his effort in making a right choice. This virtuous way leads to the specific imagery of Digory as the symbolization of human beings from in a virtuous point of view.
As it is suggested from the theoretical bases, the reader may be able to interpret symbol by looking at the details that the author uses. In this way, by looking at the
characterization process of Digory, the author is likely to bring forward ideas to show the reader about concrete and factual details that can raise people
’s ideas on human characteristics. Furthermore, the detail is consistently presented by the events created by
the author which can show how those characteristics influence a human being ’s way to
fulfill his goal or duty. In this way, the author is likely to make an association of what people in common generally face in the factual life. These all lead the reader to see
mind that the author creates Digory in a purposive way becoming the symbolization of human beings themselves. Those events, in addition, show the quality of Digory in the
way he makes a choice according to his basic characteristics. As the event is likely to be drawn from a factual event, the reader will ag
ree to say that Digory’s response shows his virtuous embodiment.
b. Mr.Ketterly
Mr.Ketterly is another manifestation of a Human Being who is, in the novel, described as a tall, lonely and very thin person p.14. Throughout the story, Mr.Ketterly
is also characterized with some characteristic to emphasize his humanity manifested in several events throughout the story; his ambition for greatness, his longing for love, and
his desire for abundance.
The first manifestation is seen through his desire for greatness depicted by with his ambition
to be a great magician, as it is written: “You don’t understand. I am the great scholar, the magician, the adept, who is
doing
the experiment. Of course I need subjects to do it
on
“ p.26. The second human characteristic that the author puts within him is his longing for love. He is described to be fond of the White Witch for her
glorious appearance p.83. Then, the third characteristic of human beings is seen from his desire for abundance. After he sees that Narnia can turn a platform into be a young
lamppost, he wants to make Narnia the source of his income p.120. However, in achieving his goal, he applies several principles which are actually
violating ethical rules so that others regard him as a “mad” person p.6. First, this
principle is that it is okay to endanger another life seen through his pursuit of greatness. His greed for power and superiority justify him to treat others with cruelty by thinking
that it is normal for his “great experiment”. For him, the other is just regarded as an object which can be used as a
“sacrifice”, as it is said: Of course I need subjects to do it
on
. Bless my soul, you’ll be telling me next that I ought to have asked the guinea-
pigs’ permission before I used
them
No great wisdom can be reached without sacrifice p.26.
As we can see from the quotation above, the author uses the word “use” to emphasize how Mr. Ketterley looks at others. He just regards the other as a
“subject” which he can use with a profound freedom since tha
t is “That’s what the creatures were for. I’d bought them myself” p.24. In addition, he does not apply this principle only toward
animals, but for humans as well. This can be seen at the moment where he deceives Polly to go to another world with the a purpose of seeing great experiment work as it is
said: “Congratulate me, my dear boy. My experiment has succeeded. The little girl’s gone
—vanished—right out of the world” p.19. Thus we can see that his ambition has led him to gain his goal without caring about moral standards since he has made his own
definition of what is right and wrong p.19. The second principle is that he is not bound by the common rule seen also
through his effort to be the great scientist. This is what he describes as the wisdom of such a great scientist as him, as it is said:
Men like me, who possess hidden wisdom, are freed from common rules just as we are cut off from common pleasures. Ours, my boy, is a high and lonely
destiny p.21
He thinks that there may be a common rule of ethics, yet it will just be applicable to other persons. It can be applied to people in general, yet not for the profound thinkers
and great sages as him. He says that he has such a high destiny that nobody will understand. This kind of principle lets himself to think so that he is justified in
endangering others. In this way, he has behaved in cowardice. The third principle is that he lets rationalization distract his conscience as seen
through his longing for love. He is described as
being
to be fond of the White Witch for her glorious appearance, as it is written:
He was quickly forgetting how she had frightened him and thinking more and more of her wonderful beauty. He kept on saying to himself, “A dem fine
woman, sir, adem fine woman. A superb creature”:….You see, the foolish old man was actually beginning to imagine the Witch would fall in love with him
p.83.
