Charlotte Mason Reflection: Fiction as a Moral Teacher

I’m still on my journey through Charlotte Mason’s 4th volume, “Ourselves”, and have been finding much delight in the instructions she offers to teens and moms.

This week I want to reflect on some things she has to say about fiction. I agree with the sentiment, but this does bring up some questions for me:

Not only are morals and manners taught, but our enthusiasms, even our religion, are kindled by fiction, whether in prose or in verse.

But you will see at once that the value of fiction as a moral teacher depends upon the wisdom, insight, and goodness of the writer; that a shallow mind will give false and shallow teaching.

My first reaction is a resounding “yes!” to the encouragement to read fiction, as well as the influence that it has on our lives. The stories and characters that we read are always teaching us something.

They can teach us deep and important lessons of life, without having to personally experience the trouble and negative results of certain behaviors and choices. But, if we are not reading with a critical eye, they could potentially teach us something we don’t wish to exemplify.

⯁ The Most Upstanding Fiction Author

One thing Miss Mason touches on that I really appreciate is that Jesus used fiction to convey messages. His parables were an important part of his ministry, and the purpose of those little fictional stories was to teach something. To send a message, to convict, or even to give the hearer a chance to respond.

Fictional stories, whether the author or the reader cares to acknowledge it or not, will stir us up in some way. I think most of us understand this when it comes to media consumption – we become what we take in.

But I know with myself and my own kids, I often forget that this can happen with the fiction we read as well. My reading tastes ebb and flow, but finding wonderful experiences and difficult lessons in fiction that I wouldn’t encounter otherwise has always been a big motivator for me in sticking with a story.

⯁ Lessons from All Other Authors

The second part of the quote above had me thinking rather than cheering. I can see in my own reading that author perspectives and morals come through loud and clear, whether they realize it or not.

(For example, my definition of a “clean” or “Christian” novel is definitely different from some authors and publishers who put those labels on their stories. I’m okay with some nuance, but some books have really surprised me. Even reading books described with phrases like “redemptive story” usually end up with me wondering how different one person’s definition of “redemption” can be from another’s. But I digress.)

The reason this raises questions for me is because there are some excellent classic (and likely some modern) authors who displayed morals different from my own but still produced something I could learn from.

I think of Oscar Wilde, who I wouldn’t personally hold up as particularly moral, and his work The Picture of Dorian Gray, which actually offers us a fairly good depiction of human brokenness and where it leads if we live a life void of repentance. (Full disclosure: I really didn’t like the book, but I appreciated that message.)

My point is, I do question if an author must hold the same morals as me in order for me to learn something from them. At this point I’m leaning towards no, as long as there is nothing explicit that causes me to sin while reading it (like sexual content).

⯁ For Further Reflection

I’d love to know your thoughts about how important an author’s goodness is when imparting morals through fiction. I’m kind of undecided about this and welcome other perspectives!

For your journal: Am I careful about the influences I allow into my life through fiction? Have I learned something from reading fiction with a critical mind?

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