The Process of Spiritual Evolution and Purification -- A Thematic Analysis of <i>Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women</i>

Jiaxin Liu

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijla.20231105.11

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The Process of Spiritual Evolution and Purification -- A Thematic Analysis of Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women

Jiaxin Liu

Published in International Journal of Literature and Arts (Volume 11, Issue 5)

Received: 14 April 2023 Accepted: 28 August 2023 Published: 13 September 2023

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Abstract

Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women, was one of the most famous works written by George McDonald. Many scholars doubted whether it had a consistent theme. In fact, by looking at the story structure of the novel, we find that, in the design of the plot, the author consciously compared it with the Bible, such as Adam committing original sin for self-love, David maintaining social order against Goliath, and Jesus resurrecting after dying for human sacrifice. They were used to show that one man should abandon his love for himself and for society and rise to the love of God. In "Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women", McDonald explored the love for individuals in the violation of the prohibition, explored the love for others in the maintenance of secular order, then thought human should pursue the love of God in the negation of the material individual secular. McDonald was a priest and thought the theology should train people to be a perfect children of God, MacDonald agreed with Calvin's Predestination theory that, it was God who sought man, not man who sought God on his own initiative. Suffering in adversity was also a way for people to understand and deepen their faith. He combined the pastor's pastoral and the writer's writing, and expressed his views on how to seek God in his works. Therefore, this novel, not only is regarded as a fantasy novel from literature, also expresses the process of personal spiritual Purification from religion.

Published in	International Journal of Literature and Arts (Volume 11, Issue 5)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijla.20231105.11
Page(s)	215-219
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

McDonald, Phantastes, Spiritual Purification

References

[1]	Adrian Gunther. (1993). The Structure of George MacDonald’s Phantastes. North Wind: A Journal of George MacDonald Studies. Vol. 12, Article 3, 43-59.
[2]	Burt, Michael. (2016). Phantastes and the Development of the Imaginatio. North Wind: A Journal of George MacDonald Studies. Vol. 35, Article 32, 80-90.
[3]	Dearborn, Kerry. (1988). Baptized Imagination. Ashgate Publishing Company Pub. 118.
[4]	Holy Bible, (2000). New Revised Standard.
[5]	MacDonald, George. (2015). At the Back of the North Wind. Createspace Independent Pub. 66.
[6]	MacDonald, George. (2017). “Justice”, in Unspoken Sermons. Createspace Independent Pub. 63-64.
[7]	MacDonald, George. (1994). Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women. Johannesen Printing & Publishing.
[8]	Nick Page (ed). (2008). George MacDonald: Phantastes: Special Annotated Edition. London, Colorado, and Hyderabad: Paternoster. 15.
[9]	Pemberton, Marilyn. (2008). The Ultimate Rite of Passage: Death and Beyond in “The Golden Key” and At the Back of the North Wind. North Wind: A journal of George Mac Donald studies. Vol. 27, Article 3, 35.
[10]	Persyn, Catherine. (2001). “And All About the Courtly Stable/Bright-Harnessed Angles Sit”: Eschatological Elements in At the Back of the North Wind. North Wind: A journal of George Mac Donald Studies. Vol. 20, Article 1, 25.
[11]	Raeper, William. (1987). George MacDonald. Tring: Lion. 145.
[12]	Reis, Richard. (1972). George MacDonald. New York: Twayne. 89.
[13]	Roukema, Aren. (2012). The Shadow of Anodos: Alchemical Symbolism in Phantastes. North Wind: A journal of George Mac Donald studies. Vol. 31, Article 5, 54.
[14]	Thomas Gerold. (2004). Theology for the Sake of God’s Children: Observations on George MacDonald’s Theology in his Unspoken Sermons. North Wind: A Journal of George MacDonald Studies. Vol. 23, Article 2, 13-20.
[15]	Watkins, Gwen. (1988). A Theologian’s Dealings with the Fairies. North Wind: A journal of George Mac Donald studies. Vol. 7, Article 1, 5.

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Jiaxin Liu. (2023). The Process of Spiritual Evolution and Purification -- A Thematic Analysis of Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women. International Journal of Literature and Arts, 11(5), 215-219. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20231105.11

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Jiaxin Liu. The Process of Spiritual Evolution and Purification -- A Thematic Analysis of Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women. Int. J. Lit. Arts 2023, 11(5), 215-219. doi: 10.11648/j.ijla.20231105.11

