NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY Myth and the Modern Problem: Mythic Thinking in Twentieth-Century Britain A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS for the degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Field of History By Matthew Kane Sterenberg EVANSTON, ILLINOIS December 2007 2 © Copyright by Matthew Kane Sterenberg 2007 All Rights Reserved 3 ABSTRACT Myth and the Modern Problem: Mythic Thinking in Twentieth-Century Britain Matthew Sterenberg This dissertation, “Myth and the Modern Problem: Mythic Thinking in Twentieth- Century Britain,” argues that a widespread phenomenon best described as “mythic thinking” emerged in the early twentieth century as way for a variety of thinkers and key cultural groups to frame and articulate their anxieties about, and their responses to, modernity. As such, can be understood in part as a response to what W.H. Auden described as “the modern problem”: a vacuum of meaning caused by the absence of inherited presuppositions and metanarratives that imposed coherence on the flow of experience. At the same time, the dissertation contends that— paradoxically—mythic thinkers’ response to, and critique of, modernity was itself a modern project insofar as it took place within, and depended upon, fundamental institutions, features, and tenets of modernity. Mythic thinking was defined by the belief that myths—timeless rather than time-bound explanatory narratives dealing with ultimate questions—were indispensable frameworks for interpreting experience, and essential tools for coping with and criticizing modernity. Throughout the period 1900 to 1980, it took the form of works of literature, art, philosophy, and theology designed to show that ancient myths had revelatory power for modern life, and that modernity sometimes required creation of new mythic narratives. Most fundamentally and most importantly, the dissertation demonstrates how mythic thinking constituted a new mode of making meaning that appealed to the imagination rather than reason by making the claim that myths communicate timeless truths that cannot be apprehended through 4 reason or science. Myth therefore signified what its advocates found lacking in both modernity and in alternative responses to it: myth was rooted neither in the past nor the present but was timeless, it offered wisdom rather than knowledge, unity instead of fragmentation, order in place of chaos, spiritual solace instead of unbelief, and meaning rather than confusion. If, as Auden contended, the modern problem was at bottom about a vacuum of meaning, then mythic thinking—because it posited an entirely novel way of making meaning that broke with the past— was an audacious and unique twentieth-century attempt to fill that vacuum. 5 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Oftentimes while writing this dissertation on myth I felt like I was in a myth, namely the myth of Sisyphus and his endless, futile toils. Quite simply, the dissertation would have been impossible to complete without the support, encouragement, and assistance of numerous friends, family members, and colleagues. So I am delighted to have this opportunity to thank them. My first thanks must go to my advisor and friend Bill Heyck who has enthusiastically and unfailingly supported this project from the beginning. Whenever my confidence flagged, he was there with an offer of lunch and the right reassuring words to get me back on track. Not only has he been an exemplary advisor, he is my role model for what it means to be a scholar and teacher. The other members of my excellent dissertation committee have also helped teach me what it means to be a scholar and to do scholarship. Alex Owen was an insightful and challenging dialogue partner as I tried to develop my thesis. Her knowledge of early twentieth-century Britain was indispensable and her interpretation of that period—which forced me to rethink some of my own notions—was stimulating in precisely the way that the best historical scholarship can be. Ken Alder’s enthusiasm for this project has been a constant source of encouragement. Every conversation with him reminded me that doing historical scholarship can be fun, thrilling, and endlessly surprising and fascinating—motivations that can easily be lost sight of during the long slog of writing a dissertation. Finally, I am grateful to him and the program in Science and Human Culture for making possible the funding that enabled me to do research abroad in Britain. A number of others have helped bring this dissertation to completion. Thanks to Marc Baer who first sparked my interest in British history and has offered advice on this project along the way. Thanks also to Ethan Schrum for his advice, encouragement, and for his helpful 6 comments on one of the chapters, which saved me from a number of errors. Likewise thanks to David Shaw