Piper at the Gates of Dawn

All of Ch. 7 is an epiphany, and for lack of a better term an intense, multi-level "ahh" moment. I had to read the chapter more than once to fully comprehend the intensity of the epiphany it represents. The first and most obvious of the epiphanies is Rat and Mole's discovery of Pan. This is the most literal event that could signify an epiphanic moment. Their realization of Divinity is the most obvious. Though I do not want to underplay the significance of this event, because it is extremely important I would like to discuss some of my other discoveries first.



One of these discoveries is that the structure of the chapter, meaning the way it begins and ends is a metaphorical parallel for the class for several reasons. The chapter begins and ends in darkness; the darkness of the night and the darkness of forgotten memories. As Elliot says, we end up in the same place that we began as did Rat and Mole. Also it is similar to the class because as many people have related we can forget the actual event that caused our changed emotions but we are changed none the less. The memory of the actual event is important but not necessary for the change in awareness, also it is indicative of how the more we know the more we don't know. I also like the image of the quarter of the sky that becomes darker than its surroundings right before the moon rises in that area. I think the image is simple and give the whole chapter a mood of hope as it does for Rat and Mole. It transforms their beloved river into a thing of beauty once again, instead of the unexpectedly terrifying world it was moments ago. The end of the chapter is similar in many respects, the loss of memory is working in a manner opposite that of its character. The fact that Rat and Mole lost the memory is a good thing, without this event the world would be a place of depressingly mundane lives. The function is reversed and the darkness hides what is terrifying to behold in the light. In this way the characters are able to begin in darkness and return to it at the end of the chapter but still have experienced an enlightening event.



The event with Pan is really quite incredible, because for me I picture him looking like the Pan's Labyrinth style god. This Pan is extremely creepy and dangerous looking and in my preference for darker themes I see the Pan of Wind in the Willows to be a creepy guy. In this way it seems more important that Rat and Mole forget their experience. I know much of the experience is tied with the music they see but I would like to explore that later. Right now, I would like to talk about how if the image of Pan would have been rendered under the image of a Disney character it would forever ruin the awe that seeing his divinity inspired. The sinister cast to his features would lend the event of rescuing the child a new light and a new way of interpreting the entire chapter. No god is always and completely benevolent, especially in the Greek culture from which Pan is derived. Therefore, the motives the speed Rat to the place of Pan are questioned though I am sure it is not supposed to be seen as nefarious.
The other aspect of the event that is extremely interesting is that they are lured there by music. I personally just wrote a little essay about what music means to me and how I identify with it. I will not relate those words because they are not on par with a blog. I hope I will be forgiven for low balling in a Music class. Any ol' ways, I know that music is continually affecting us. It is the source of many an "o" or full "ahh" moment. The interesting thing about this is that Rat is the first to hear the music. I think it is funny how much speculation has gone into why this happens. I think it is something simple; that Mole is an animal that dwells underground so its hearing is dulled, hence why Mole smells his home. Rat has better ears because he is a Rat not a mole. I think it is really that simple. I think hearing it first is irrelevant because eventually both hear it and are enrapture by the sound. They are rendered "possessed in all his senses by this new divine thing" it is how they both feel inevitably.