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Jiaxin Liu. The Process of Spiritual Evolution and Purification -- A Thematic Analysis of Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women. Int J Lit Arts. 2023;11(5):215-219. doi: 10.11648/j.ijla.20231105.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ijla.20231105.11,
  author = {Jiaxin Liu},
  title = {The Process of Spiritual Evolution and Purification -- A Thematic Analysis of Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women},
  journal = {International Journal of Literature and Arts},
  volume = {11},
  number = {5},
  pages = {215-219},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijla.20231105.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20231105.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijla.20231105.11},
  abstract = {Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women, was one of the most famous works written by George McDonald. Many scholars doubted whether it had a consistent theme. In fact, by looking at the story structure of the novel, we find that, in the design of the plot, the author consciously compared it with the Bible, such as Adam committing original sin for self-love, David maintaining social order against Goliath, and Jesus resurrecting after dying for human sacrifice. They were used to show that one man should abandon his love for himself and for society and rise to the love of God. In "Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women", McDonald explored the love for individuals in the violation of the prohibition, explored the love for others in the maintenance of secular order, then thought human should pursue the love of God in the negation of the material individual secular. McDonald was a priest and thought the theology should train people to be a perfect children of God, MacDonald agreed with Calvin's Predestination theory that, it was God who sought man, not man who sought God on his own initiative. Suffering in adversity was also a way for people to understand and deepen their faith. He combined the pastor's pastoral and the writer's writing, and expressed his views on how to seek God in his works. Therefore, this novel, not only is regarded as a fantasy novel from literature, also expresses the process of personal spiritual Purification from religion.},
 year = {2023}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - The Process of Spiritual Evolution and Purification -- A Thematic Analysis of Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women
AU  - Jiaxin Liu
Y1  - 2023/09/13
PY  - 2023
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20231105.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijla.20231105.11
T2  - International Journal of Literature and Arts
JF  - International Journal of Literature and Arts
JO  - International Journal of Literature and Arts
SP  - 215
EP  - 219
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2331-057X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20231105.11
AB  - Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women, was one of the most famous works written by George McDonald. Many scholars doubted whether it had a consistent theme. In fact, by looking at the story structure of the novel, we find that, in the design of the plot, the author consciously compared it with the Bible, such as Adam committing original sin for self-love, David maintaining social order against Goliath, and Jesus resurrecting after dying for human sacrifice. They were used to show that one man should abandon his love for himself and for society and rise to the love of God. In "Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women", McDonald explored the love for individuals in the violation of the prohibition, explored the love for others in the maintenance of secular order, then thought human should pursue the love of God in the negation of the material individual secular. McDonald was a priest and thought the theology should train people to be a perfect children of God, MacDonald agreed with Calvin's Predestination theory that, it was God who sought man, not man who sought God on his own initiative. Suffering in adversity was also a way for people to understand and deepen their faith. He combined the pastor's pastoral and the writer's writing, and expressed his views on how to seek God in his works. Therefore, this novel, not only is regarded as a fantasy novel from literature, also expresses the process of personal spiritual Purification from religion.
VL  - 11
IS  - 5
ER  -

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Author Information

Jiaxin Liu

School of Critical Studies, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, British

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APA Style

Jiaxin Liu. (2023). The Process of Spiritual Evolution and Purification -- A Thematic Analysis of Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women. International Journal of Literature and Arts, 11(5), 215-219. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20231105.11

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ACS Style

Jiaxin Liu. The Process of Spiritual Evolution and Purification -- A Thematic Analysis of Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women. Int. J. Lit. Arts 2023, 11(5), 215-219. doi: 10.11648/j.ijla.20231105.11

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AMA Style

Jiaxin Liu. The Process of Spiritual Evolution and Purification -- A Thematic Analysis of Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women. Int J Lit Arts. 2023;11(5):215-219. doi: 10.11648/j.ijla.20231105.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ijla.20231105.11,
  author = {Jiaxin Liu},
  title = {The Process of Spiritual Evolution and Purification -- A Thematic Analysis of Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women},
  journal = {International Journal of Literature and Arts},
  volume = {11},
  number = {5},
  pages = {215-219},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijla.20231105.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20231105.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijla.20231105.11},
  abstract = {Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women, was one of the most famous works written by George McDonald. Many scholars doubted whether it had a consistent theme. In fact, by looking at the story structure of the novel, we find that, in the design of the plot, the author consciously compared it with the Bible, such as Adam committing original sin for self-love, David maintaining social order against Goliath, and Jesus resurrecting after dying for human sacrifice. They were used to show that one man should abandon his love for himself and for society and rise to the love of God. In "Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women", McDonald explored the love for individuals in the violation of the prohibition, explored the love for others in the maintenance of secular order, then thought human should pursue the love of God in the negation of the material individual secular. McDonald was a priest and thought the theology should train people to be a perfect children of God, MacDonald agreed with Calvin's Predestination theory that, it was God who sought man, not man who sought God on his own initiative. Suffering in adversity was also a way for people to understand and deepen their faith. He combined the pastor's pastoral and the writer's writing, and expressed his views on how to seek God in his works. Therefore, this novel, not only is regarded as a fantasy novel from literature, also expresses the process of personal spiritual Purification from religion.},
 year = {2023}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - The Process of Spiritual Evolution and Purification -- A Thematic Analysis of Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women
AU  - Jiaxin Liu
Y1  - 2023/09/13
PY  - 2023
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20231105.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijla.20231105.11
T2  - International Journal of Literature and Arts
JF  - International Journal of Literature and Arts
JO  - International Journal of Literature and Arts
SP  - 215
EP  - 219
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2331-057X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20231105.11
AB  - Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women, was one of the most famous works written by George McDonald. Many scholars doubted whether it had a consistent theme. In fact, by looking at the story structure of the novel, we find that, in the design of the plot, the author consciously compared it with the Bible, such as Adam committing original sin for self-love, David maintaining social order against Goliath, and Jesus resurrecting after dying for human sacrifice. They were used to show that one man should abandon his love for himself and for society and rise to the love of God. In "Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women", McDonald explored the love for individuals in the violation of the prohibition, explored the love for others in the maintenance of secular order, then thought human should pursue the love of God in the negation of the material individual secular. McDonald was a priest and thought the theology should train people to be a perfect children of God, MacDonald agreed with Calvin's Predestination theory that, it was God who sought man, not man who sought God on his own initiative. Suffering in adversity was also a way for people to understand and deepen their faith. He combined the pastor's pastoral and the writer's writing, and expressed his views on how to seek God in his works. Therefore, this novel, not only is regarded as a fantasy novel from literature, also expresses the process of personal spiritual Purification from religion.
VL  - 11
IS  - 5
ER  -

Copy | Download