Always Christmas, Never Advent
Lewis, Huxley, and a case for a Penitential Advent
The season of Advent has traditionally been observed as a season of anticipation. In previous generations, Advent has been considered a “mini-lent”. Although not required, the Church still encourages penance, fasting, and almsgiving during this season. As we wait for the coming of Jesus at Christmas, we prepare for His coming in glory at the end of the world. However, in today’s society, the Advent season has been overshadowed by Christmas. In many cases, the Christmas festivities have begun well before the beginning of Advent. Anyone who objects to the Christmas invasion can quickly be labeled a “Scrooge” or a “Grinch”. By examining the books The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Brave New World, we can rediscover the need for the season of Advent.
Both of these books explore worlds radically different from our own. C.S. Lewis creates a world of fantasy and magic to re-tell the struggle of good versus evil. Through the Pevensie children’s journey in Narnia, he crafts an allegory to Christ’s redemption of the world. In contrast, Aldous Huxley depicts a dark futuristic society based on a loss of individuality and extreme social conditioning. Lewis was a famous apologist for the Christian faith. Huxley, although agnostic on matters of faith, critiqued the growing acceptance of birth control in modern society. Although both authors died on the same day, by all appearances they do not have much in common. However, they both produced works of literature that shine light on some common truths that are worthwhile for reflection.
In 1950, C. S. Lewis released The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. In this magical story for children, Lucy meets Tumnus the fawn in the land of Narnia. As she steps into a winter wonderland, Lucy finds the scene to be pleasant and is unaware of any looming danger. Upon first meeting Mr. Tumnus, his appearance is described: “What with the parcels and the snow it looked just as if he had been doing his Christmas shopping.” Anyone who has been a child knows that the thought of Christmas presents evokes feelings of euphoria. However, Lucy’s mood changes when he warns her of the evil sorceress known as the White Witch. He says, “Why, it is she that has got all Narnia under her thumb. It’s she that makes it always winter. Always winter and never Christmas; think of that!”
As a child (especially in Northern climates), the idea of it always being winter and never Christmas is horrifying. Many children anticipate Christmas morning for the entire year. To remove the long-desired holiday proves that the White Witch is wicked to the core. The message is clear: Narnia needs a savior. The good news is that one is already on the way. Lucy, joined now by her siblings, hears the news from a pair of talking beavers: “Aslan is on the move.” Although they cannot see him, they are given a sign of hope. One sign of the coming restoration is the arrival of Father Christmas. This version of Santa Claus has a sleigh, reindeer and a bag full of magical gifts. He bears a recognizable sign to the children that goodness is returning to the world.
Father Christmas speaks, “‘I’ve come at last,’ said he. ‘She has kept me out for a long time, but I have got in at last. Aslan is on the move. The Witch’s magic is weakening.’” Things are better now, but the restoration is not yet complete. The reader may ask themselves the words of Matthew 11:3: “Are You the Coming One, or are we to look for someone else?” Despite his name, Father Christmas marks a season of Advent. The children’s hope increases, but they are still in a time of preparation. For he does not bring gifts of merriment, but tools of war. The children are still waiting to meet Aslan the lion. Soon they will welcome this symbolic Christ-like figure and watch him offer himself as a sacrifice to restore the dystopian Narnia to true harmony. Soon they will battle the White Witch and become kings and queens of Narnia. For now, they must prepare and patiently wait for the coming of this savior.
Eighteen years before The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Aldous Huxley released Brave New World in 1932. This dystopian novel is not written for children. There are no talking animals, curses, or magic. Instead, there are “controllers” who run a carefully curated civilization. One such controller is Mustapha Mond. In a twist of events, a “Savage” makes his way from a remote reservation to the highly advanced city. Though the Savage is uncivilized by the futuristic standards of the book, he happens to know the works of Shakespeare by heart and believes in God. Huxley reveals much about this “Brave New World” in a dialogue between Mustapha Mond and the “Savage.”
