Mole, Rat and a Higher Fear
The classic children’s book, The Wind in the Willows, chronicles the escapades of its well-known animal characters – Mole, Rat, Toad, Badger and Otter. In chapter 7, Mole and Rat search for Otter’s missing son Portly, whom they find in care of the god Pan. As they approach Pan, Mole turns to Rat: “‘Rat.’ He found breath to whisper, shaking, ‘Are you afraid?’ ‘Afraid?’ murmured the Rat, his eyes shining with unutterable love. ‘Afraid? Of Him? O, never, never. And yet – and yet – O Mole, I am afraid.’”C.S. Lewis cites this exchange as a literary example of the “numinous experience” – an experience of religious awe that transcends simple fear. Although the words used to express the fear of danger and the words expressing awe of the numinous may be identical, the experiences themselves are altogether different.Lewis clarifies the difference between fear and awe with an example: “Suppose you were told that there was a tiger in the next room: you would know that you were in danger and would probably feel fear. But if you were told ‘there is a ghost in the next room,’ and believed it, you feel, indeed, what is often called fear, but of a different kind. It would not be based on the knowledge of danger… It is ‘uncanny’ rather than dangerous, and the special kind of fear it excites may be called Dread… Now suppose that you were told simply ‘there is a mighty spirit in the room,’ and believed it. Your feelings would then be even less like the mere fear of danger: but the disturbance would be profound. You would feel wonder and certain shrinking – a sense of inadequacy to cope with […]
