Narnia: Symbolism

Let's get something clear from the get-go: NARNIA IS NOT AN ALLEGORY!

Allegories are stories that have a 1:1 correllation with whatever they are supposed to "stand-in" for. Pilgrim's Progress is an allegory, in which "Christian" (= every day Christian) meets characters who stand-in for various sins, etc. Animal Farm is an allegory in which the pigs = the party leaders, and there is one who is clearly Stalin, another Trostky, etc. The horse who is carted away, the dogs, the other farmers, etc, all have their corollaries in the early Soviet Union.

Narnia is not and was never meant to be an allegory for anything. If it were an allegory, Edmund would not be redeemed, he'd hang himself. And who the hell are the other three kids? And why is Peter knighted as the "wolf's bane?" Where does this figure into Biblical symbolism? (It doesn't, it's an Anglo-Saxon reference, actually). And who are the beavers? The centaurs? Mr Tumnus? Etc?

This is not to say that these similarities are coincidental; they are not. But because it is not an allegory, the lamp doesn't necessarily "symbolise" anything. It's a lamp, in a wood, in a land where animals talk and clean Greek mythology walks under the sun. It might have some other meanings to it as well, but it doesn't have to.

Narnia is a story that features a great deal of theology "smuggled" into the story, to use CSL's own words. Christianity is one of the hidden elements that gives Narnia its distinctive flavor, but it isn't a "Christian story" per se--it is a story written by a tremendous scholar and author who was also a Christian. But it is not some syrupy Christian story that only sells because it is next to the Left Behind series in the local Christian book store, or because it has a "good moral" even though the narrative, etc are crap.

In his forward Tolkien wrote that he detested allegory of all kinds. He repeatedly said that LOTR is not allegorical. In particular it is certainly not some great allegory of Christianity or Jesus.

In fact Tolkien was interested in constructing a truly English mythololgy since those that existed or were known at the time he wrote were borrowed or imposed, mostly by the French.

As for Lewis, I know that all the Bible worshipers are all excited about this because it their LOTR, just like they now have their own rock music, popular authors, and - in my town - dry cleaners and car washers.

I agree with Tolkien, though. If the bible is the revealed word of the one true God, then isn't the construction of some bizarre allegory which involves strange creatures and a variety of dare I say pagan creaturese sacrilegious? Doesn't the Bible speak to children as it is? Why do we need any kind of intercessor or filter?

Some of the other symbolism I thought existed was the gifts that came from Father Christmas were representative of the armour of God found in Ephesians. I thought the Turkish Delight that lured Edmund to the witch was symbolic of the lure and false promises that sin holds for us. However as Edmund found out when we succumb to sin we find ourselves prisoners and held captive with no way out. As well it is worth noting that Edmund could not free himself. Instead Aslan sent troops to rescue him. Aslan saved him not because of anything he had done to deserve rescuing and in spite of his betrayal. When Aslan told the others that they need not discuss the past with Edmund shows that when we repent Christ completely removes our sin and we are no longer bound by it.

I understand what each character in the book/movie symbolizes. But what is the place of Narnia symbolic of? If it is heaven, how can people go in and out? Also, why do they stumble into it rather than go there delibrately?

Kim wrote:

Does anyone know what the lamp post symbolized in the film?

thanks

A lamp post.

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

Narnia isn't necessarily symbolic of anything, and it certainly isn't symbolic of Heaven. There is death, suffering and sin in Narnia, and one hopes that these elements are NOT present in Paradise.

Narnia is a world Jack Lewis thought up, one in which he wished he could live, and it had certain elements that he, perhaps, would have wanted in his own paradise, like talking animals, clear natural order, and mythical beasts. But it doesn't stand in for anything, it doesn't have an inhabiting spirit like the planets in the Ransom Trilogy do. It's just another world, that is all.

Interesting how many threads are being deleted by the moderators, but this one isn't. Narnia and Bigfoot might not have much in common, but neither have much to do with running, and only Bigfoot is deleted. What's up with that?