In contrast to the fictional world of Narnia, this dystopia could be summarized as “always Christmas and never winter.” Mustapha Mond illustrates this: “[I]ndustrial civilization is only possible when there’s no self-denial. Self-indulgence up to the very limits imposed by hygiene and economics. Otherwise the wheels stop turning.” This civilization is marked by instant gratification. Everyone’s needs and desires are met and if anything unpleasant arises, there is a cure in the form of the euphoric drug: “soma.” In this dystopia there is no curse to be broken. There is no need for a savior. There is no need to wait or anticipate. In fact, there are no needs or wants at all. It is always Christmas and never Advent.
As citizens of this new civilization have been conditioned to avoid all negativity, pain, or sacrifice, they have no need for religion. As Mustapha Mond explains, “The religious sentiment will compensate us for all our losses. But there aren’t any losses for us to compensate; religious sentiment is superfluous. And why should we go hunting for a substitute for youthful desires, when youthful desires never fail? A substitute for distractions, when we go on enjoying all the old fooleries to the very last?” Christmas is a joyous time. But if every day of our lives was full of Christmas euphoria, then there would be no need for Christ. A reckoning with human wickedness is a prerequisite for the coming of a savior.
In the season of Advent, it is appropriate to remember that the world is a fallen place. It is appropriate to remember our human wickedness. It is appropriate to prepare for the coming of Jesus by preparing our own hearts. By voluntarily taking on works of penance, fasting, and almsgiving we can better prepare ourselves to celebrate Christmas. One cannot enjoy the feast without fasting. The modern world offers us too many shortcuts. We can easily be caught up in distractions. We can seek ever greater states of euphoria without acknowledging this valley of tears. Mustapha Mond prefers escaping this world’s troubles through his magical drug instead of facing them. “Christianity without tears--that’s what soma is.”
How does the “Savage” reply to this Brave New World? He claims the right to his own unhappiness. He claims the right to suffer. In a world of euphoria, he claims the right to be a “Scrooge” or “Grinch”. He recognizes that unless one realizes the world is under a curse, there is no need for redemption. He realizes that without Advent, there will never be a real Christmas. In the dialogue with Mustapha Mond he states:
‘But I like the inconveniences.’
‘We don’t,’ said the Controller. ‘We prefer to do things comfortably.’
‘But I don’t want comfort. I want God, I want poetry, I want real danger, I want freedom, I want goodness. I want sin.’
‘In fact,’ said Mustapha Mond, ‘you’re claiming the right to be unhappy.’
‘All right, then,’ said the Savage defiantly, ‘I’m claiming the right to be unhappy.’
‘Not to mention the right to grow old and ugly and impotent; the right to have syphilis and cancer; the right to have too little to eat; the right to be lousy; the right to live in constant apprehension of what may happen to-morrow; the right to catch typhoid; the right to be tortured by unspeakable pains of every kind.’
There was a long silence.
‘I claim them all,’ said the Savage at last.
The “Savage” understands what it means to be human. He understands that which does not need to be taught. The world that Mustapha Mond creates is artificial. It is dependent on careful conditioning, manipulation, and distraction. The “Savage” understands that suffering on account of something only increases its worth. Humans are social beings by nature. We require a society for us to flourish. In the book, the “Savage’s” pure rejection of society ends in his own destruction. However, he is ultimately a testament to real humanity. His existence is a reminder that it is not God that changes, but only man.
Therefore, during this season of Advent, we should not forget the true purpose of our Christmas celebration. We can be grateful for the gifts of modern society. We can offer prayers of thanksgiving for our comfortable lives. At the same time, we ought to be warned that the pursuit of comfort as our ultimate goal will make God seem superfluous. And, we should remember that Christ will come again - whether we have prepared or not. “Aslan is on the move,” but there are still battles to be fought. Advent is the perfect time to prepare our hearts. Let us not miss the opportunity and realize when Christ comes that it is too late. One cannot claim to truly love Christmas if they do not first pass through the season of Advent.