"Whereness" in George MacDonald's Lilith
George MacDonald's, Lilith is a great piece of fantasy literature, and after reading the book, it is easy to see how MacDonald inspired Tolkien and especially Lewis. Toward the beginning of the book there is a great exchange between the Raven and the protagonist. The Raven who is also a man (the Man) leads the protagonist into another world. They pass through a mirror in the attic garret of an large, old house out into "the open heath" (in classic MacDonald style). The protagonist then asks: "Oblige me by telling me where I am." And the response of the raven: "That is impossible. You know nothing about whereness. The only way to come to know where you are is to begin to make yourself at home." (George MacDonald, Lilith . Merchant Books, 1895. Reprint 2009. Page 12.) Nothing about whereness...a striking comment and a challenge to learn about home.