Which fictional world would be the most fun to vacation in?
In the piece we shall be discussing about the fictional world and their relevance. Humans have a tendency to wish a perfect and flawless society, free from crime and lawlessness. A society where everyone should get their due without fuss. It is, nevertheless, is impractical and utopian because no two individuals are same. The crime and ill doing is intrinsic. Positive and negative forces nullify each other. The human longing for an ideal society comes forward in the work of fiction, which is seen widely in the story of Phantom, Narnia, Alice in Wonderland and the like. Panchtantra tell stories about how to live properly. Let us see it in a bit detail.
Table of contents
Key Takeaways
- The article discusses the longing for a perfect society and explores fictional worlds that reflect this desire.
- It tells the story of a sailor who becomes the first ‘Phantom’ after being rescued by kind pygmies on a deserted island.
- The author references various works of fiction like ‘Narnia’, ‘Alice in Wonderland’, and comic characters embodying themes of good vs. evil.
- Fables like ‘Panchtantra’ also emphasize valuable life lessons through storytelling.
- Overall, fiction serves as an escape and a means to convey messages about harmony and idealism.
The carrack: in an imaginary story
It is a work of fiction in story form. Years ago, a man sailing on a commercial vessel was going places for commerce. On a similar voyage, pirates invaded the Carrack, looted it, and harmed it. The ship sank, but as luck would have it, a large plank of the ship’s wreckage came floating near the young man, and he caught hold of it. The unconscious sailor kept floating; the waves took him wherever they wanted. After some time, a strong wave brought him to the shore.
The island
It was a small island with soft sand and full of verdure. The sea was washing its shore, and pushing his plank towards the sand bit by bit. The ambience was quiet. The sun, which shone high in the middle of the sky, was gradually moving down the horizon.
The pygmies
The sailor slowly regained his consciousness and heard a collective yelling and drum beating. Slowly, he opened his eyes and, lifting his chin, looked around. No one was around. A collective human sound, probably produced by an unfamiliar group, was approaching. A little later, he could see a few black spots crawling out of the jungle, who came near and encircled him, yelling in an alien language as if raising slogans. They were short stature stout pygmies with spears in their hands. The frightened sailor became semiconscious because of fatigue and horror.
Regaining consciousness
He slowly regained consciousness and opened his eyes. The eyelids appeared heavy, and his body was stiff. Slowly moving his frozen and jammed body, he eased himself. Seeing him conscious, pygmies came close to him and, gesturing positively, offered him something to drink. Hesitantly, he took the pot made up of the hard shell of a local fruit, and he drank. The liquid had a mix of sweet and sour taste which did wonders. Soon his pain went away, and he felt much better. The friendly pygmies took him into the deep jungle and arranged comforts for him.
Kindness
Soon it became dark. The darkness appeared deeper in the woods. The pygmies lit a bonfire, which made him warm and helped a great deal in regaining his strength. The pygmies tried to converse, but of no use. He could not understand even a word. Their words appeared like a rattling sound to him. He tried to communicate by making gestures and prestidigitation. It worked, and the pygmies responded positively. They offered him sweet, juicy fruits, berries, shoots, and seeds to eat and a pot full of white coloured liquid. He ate heartily and, bowing before them, tried to thank them.
Respected by the pygmies
The food and drink energised him. Looking at the friendly dwarfs, he smiled. The pygmies, showing a sign of deep respect, bowed as they would before their deities. He expressed his gratitude towards them for their kindness and respect. The pygmies were keeping a respectful distance. Groping in his trouser pockets and jacket, he found that his belongings were intact.
The oath
He began enquiringly watching around; without leaving his place, looked around. It was a dense forest with varied trees, boulders, hillocks and freshwater falls. While silently scanning the area, he saw many strange things, normal to the topography and jungle of that place. Taking a skull in his hand, he raised it high in the air and, facing the bonfire, vowed to eradicate sea pirates. “I vow to eradicate injustice, oppression, atrocity and help human beings in duress,” he declared. Continuing further, he said, “My coming generations would follow me”.
