Myth and Connections to Existentialism - Kate Bennett

 I, and a few of my fellow classmates, are currently also taking Dr. Balay’s “Existentialism” course this semester. This entire term, I couldn’t help but notice the similarities that existed between myth and existentialism. One of existentialism’s central themes is the reconciliation of human reason with death. As rational mortals, we are both blessed with the capacity to understand concepts larger than life and cursed with the emotion that follows them, such as the realization of one’s temporality. Myth provides recollections of death in a digestible fashion and familiarizes readers with it in such a way that leads them to not be so fearful. In The Chronicles of Narnia, Aslan is depicted dying and then coming back to life early on in the series. Towards the end, in Voyage of the Dawn Treader, readers must cope with the inevitable loss of Reepicheep as he agrees to be left behind at the farthest edge of the world. Moreover, in The Space Trilogy, readers are forced to cope with the sudden and permanent loss of Hyoi, Ransom’s greatest companion since entering Malacandra. Finally, in Till We Have Faces, Orual is made to deal with the separation of herself from her sister Psyche, as Psyche is meant to be sacrificed and isolated from her home. Essentially, Lewis’s work clearly demonstrates that myth is useful for delivering the harsh realities of life in a palatable way.  

On the other hand, engaging in myth seems to be something that existentialist philosophers would discourage. Many philosophers encourage individuals to live lucidly and presently, all while remaining aware of one’s own finite circumstances. Losing oneself in myth would arguably promote a diversion from living in the moment, as one begins to spend more time contemplating other situations, rather than their own. Lewis obviously never claimed to be an existentialist philosopher by any means, so these differences make sense, but it has definitely been interesting to consider how these two concepts connect over the semester. I feel as though I have developed an incredibly niche lens of existentialist and mythical concepts by which I see the world through. 

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