Daniel Williams: Narnia Entry 2, Narnia's Creation

The first book in Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia, called The Magician's Nephew, details the origin and creation of the world of Narnia. The most memorable and most obvious detail in this creation story is the use of music: Aslan, joined by other unnamed voices, sings into existence the whole of Narnia. Lewis writes that his song changes according to what it is that he is creating: the music matches the very essence of the created. This creation account reminds me of Tolkien's creation myth of Middle-Earth, detailed in The Silmarillion (only part of which I have read), in which music is also involved in the creation process.

I find it fascinating that both these men used music as the means of creation. I think it suggests that they both believed that human creative processes--like music--are related to the creation of all things. In fact, Tolkien uses the term "sub-creation" to refer to the fact that created beings, in imitation of their creator, engage in the act of creation themselves. The Narnian creation myth, like the Christian creation myth, suggests that God is artistic. God's artistry accounts for mankind's own creativity. Creation myths, which are themselves the creations of beings created (by saying so I do not mean to suggest that they are untrue), communicate to those who partake in the myth that artistry is intimately related to reality. Reality, from the mythical perspective, has neither always existed nor simply been thrown into existence; it rather was the work of an artist. This is yet another reason, I believe, that explains why Lewis was a champion of mythology. The medium of mythology communicates reality in a creative manner, which was the very manner in which that reality was created.

When Aslan sang Narnia into existence, he demonstrated that the act of creation was also something to be pronounced good, just like the product created. The music of creation suggests that extravagant beauty is a foundational element of the world. Though we were not there to witness the workings of the artist who created our world, through mythology we are at least permitted to obtain a realistic glimpse of Creator and created.