The Evolutionary Adaptability of Humans
Five average and ordinary students attending the Univ. of Toronto attend a typical lecture by a seemingly completely normal professor. Shortly afterward, however, he reveals that he is actually a figure from a strange land they have never heard of before. He then goes on to invite them to his own world as his guests to celebrate the semicentennial of the king’s reign. All five readily agree. Although there is some trouble involving the transport of one of the five, eventually they all make it to this world that is a throwback to another time. There is no electrical power, no phone service, no cars, and no refrigeration. And yet, none of the modern-day characters break down in tantrums over the loss of their advanced conveniences. In fact, they show a remarkable ability to adapt not just to the technological differences, but to all the myriad cultural differences as well. The presentation of this theme in the same way in light of all the additional technological innovations since publication seems almost inconceivable. Pointing this divergence out is important because the premise of modern-day humans being introduced into a fantasy world milieu will explore other themes which present a profoundly more optimistic perspective toward humanity that was more universally shared than it is in the 21st century.
Sacrifice
Among those other themes, for instance, is the willingness to make sacrifices. Ironically enough, considering the more optimistic outlook toward humanity in the novel, the plot concerns a king who has decided to trash tradition by not giving up the crown and sacrificing himself upon the Summer Tree as has been the convention. Even the fact that his son will take over as monarch fails to trump the king's mad desire to cling to power. The theme begins with the traditional royal sacrifice being subverted before then moving to the king’s son who offers to sacrifice himself in his father’s place. This beautiful sentiment also fails to overcome the king’s stubborn desire to maintain his power, however, and ultimately results in the son cursing his father and subsequently being banished. Wracked by guilt over the accidental death of his girlfriend back in our world, one of the five students—Paul Schafer—becomes the iconic central symbol of the optimistic perspective toward human adaptability when he steps forward to offer himself as a sacrifice for the king. At this point, the general theme of human self-sacrifice for others takes on a specifically Christian element when Paul is stripped naked and hangs from a tree for three days. The point, however, is a universal one to be applied to all humanity: we are a species willing to make sacrifices for others who are not exactly like us.
Community
The story is not simply about Paul’s Christ-like willingness to sacrifice his life. It is about sacrifices made on a less cosmic level in the name of the community and shared purpose. Again, this theme is infused with an ironic dimension forty years later that did not weigh so heavily before. While the University of Toronto perhaps does not quite qualify as a “community college” for the purpose of the story it suffices as a metaphor for the ease with which people of different backgrounds bond over what they share rather than conflict over what they do not. The five students from Toronto are notably neither kidnapped nor unfairly coerced into making the leap across the world. They eagerly accept the invitation as a group. Once there, however, the group dynamic is fractured in a way that may not be expected. The typical thematic strain of this sort of plot device is based upon maintaining the group dynamic only so that when it is broken, its resolve to reintegrate can be dramatically played out. The five students each serve rather specific roles. Paul, obviously, is destined to become the sacrificial lamb. Kimberly is destined to fulfill a prophecy in which she becomes a Seer. The only other girl, Jennifer, alas, is all too predictably destined to suffer the degenerate degradation that is typical of the female who is not the heroine within this genre. Despite Jennifer’s only role seeming to be that of a breeder, this stereotypical abomination is still worked into the thematic tapestry of community meaning everybody does their part even when done separately. Needless to say, Jennifer is also a major player in the theme of sacrifice, but hers is not borne from a noble willingness like Paul’s. Even to include Jennifer’s role in the story within the theme of community seems grotesque, but that is sewn into the fabric of the thematic tapestry cannot be ignored or denied in light of events in the sequel.
