Robert Falconer, Chapters 10 - 16
Betty and Grannie Falkner are utterly astounded to discover Shargar in the upstairs room while he dashes out to his own forsaken hovel. When Robert is confronted by his grandmother for an explanation, Robert’s honesty together with self-confidence as he reveals the truth subdues her, and she is open to his finding Shagar and bringing him to their home.
Mrs Faulkner, moved by Robert’s honesty and benevolence, not only allows Shargar to return to the garret but beckons a tailor and a shoemaker to outfit him in decent clothes. Shargar finds the sudden change extremely difficult to become accustomed to, but his loyalty to Robert wins out, and he becomes a resident in the Faulkner home.
In Chapter Twelve, MacDonald shows at length the salutary effect that the music of the violin has upon both the shoemaker and Robert. He concludes in the final paragraph: “Whatever it be that keeps the finer faculties of the mind awake, wonder alive, and the interest in life above mere eating and drinking and money-making, whatever it be that gives gladness, or sorrow, or hope–be it violin, pencil, pen, or love–is a divine gift of holy influence for salvation . . . . For it keeps a way open for the entrance of deeper, holier, grander influences, emanating from the same riches of the Godhead.” This is a sweeping statement that affirms God’s intention in the nature of creation, placing so much in human experience that–properly received--acts as a goad to give impetus to experiencing a fuller spiritual life. The implications of this principle bring a strong indictment against the Manichean dualism represented in the novel by the grandmother’s attitudes, a dualism that is present in some extremely fundamentalist Christian groups.
The scenes presenting Robert praying with his grandmother while he presents his questions and she answers in terms of the strict theology she has been exposed to and completely embraces must surely present something of MacDonald’s own struggles as he grew up in such a context. A sense of fairness and justice reveals the shortcomings of such theology, which is MacDonald’s point. When the news of the death of Robert’s father comes, his grandmother agonizes but eventually accepts what she sees as the will of God, but Robert will not accept it.
Amid the oppressive atmosphere of his Grannie’s home, there are some few positive influences that contribute to Robert’s proper growth. When he meets Ericson, he encounters a view of the nature of God that corresponds to his own inner sense of fairness, and the soft sounds of the music of Mary St. John which he hears periodically in the distance are a source of great solace. And when Mrs Falkner visits Mr. Lammie’s farm and the boys are alone with Betty, they find the family guitar, and they exhilarate in the freshness of nature as they make the daily walk from their home in Rothieden to the Lammie’s farm, their new-found freedom makes its contribution to their spiritual growth.
ANY REACTIONS TO THE TEXT?
Comments
I wonder if this might the very heart of GMacD's grand quest in life, to try by any means he could find to keep "the finer faculties of the mind awake" in any way he could. I spend a good deal of time with men who have been homeless, addicted, and/or incarcerated and I see that so often they have no "interest in life above mere eating and drinking and money-making" - (I would add to this list "being entertained"). One of my constant questions is how to help awake their slumbering imagination for simple delight in the good things around them, for interest in things for their own sake, for care of another.
I love how GMacD shows how a willing heart can receive the "some few positive influences" in the world around them and grow strong in what may appear to be poor soil. It give me hope and imagination, as well as ideas about what might penetrate the hearts and minds of my friends.
I would also observe that the sort of "Manichean dualism" mentioned above is often exposed in not-so-extremely fundamentalist Christians when they are up against the Shargars of this world. Over and over again I have seen my dear brothers and sisters get stuck on the fact that broken and messy people are not "doing it right" and focus on correcting behavior instead of loving the person. They also will do nothing if they cannot "do it right" in their own eyes. It seems to me that, before he refused to believe that his father was dead, Robert first refused to believe that Shargar was dead. In his own messy way he blew life on what could have been the dying ember of Shargar's impoverished existance. The fact that it was messy - he snuck and lied and bullied Betty to accomplish his life giving work - is part of what has attracted me to GMacD: he shows that God uses immature and imperfect persons to accomplish his will. God is able to see the time when Robert will learn how to love well without sneaking and creeping.