Fairy Music

Throughout MacDonald's Phantastes, there are many references to music. At some points when music is mentioned, it is merely a metaphor to describe something else. At other times, however, music is a significant changer of events. The end of the novel is a good example of this: it is the voice of a young lady that saves Anodos from the tower in which he has been imprisoned.

After Anodos has been in Fairy Land for some time, he comes upon the encasing of whom he believes is the marble lady. He thinks of the ways in which he can save her -- first of kissing her, and then of singing to her. The kiss he tries first but to no avail. "Might not a song awake this form...?" (MacDonald 37) he asks himself. "Sweet sounds" he concludes, "can go where kisses may not enter" (37). Singing, he finds, does gradually work to awaken the lady.

Anodos tells the reader that has never been gifted with song. In Fairy Land, however, he finds that he can sing -- and sing very well. The "marble lady" that he awoke flees, but he is able to find her by singing. Again, in his palace, Anodos is haunted by the echoes of music and seeks to find its source. The marble lady is drawn to his singing.

From these examples alone, it is easy to see that MacDonald incorporation of music in the fantastical land of Fairy was intentional and even necessary. Music is in close relation to beauty, which is also very important to this novel. Beauty is in nature, in women, in dreams, and in music. All of these sources of beauty, however, can also be used for evil purposes. Nature can be terrible -- look to the Ash-tree. Women can be corrupt -- look to the marble lady or the ogre. Dreams can be frightening -- look to the nightmares in the forest. Music, too, can be deleterious -- look to the consequences of Anodos' songs.

MacDonald used music as another expression of beauty. And beauty, as the story will prove, may be misleading. "How can beauty and ugliness dwell so near?" (48) Anodos asks himself after his encounter with the transformed marble-lady. It is the question that follows all who enter Fairy Land. It must be reckoned with. Beauty, in whatever form it comes in, may be deceitful to the perceiver.