The Secret Garden and Catholicism

[Tis_Bearself]

I don’t doubt that fresh air and exercise can help in some cases, but you also at the very least need a therapist monitoring your care. There are also quite a few people whom it does not help. I’ve known plenty of people who lived in absolutely beautiful parts of the country, or next to gorgeous parks, etc and they still suffered from clinical depression and needed more than garden time to feel better. The book, which of course is from an earlier era, treats the subject in a simplistic and to me, preachy way.

 

[dochawk]

For example, it’s pretty obvious that the Narnia story with the lion dying is symbolic of Christ’s passion and resurrection.

Actually, that one is not symbolic; Aslan is Christ, coming this different world, and being sacrificed and returning.

He tells the children at one point that they already know Himby another name, and that they were brought to Narnia to know him better.

hawk

 

[Londoner]

I read The Secret Garden at junior school (age 7-11 in the UK), so I think the preachy tone may have passed me by. I remember enjoying the book, but perhaps re-reading it as an adult would give me a more critical perspective.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I think it still has to be symbolic. Christ was a human, not a lion, and it’s important that Christ be a human because the whole idea was that he became like us.
If he had appeared as a lion then that would raise quite a few theological issues.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I think it’s just a personal taste issue. The book simply gets on my nerves. I accept that other people like or even love it very much.

Like I said, “A Little Princess” is the one that I really loved.

It’s odd that her biggest bestseller, “Little Lord Fauntleroy” is almost never read today.

 

[dochawk]

I think it still has to be symbolic.

“But there I have another name . You must learn to know me by that name . This was the very reason you were brought into Narnia , that by knowing me here for a little, you might know me better there.”

He is Christ.

If he had appeared as a lion then that would raise quite a few theological issues.

Narnia’s a different world. Most of the people are “animals.”