Contemporary Magic’s Reflection of Religion in Garth Nix’s Sabriel
Since the late nineteenth century, with the formalization of religious studies as an academic discipline, the notion of "magic" has assumed a pivotal role in delineating the outlines of religion. Eminent scholars in these fields have engaged in rigorous debates concerning the intricate int...
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| Published in: | Majallat Jāmiʻat Kūyah lil-ʻulūm al-insānīyah wa-al-ijtimāʻīyah Vol. 6; no. 1; pp. 242 - 251 |
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| Main Authors: | , |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
30.11.2023
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| ISSN: | 2707-9341, 2522-3259 |
| Online Access: | Get full text |
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| Summary: | Since the late nineteenth century, with the formalization of religious studies as an academic discipline, the notion of "magic" has assumed a pivotal role in delineating the outlines of religion. Eminent scholars in these fields have engaged in rigorous debates concerning the intricate interplay between magic and religion. Nevertheless, endeavors to establish precise distinctions between these domains have proven to be remarkably unpredictable, subject to persistent scrutiny and deconstruction. The concept of magic has obstinately retained its elusive and enigmatic character. This paper aims at analyzing Garth Nix’s Sabriel as a contemporary work of fantasy, published in 1995. Nix’s intention to incorporate religious elements into the novel was to reflect on the world people live in by including a coherent magical system. He was able to step beyond the novel’s direct meaning to convey what his symbolic elements connote. In this paper, the main characteristics of high fantasy are presented and thoroughly explained. The magical system in the novel takes the spotlight with a descriptive and analytic approach tackling its significance and specifications with regards to the religious roots that it stems from. The religious elements including baptism, sacrifice, Dante’s inferno and the gates of death, bells, and charter stones are also introduced with their defining qualifications compared to the elements in Sabriel. |
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| ISSN: | 2707-9341 2522-3259 |
| DOI: | 10.14500/kujhss.v6n1y2023.pp242-251 |