Phantastes Background Notes


Character: Anodos --> Boring, wandering around aimlessly, taking it all in

Setting: Fairyland, nothing like Earth. Can't be compared to our lives.

Textual: Language and setting=beautiful

Page 240 of The George MacDonald Treasury

Why do you think MacDonald would present a world in which you die of desire?

  • Longing
  • Can't do anything about it
  • Dissatisfied with our life right now
    • Can be good or bad
    • Lack of something in your life
  • Paradox
    • Missing someone/thing
    • Long to fill an empty space
    • Urgency
    • Painful
  • Innate feelings
    • Gospel answers
    • Love
    • Companionship
    • Happiness
  • Make us want to fulfill our life and and fill the spaces in our heart/soul
  • Can't control/long for something you have no control over
    • hoping
      • reaching for or working towards

Those are just a few notes I kept during a class discussion. They're sort of enigmatic. I guess they kinda/sorta would only make sense to me, and perhaps some who have read Phantastes. Anyway, it was a great book!

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