First imaginary “Phantom”:
The fictional man of the story told above was the first “Phantom”: a ghost who walks, or Mr Walker. The fiction gives space and allows to fight for an ideal society. The character, created by Lee Falk and Sy Barry, became a beacon of courage, perseverance and grit, and was a craze among children of the time. He lived in a cave, situated in the deep forest with pygmies amid whispering trees and wild animals.
Syndicated fiction
The ghost who walks did much good to the jungle and its inhabitants. Respected by them, he endeavours to be true to their expectations. The syndicated story was a regular feature that appeared as a comic strip in news papers was very popular, especially among children and teens. The eradication of evil is a long and time-consuming process; hence, the man who was Mr Walker should also be eternal. To keep the continuity, he masked himself from head to toe. In the event of death, pygmies would bury him in the cave, and his descendant would come out in his father’s robe.
Fiction: ideal society
As civilisation dawned, human beings longed to have a harmonious society, free from crime, where each one gets their due and lives happily. It is an utopiean thought. In practice, nonetheless, it is not possible because no two individuals are same. Positive and negative thoughts and action exist at the same time. Thus, fiction comes in picture and imaginary character appear in their stories who fights evil forces and uphold the rule of law. The epic Ram Rajya is an apt example. The plot of fiction follows the same sentiment. (Spiritual Meanings Guide)
Imaginary Comic stories
The different comic stories with different protagonists convey a common message of harmony and amicability. Mandrake and Lothar, Astrix and Obelix, Popeye, Garth, and, of course, Tom and Jerry.
Fiction of Narnia and Alice in Wonderland
British author C.S. Lewis created a fictional world where animals can talk, and mythical animals roam. The seven-volume series “The Chronicles of Narnia” takes the reader into an altogether different realm where children from the real world are invited to fight against evil along with Aslan, the lion king.
Similarly, “Alice in Wonderland” by Lewis Carroll meticulously takes in the deep and amazing world of fantasy, where many unusual things happen, including the frequent order, “Off with their heads”, by the Queen of Hearts.
Micky Mouse
On the same lines, Walt Disney created his famous character Micky Mouse. The iconic Micky does cute, funny acts and entertains its audience. Animated films gave life to these characters. It is amazing to see Tom and Jerry playfully chasing, teasing, and even protecting each other. It gives a positive signal to humans that, in the end, we are on the same page despite being widely different.
The recent work of fiction, Harry Potter, proved to be a blockbuster which gained popularity among teens and youths.
Astrix and Obelix
Gaul Astrix and Obelix are the creation of Goscinny (René Goscinny) and Uderzo (Albert Uderzo). Astrix and Obelix intimidate Romans. They pose a challenge even to the monarch Julius Caesar and his garrison commander. Armed with inner strength obtained from the magic potion prepared by their able doctor, they are indomitable and easily defeat their enemies. In this course, they perform funny activities that not only amuse but also keep their readers/spectators glued. They tell stories about their freedom-loving, rustic nature, which even the mighty Roman couldn’t overpower.
“Panchtantra”
The fables of Panchtantra in India also convey positive messages to society. They teach life-lessons through their stories taking a reader in a distant world. There are numerous such creations of literature which provide good pedestal for a film plot. Though films made on Phantom was not a success, Narnia could present a good scenario.
Choosing one is difficult for a simple reason: every creation is good and appears second to none. It would be improper to place any one of them in second position because of the subjectivity of human nature.
More interesting reads:
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Kamal Kishore Srivastava
A retired government officer turned writer and photographer, Kamal Kishore Srivastava is a regular blogger and essayist who explores life’s deeper meanings through immersive reflections on nature, impermanence, and happiness. On his blog Nature’s Narrative, he blends philosophical storytelling with practical insights. Writing 1,200–1,500 words or more regularly, Kamal is committed to refining his craft, expanding his audience, and building a sustainable space where thought and feeling intersect.
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