Last night, I watched the old animated film The Last Unicorn with my family and was once again touched by this masterpiece of philosophical fantasy. The book and film were both written by Peter S. Beagle, a man who still seems intimidated by the success of the book, heralded as one of the best fantasies ever written.
The story is about a unicorn who lives in a lilac forest where, thanks to her presence, the leaves and snow never falls. Just like the immortal being who dwells there, the forest never changes with the seasons and never dies. The animals, too, that live within, though not immortal, are more wily than your average animal.
One day, she overhears two hunters discussing the forest and claiming that she’s the last unicorn, all the others having vanished. Naturally, this puzzles the unicorn, for while unicorns can be killed, they don’t die of natural causes or simply vanish.
She asks a butterfly passing through if he’s ever seen another of her kind, but since butterflies are flighty insects, all they do is repeat what they hear. The butterfly starts reciting random bits of poetry and songs, but he eventually gets around to things he’s heard of the unicorns.
According to him, or at least the tales he’s picked up, the unicorns were fleeing from a creature called the Red Bull (this was before the energy drink), who chased them to the ends of the earth. Deciding to leave her beloved lilac forest, at least temporarily, she embarks on a quest to find the others.
This book is ripe with symbolism, its themes largely taking front and center stage. This is a story about death, humanity, identity, and truth.
Unicorns and other magical creatures can only be seen by other magical creatures, magicians, and people who truly believe in them. Otherwise, such creatures are unicorns are merely seen as horses by average, disinterested folk.
This is also a story about maturity and the role that experiences play in shaping ourselves. The unicorn is innocent and pure, as unicorns typically are throughout European mythology. The lilac forest is a sanctuary that has sheltered her for eons, and she’s a member of a species that seems to have stunted emotional development in general.
“I can never regret,” the unicorn tells a character named Schmendrick. “I can feel sorrow, but it’s not the same thing.”
Unicorns don’t experience the deep, complex emotions of a human. While not outright stated, it seems that she also doesn’t feel guilt or shame. They live in their own world, vainly recognizing themselves as the most magnificent of all creatures.
The human characters struggle with mortality and coming to grips with death. To even be able to place a significant enough impression upon an immortal being that she remembers you for eternity seems to be immortality enough for some.
Going into the other themes would be impossible without spoilers, and I intend to keep this brief review spoiler-free. Perhaps I’ll do another awash with all the little details and twists and turns, but not this one.
Why? Because you need to read it for yourself! At least see the film adaptation.
I have read this book (not seen the film though), and it's a masterpiece with all its layers of meaning.