As we can see above, his interest in the White Witch allows him to be corrupted by his desire for love. As a consequence, he tries to gives a rationalization for his belief in the
Witch. Although he has seen by himself how the White Witch has frightened him, he lets himself to be deceived and to ignore all the wicked deeds of the Witch. It can be
said that the glorious appearance of the Witch has made him “unable” to see her vicious
nature and cruelty. He might know that her kindness is artificial, yet he does not seem to care or even notice. In other words, his interest has made him blind to the Witch true
character and unquestionably alter his perceptions of the Witch. He just thinks that the Witch is the most appropriate person who can satisfy his longing, so that he does not
want to think that the Witch never cares for him. However, later he is aware that his submission is useless since he is just seen as an object by the Witch so that he wants to
betray the Witch p.113. However, this experience never lets him to make atonement by regaining his moral awareness. Instead, he still dwells in his longing for greatness
which influences his next decision. The
fourth principle is that “I” is the most important and “others” should be neglected as seen through his purposing of abundance. After he sees that Narnia can
make the iron bar become a young lamppost, he wants to make Narnia the source of his income, as it is said:
I have discovered a world where everything is bursting with life and growth. The commercial possibilities of this country are unbounded. Bring a few old bits of
scrap iron here, bury ‘em, and up they come as brand new railway engines, battleships, anything you please. They’ll cost nothing, and I can sell ‘em at full
prices in England. I shall be a millionaire. And then the climate I feel years younger already. I can run it as a health resort. A good sanatorium here might be
worth twenty thousand of year. Of course I shall have to let a few people into the secret. The first thing is to get that brute shot p.120
From the quotation above, we can see that actually Narnia has brought good to him as it makes him younger, yet still
he thinks about himself or “ I”. This egoistic attitude has led him to decide to kill Aslan. His ambition produces his quality of being
free by liberating him from the control of any other person, authority, or power. He always wants to define by himself what kind of path he shall take and decide. As a
consequence, his actions, thoughts, way of life are likely to violate the moral standard because he brings harm things to other people.
The fifth principle is that he decides for himself what to believe, feel, and think. As he decides for not liking Aslan, he finds himself unable to accept the existence and
goodness of Narnia. This insecurity even makes him unable to hear Aslan’s and the
talking beasts’ voices as his disbelief makes him to only hear the sound of animals; which increases his fear of the animals, as it is written:
He soon did hear nothing but roaring in Aslan’s song. Soon he couldn’t have heard anything else even if he had wanted to. And when at last the Lion spoke
and said, “Narnia awake, “ he didn’t hear any words: he heard only a snarl. And when the Beasts spoke in answer, he heard only barkings, growlings, bayings,
and howlings p.137.
From the quotation, we can see that until the end he is consistently described as a kind of person who chooses to believe in fundamental freedom by filling his life by
freely choosing not only what to do but also what to feel and think, what to believe, and how to describe things. He decides by himself what is beautiful or frightening which has
a significant influence or his characteristics, attitudes, and ways of life. Due to his
judgment that Narnia is frightening, he cannot enjoy goodness brought by Narnia for him. As a consequence, he is said to be given second punishment for his wicked deeds
when he was being teased by Narnia ’s Animals that he is afraid of.
By looking at the way how the author characterizes Mr.Ketterly it can be seen that he is endowed with characteristics had as well by the ordinary human beings in the real
life; his ambition of greatness, his longing for love, and his desire for abundant living. What makes it different with Digory is that Mr. Ketterly tried to gain those ambitions in
vicious ways revealed though the principles that he has. The author is likely to emphasize those characteristics in the way he responds with his choice in pursuing his
ambition, desire and longing. Therefore, it is best to say that Mr.Ketterley is the symbolization of a vicious way of being human.
As it happens to Digory, the author is likely to make an association from concept or ideas that people experience in the actual life namely the pursuit of greatness, love,
and abundant living within the characterization of Mr.Ketterley. These shared details as they are in real life, of course, make the readers realize that when they notice
Mr.Ketterley’s chacteristics they may be looking at themselves. However, the author presents many of his principles in prominent ways to highlight out his vicious
characteristics. This viciousness is in fact evident consistently throughout the story seen through the way he reacts to each event when he has to make a choice. These devices
may illustrate well that Mr.Ketterley is really the symbolization of the vicious part of human beings.
B. C.S Lewis’ Use of Symbol to Express Christian Concepts, Stories, and
Teaching
This second part of the analysis answers the second problem formulation on to what extent Christian concepts, stories, and teaching are expressed in the symbols
elaborated in the first part of the analysis. As it is expressed in Gaudium et Spes in Veeger et al, 2001: 14, Art and Literature expose the problems and experiences of
human beings, both the joys and sorrows, especially the experience of God’s existence and also God’s role in the author’s life. Based on this idea, the author wants to examine
how the author’s experience of God’s existence and role plays a significant influence in
the writing of his literary work. Authors themselves can express this in various ways. It may come in the form of a religious idea, concept, or story manifested in each element
within the story. In this case, it will be elaborated how Lewis’ proficiency as a prolific
writer, poet, scholar of English Literature, and defender of Christianity has a significant influence on the story he writes. In
The Magician’s Nephew, those religious influences are manifested in the form of symbols.
As it is discussed in the first problem formulation, there are symbols found in
The
Magician’s Nephew. The authors uses some elements within the story as the medium of symbolization, including Magic, Aslan, the White Witch, the Apple Tree, Digory, and
Mr. Ketterley. In those symbols, it can be seen how the Christian concepts, stories, and teaching are manifested due the fact that the creation process of those symbols is likely
to be influenced by Lewis’ thought and understanding on Biblical Concept of God,
Devil, Human Nature, and Original Sin. In addition, to strengthen their position as the
