I've been working my way through Dawn Treader again. I've just finished the fascinating sequence on Island of the Dufflepuds where Lucy is reading through the Magician's Book in search of the spell to make invisible things visible again. I think it's fascinating how Lewis describes what she says, does, feels, and intends as she's going past the spells, but the one thing I want to ponder is how she handles the spell to make one Beautiful Beyond the Lot of Mortals - and what that says about her.
Starting with its name, we know the spell is not for Lucy. "Beyond the Lot of Mortals" means it's not for her, since she's a mortal. There's even a pictoral warning, like little cartoon panels, that warn her of the dire consequences that will follow if she says it. The pictures are quite clear and rather frightening: fierce conflicts, wars, even conflict and division within her own family.
One question is, why all these horrible consequences? For the answer to that we need to remember the name: Beauty Beyond the Lot of Mortals - that is, so great that it does not belong among them. If it comes among mortals, it's more than they can handle, and things are thrown out of order. This is Lewis' classical (and Scriptural) understanding peeping through - God has ordained an order for things that must be respected or serious consequences ensue.
And yet - and yet - Lucy insists on reading the spell. Even after reading the title, even after seeing warnings of the consequences, she sets her will to read it anyway. Cute, faithful little Lucy, Aslan's darling, falls into rebellion. If Lucy has a fall in the Chronicles, it is here.
It's important to notice why: envy of Susan. Not merely jealousy (a desire to have what she has), but envy - a desire to take away something Susan has. Notice the note of satisfaction that Lucy gets when she sees the picture of her being back at home, and nobody's noticing Susan anymore because now Lucy is far more beautiful. Sympathy is Lucy's hallmark - wherever she is, she pities the unfortunate. But not Susan. That Susan is ignored, cast down, put in her place is a cause of satisfaction, almost glee, to Lucy. It may even be that which tips the scales and causes her to set her will to rebellion. It isn't that she wants beauty for itself - she wants the effects. She wants to be lifted up, to be the center of attention - and if that means casting Susan out of the center, well, so much the better.
It's a sign of Aslan's love for Lucy that He intervenes dramatically to prevent her from doing this to herself and others - but He doesn't save her entirely because she insists on not being saved. The great and disastrous rebellion having been thwarted by Aslan's intervention, her stung pride still has enough power to nudge her into a smaller rebellion - reading the spell to hear what others thought of you. Lucy knew better than this - she'd never listen at a keyhole or read someone else's diary - but she felt a sense of entitlement. She hadn't been allowed to read the other spell, so she'd read this one instead. This leaves aside the point that she had no right to read either of them, but it's very much like how I often feel when I've avoided a serious sin (or been saved from it by Jesus' hand): I feel like I'm in some way "owed" a consolation prize of some lesser indulgence.
What's really interesting is the finale to the story, when Lucy's reading of the Visibility Spell makes Aslan visible. Despite having to warn Lucy away from one rebellion and tolerate a lesser one, Aslan still loves her and comes to her. Notice that when she sees Him, her face becomes momentarily almost as beautiful as the picture of her adorned with the Beauty Beyond the Lot of Mortals.
This final lesson is the most telling. Aslan intends to give Lucy that Beauty - in His time and manner (again, the theme of order). She will get the Beauty Beyond the Lot of Mortals when she is no longer mortal - but immortal and constantly in Aslan's presence.
I guess this isn't so much a question as a meditation, but I welcome any thoughts or comments.
Starting with its name, we know the spell is not for Lucy. "Beyond the Lot of Mortals" means it's not for her, since she's a mortal. There's even a pictoral warning, like little cartoon panels, that warn her of the dire consequences that will follow if she says it. The pictures are quite clear and rather frightening: fierce conflicts, wars, even conflict and division within her own family.
One question is, why all these horrible consequences? For the answer to that we need to remember the name: Beauty Beyond the Lot of Mortals - that is, so great that it does not belong among them. If it comes among mortals, it's more than they can handle, and things are thrown out of order. This is Lewis' classical (and Scriptural) understanding peeping through - God has ordained an order for things that must be respected or serious consequences ensue.
And yet - and yet - Lucy insists on reading the spell. Even after reading the title, even after seeing warnings of the consequences, she sets her will to read it anyway. Cute, faithful little Lucy, Aslan's darling, falls into rebellion. If Lucy has a fall in the Chronicles, it is here.
It's important to notice why: envy of Susan. Not merely jealousy (a desire to have what she has), but envy - a desire to take away something Susan has. Notice the note of satisfaction that Lucy gets when she sees the picture of her being back at home, and nobody's noticing Susan anymore because now Lucy is far more beautiful. Sympathy is Lucy's hallmark - wherever she is, she pities the unfortunate. But not Susan. That Susan is ignored, cast down, put in her place is a cause of satisfaction, almost glee, to Lucy. It may even be that which tips the scales and causes her to set her will to rebellion. It isn't that she wants beauty for itself - she wants the effects. She wants to be lifted up, to be the center of attention - and if that means casting Susan out of the center, well, so much the better.
It's a sign of Aslan's love for Lucy that He intervenes dramatically to prevent her from doing this to herself and others - but He doesn't save her entirely because she insists on not being saved. The great and disastrous rebellion having been thwarted by Aslan's intervention, her stung pride still has enough power to nudge her into a smaller rebellion - reading the spell to hear what others thought of you. Lucy knew better than this - she'd never listen at a keyhole or read someone else's diary - but she felt a sense of entitlement. She hadn't been allowed to read the other spell, so she'd read this one instead. This leaves aside the point that she had no right to read either of them, but it's very much like how I often feel when I've avoided a serious sin (or been saved from it by Jesus' hand): I feel like I'm in some way "owed" a consolation prize of some lesser indulgence.
What's really interesting is the finale to the story, when Lucy's reading of the Visibility Spell makes Aslan visible. Despite having to warn Lucy away from one rebellion and tolerate a lesser one, Aslan still loves her and comes to her. Notice that when she sees Him, her face becomes momentarily almost as beautiful as the picture of her adorned with the Beauty Beyond the Lot of Mortals.
This final lesson is the most telling. Aslan intends to give Lucy that Beauty - in His time and manner (again, the theme of order). She will get the Beauty Beyond the Lot of Mortals when she is no longer mortal - but immortal and constantly in Aslan's presence.
I guess this isn't so much a question as a meditation, but I welcome any thoughts or comments.
