The Lion, whose eyes never blinked, stared at the animals as hard as if he was going to burn them up with his mere stare… Many animals sat up on their hind legs. Most put their heads on one side as if they were trying very hard to understand. The Lion opened his mouth, but no sound came from it; he was breathing out, a long, warm breath; it seemed to sway all the beasts as the wind sways a line of trees. Far overhead from beyond the veil of blue sky which hid them the stars sang again; a pure, cold, difficult music. (The Magician's Nephew)
In the first chapter of Planet Narnia, Dr. Michael Ward discusses the importance Lewis placed on the distinction between Contemplation and Enjoyment. The distinction is exemplified In “Meditation in a Toolshed,” where Lewis contrasts looking at a beam of light coming through a crack in the shed, and looking along the beam of light, through the crack to the outside. Looking at the beam is contemplative. From this perspective the beam can be scientifically analyzed, and one can consider its various physical properties. Looking along the beam is enjoyable. The beam itself has “disappeared” but by its light one experiences and is integrated into the world outside the toolshed. Lewis took this division seriously enough as to declare Contemplation and Enjoyment as separate categories of knowledge.
This being the case, perhaps it is not surprising that the creation of sentient beings in Narnia is done in two steps: Aslan’s stare bestirs the chosen creatures to Contemplate, and Aslan’s breath enables them Enjoy. Aslan’s stare causes them to “try to understand,” to unravel the mysteries of the world around them which, having attained consciousness, they suddenly recognize. Aslan’s breath experientially integrates them into that world enabling them to recognize that they have a role in the Great Story being told by Aslan. Thus, though they cannot see the stars, they hear the music of the spheres, singing the praises of God, welcoming them to the great Symphony of Creation.
This two-step process in the creation of Narnia represents Lewis’ attempt to harmonize the two Creation stories of the Bible. In Genesis 1, Man is the final step in creation and is empowered by God to subjugate the other creatures and consume the vegetation. In his epic work, “The Lonely Man of Faith,” R’ J.B. Soloveitchik designates Adam of Genesis 1 as “Majestic Man.” To fulfill his destiny the utilitarian Majestic Man invokes science and technology to shape the world and make it more fit for mankind. Majestic Man is contemplative, analyzing creation with the goal of controlling and taming the cosmos. Upon completion of creation at the end of Genesis 1, God sees (as Aslan stares) all that He made, and it is very good.
In Genesis 2, however, Man is created before vegetation has sprouted and the animals have been formed. In contrast to Majestic Man’s dominion, “Covenantal Man,” the Adam of Genesis 2, is tasked with tilling and guarding the Garden of Eden. Covenantal Man experiences loneliness as he tries to understand his place in Creation. To relieve him of this existential loneliness, God creates the animals which Covenantal Man names as he experiences their true nature. However, none are appropriate companions for man. Finally, God creates Eve with whom Covenantal Man can join the creative process and fulfill God’s plan for creation. Covenantal Man is animated when God blows the soul of life through his nostrils.
The two Creation stories in Genesis highlight the different perspectives of man. Though superficially at odds, Man must be both: at time Majestic and at time Covenantal, at time Contemplative and at times Enjoying. The bible separates the stories to highlight the aspects of each and the equal importance of both. Lewis attempts to merge Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 into a historical account of creation. Though doing so misses some of the grandeur of the biblical stories, Lewis provides us with a concise account of creation and the complexity of sentient beings.
No comments:
Post a Comment