Nugget of Gold from Phantastes by George MacDonald
As you might have seen, I’ve been reading Phantastes: A Faerie Romance, by George MacDonald. This book really moved me. I didn’t feel that I was reading a book; I felt I was immersed in a world, and living the same experiences as the main character, Anodos.
The imagery was intense, and there was a deep sadness, which was at the same time, indescribably beautiful. There were so many keen observations on life and living. And so, as part of a new series of keenly observed quotes from books I’ve been reading, I wanted to share one of those nuggets of gold with you.
In this quote, the protagonist, Anodos, has just had a difficult experience, in which he has spent an indeterminate amount of time in an enchanted tower. This tower played on his mind, so that he felt he did not want to leave it—even though, of course, he really did want to leave.
As he says this quote, he has just been rescued by a woman he wronged earlier in his journeys.
From Phantastes: A Faerie Romance by George MacDonald
(I’ve taken the liberty of adding a few paragraph breaks for readability—as this was originally part of a massive paragraph.)
Then first I knew the delight of being lowly; of saying to myself, “I am what I am, nothing more.” “I have failed,” I said, “I have lost myself—would it had been my shadow.”
…
I learned that it is better, a thousand-fold, for a proud man to fall and be humbled, than to hold up his head in his pride and fancied innocence. I learned that he that will be a hero, will barely be a man; that he that will be nothing but a doer of his work, is sure of his manhood.
In nothing was my ideal lowered, or dimmed, or grown less precious; I only saw it too plainly, to set myself for a moment beside it. Indeed, my ideal soon became my life; whereas, formerly my life had consisted in a vain attempt to behold, if not my ideal in myself, at least myself in my ideal.
…
Another self seemed to arise, like a white spirit from a dead man, from the dumb and trampled self of the past. Doubtless, this self must again die and be buried, and again, from its tomb, spring a winged child; but of this my history as yet bears not the record.
Self will come to life even in the slaying of self; but there is ever something deeper and stronger than it, which will emerge at last from the unknown abysses of the soul: will it be as a solemn gloom, burning with eyes? or a clear morning after the rain? or a smiling child, that finds itself nowhere, and everywhere?
That last line, “a smiling child, that finds itself nowhere, and everywhere,” gives me chills. What a description!
I hope you’ve gotten something out of this Nugget of Gold. If you did, or if you’ve read Phantastes: A Faerie Romance, and would like to share your thoughts on it, please feel free to click “Comment” at the bottom of this post, and share away!
I’m looking forward to writing a short story based on your prompts this weekend. Thank you so much! If you haven’t yet had the chance, you can still add your prompts below.
Share your input:
Until next time.