t h i s b o o k w i l l b e i d e n t i f i e d i n t h e t e x t w i t h PW a n d th e p a g e n u m ber. J .R .R . T o l k i e n , T h e H o b b i t ( N e w Y o r k , B a l l a n t i n e , 1 9 6 5 ) , p . 9 3 . A ll T o l k i e n q u o t a t i o n s w i l l b e f r o m th e B a lla n tin e p a p e r b a c k s , i d e n t i f ie d by page n u m b e r a n d H ( T h e H o b b it), II ( T h e T w o T o w e r s ) , a n d II I ( T h e R e t u r n o f t h e K in g ) . T h is l in e i s fr o m t h e s c r e e n p l a y , n o p r i n t e d t e x t o f A m a d e u s . M ost q u o t a tio n s a r e fro m T h e C o lle c te d P la y s o f P e t e r S h a f f e r (N ew Y o rk , H ar m on y, 1 9 8 2 ), id e n t i f ie d w ith S a n d t h e ir p a g e n u m b e r . J .M . B a r r i e , C o l l e c t e d P l a y s , p . 8 4 . T h i s i s b e f o r e S a m b o r n e t h e R in g ; i t w i l l b e c o m e v it a l th a t b e fo r e th e e n d , h e to o i s a k in in th is r e s p e c t ( n e e b e lo w , p i t y ) . T h e S c r e w t a p e L e t t e r s ( N e w Y o r k , M a c m ill a n , 1 9 6 7 ) , p . ix . S h a ffe r c a n d o e v e n w o r s e in r e s p e c t o f h a v in g n o fu n : M ark A s k e lo n in S h r i v i n g s . T h is lin e i s o n ly in t h e a c t in g s c r ip t (N e w Y o r k , S a m u el F r e n c h , 1 9 8 1 ), p . 113 . 'Benefactors I B e n e f a c to r s s u p p o r t th e im p r o v e m e n t a n d o u t r e a c h o f MYTHLORE b y o f s u b s c rip tio n . th e y a re lis te d b e co m e a m a k i n g d o n a t i o n s b e y o n d t h e p r ic e F o r th is m uch a p p re c ia te d fo r fo u r is s u e s . Y o u a re B e n e fa c to r b y w ritin g th e su p p o rt en co u rag e d E d ito r, to G le n G o o d K n ig h t (s e e p a g e 2 ). B o n n ie C a lla h a n P a u la D iS a n ti R o b e r t B . G r ib b o n R o b ert H a ll, J r . H e le n H o b b s T h eod ore K e lle r A l i s o n L e w is F r a n k M e d la r A nn e O s b o rn D ean P ic t o n M a ry M c D e r m o t t S h i d e l e r D a v id T o w n s e n d M a rio n V a nL oo H o ll y W ilk in s o n P a sa d en a , G r o s s P o i n t W oods, H y a tta v ille , Ith a c a , S a le m , E . S tro u d sb u rg , H ayw ard, C h e stn u t H i l l , O range, H o ll y w o o d , B o u ld e r , W o b u rn , C o r o n a D e l M a r,