for bringing to my attention the C.S. Lewis essay “First and Second Things.” I am grateful to the staff at the British Library, Senate House Library, Lambeth Palace Library, the BBC Written Archives Centre, and the Science Fiction Foundation Collection at the University of Liverpool for assisting me with the research for this project. Michael Pelletier, Amy Whipple, Thom Hajkowski, Guy Ortolano, Karl Gunther, Jana Measells, and Krzys Kozubski helped me more than they know. I am grateful to the Northwestern University Department of History and the benefactors of the Evan Frankel Fellowship for funding my studies. Many thanks also to Simon Greenwold for making possible the funding that enabled me to complete this project and for giving me an insider’s view of academic administration. While in the U.K. I benefited from the hospitality and help of many. I am grateful both to Larry Siedentop and to John Burrow for taking an interest in my work and for their hospitality and advice. Thanks especially to all at 25 Abercairn Road, all at St Helens, to Jan-Dirk and Ayako Schmoecker, and to Ernie Lew. Thanks as well go my friends from Northwestern IV GCF. I have been blessed by the generosity, encouragement, and wisdom of Ric and Allison Ashley. Bolu Ajiboye’s tenure at Northwestern almost exactly overlapped with mine, so I have been able to enjoy his humor and conversation for the entirety of my time here. Michael Rempe was a thoughtful friend and partner in crime when it came time to experience the oenological delights of Spain. Scott and Tara Norris, Page and Paul Lee, Kate and Doug Sprague, Edy Widjaja, Han Li, Randy Claussen, and Bumyong Choi have been steadfast friends. So likewise have been Kyle and Gigi Reed; Wednesday night sci fi marathons with Kyle will be greatly missed. Hannah Tims and Meris Mondernach displayed a gift for hospitality that brightened many a stressful week. I’ve greatly 7 appreciated Erik Rosengren’s sense of humor, candor, and encouragement. Thanks to Matt Young for many stimulating conversations, each one proof that the stereotype of scientists as illiberally educated bores is false. Thanks to Peter Sterenberg for keeping up a constant stream of ridicule, all of it carefully calculated to prod me into finishing this thing. Thanks to Masaharu, Natsue, and Makiko Itoh for their support in so many ways. My final and deepest thanks go to my parents, Russell and Lois Sterenberg, and to my wife, Yuko; this dissertation is dedicated to them. None of this would have been possible without my parents, who have been steadfast in their support and abounding in patience. They remain the best readers of my work. Finally, words cannot capture the gratitude I feel for Yuko and what it has meant to share life with her. I’ve come to depend on your patience, encouragement, good cheer, humor (even when missed), wisdom, and love. Just as I was about to give birth to this dissertation you topped me by giving birth to our first child, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Thank you. 8 CONTENTS ABSTRACT…………………………………………………………………………………………..iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS…………………………………………………………………...……….v Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION……………….………………………………...……………..……….9 Chapter 2. THE SHADOW OF THE GOLDEN BOUGH: ANTHROPOLOGY AND THE POPULARIZATION OF MYTHOLOGY IN TWENTIETH-CENTURY BRITAIN….33 Chapter 3. “THE GRAIL IS STIRRING”: MODERNIST WRITERS, THE MATTER OF BRITAIN, AND THE SPIRITUAL USES OF MYTH………………………………....78 Chapter 4. MAKING A MYTHOLOGY FOR ENGLAND: THE INKLINGS AND THE EPISTEMOLOGY OF MYTH………………………………………………………....127 Chapter 5. COPING WITH THE CATASTROPHE: J.G. BALLARD, THE BRITISH NEW WAVE, AND MYTHIC SCIENCE FICTION………………………………………....174 Chapter 6. MINDING THE MYTH-KITTY: MYTH AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF CULTURAL AUTHORITY IN TWENTIETH-CENTURY LITERARY CRITICISM.222 Chapter 7. MAKING A MODERN FAITH: MYTH AND MODERNITY IN TWENTIETH- CENTURY BRITISH THEOLOGY…………………………………………………....276 Chapter 8. CONCLUSION…………………………………………………………………………315 9 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION The Modern Problem Modernity was predicament without precedent. That was W.H. Auden’s conclusion as he reflected on the challenges of modern life in 1948. He explained that inhabitants of the twentieth century were: …faced with the modern problem, i.e., of living in a society in which men are no longer supported by tradition without being aware of it, and in which, therefore, every individual who wishes to bring order and coherence into the stream of sensations, emotions, and ideas entering his consciousness, from without and within, is forced to do deliberately for himself what in previous ages has been done for him by family, custom, church, and state, namely the choice of the principles and presuppositions in terms of which he can