Peter is the oldest of the children because he is the leader and like St. Peter, who was leader of the apostles.

Narnia was a "what if" scenario. Lewis was proposing a possible model for another world besides Earth, yet still created by God. Aslan is not a stand in for Christ, he literally is Christ (but not Jesus, because Jesus was a historically determined human), coming to save the people of that different world.

It's essentially the same thing that Lewis is playing with in his space trilogy in which each of the planets of our solar system goes through its own process of creation, each a little different.

Speaking of allegory, Tolkien did say that he detests it in every form, but that didn't stop him from writing an allegory himself, "Leaf by Niggle." I believe what he was actually saying is the same thing that most college English students should learn: one of the worst ways to read is by trying to impose an allegorical structure onto a work of literature in which there is a great deal of play in the symbolism.

Also, while Lewis had a bit of a theological agenda, Tolkien did not. His world is clearly a Christian and even Catholic one, but the question of his motivation is myriad and complex, spanning his entire life. Lewis, in contrast, decided to write, sat down, had a manuscript in a short period, and then moved on.

Okay, Aslan sacrificing himself too save others, then being resurrected and returning to lead his people. I think you can figure that symbolism out.

I just wrote a paper on this:

Since writers have been writing, many have been using their characters to represent abstract ideas and thoughts. George Orwell used animals to represent the Russian Revolution in his novel Animal Farm while Hawthorne used a red, piece of fabric to represent the sin of adultery in The Scarlet Letter. So is it possible that a lion and several small children can reflect many of key characters, stories, and morals of the Holy Bible? Of course, it is possible; moreover, much of C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia can be compared to many parts of the bible. The Chronicles of Narnia are divided up into seven, interrelated stories with the most popular being The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe story is load with numerous parallels to the Bible, particularly many of the gospels of Jesus Christ.

C.S. Lewis

Many people believe that The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is a Christian allegory; however, Lewis did not intend it to be one, but rather a supposal. But what is the difference between the two? The difference is that an allegory “the ideas and concepts are true, but the characters are make-believe. A supposal is using fictional characters that become real within the imaginary world and adapt to the make-believe world.” (Dummies.com) Lewis explains this in a letter that he wrote to a fifth-grade class:

I did not say to myself, ‘Let us represent Jesus as he really is in our world by a lion in Narnia.’ I said ‘Let us suppose that there was a land like Narnia and that the Son of God, as he became a man in our world, became a lion there, and then imagine what would happen.’ (Bell, 2005)

Although The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is not considered an allegory, we are still able to compare much of the story to the Gospels.

Edmund

In the The Lion, the Witch, and the Wadrobe, the protagonists are four brothers and sisters who have been sent away from London to live in the home of an old professor during the Blitzkrieg of World War II. When the siblings enter into the world of Narnia, many of the inhabitants refer to the girls, Lucy and Susan, as “daughters of Eve”, while the brothers, Peter and Edmund, are referred to as “sons of Adam.” While this alone might not be critical in comparing The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe to the Bible, it becomes more important when comparing the story of Adam and Eve to Edmund.

In Genesis, Adam and Eve are tempted by the serpent to eat the fruit from the forbidden tree in the garden. In The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Edmund slips into Narnia and meets the White Witch where she offers one of the ‘sons of Adam’ some Turkish delights which he immediately consumes. This scene portrays the image of “Eve succumbing to the temptation of eating the fruit of knowledge” (Brennan).

The witch takes Edmund and shows him ‘her’ kingdom and says that it could be his, as a prince, if he only brings his siblings to meet her. This echoes a story of Jesus when “the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world. ‘All this I will give you if you bow down and worship me’ (Mathew 4:8-9)” (Brennan).

In the Bible, Judas betrays Jesus and in essence, condemns him to death all for the price of some silver. In The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Edmund’s actions mirror those of Judas. After returning to Narnia, Edmund reveals the location of his siblings to the White Witch all the while expecting a room filled with Turkish delights. The witch sends out her soldiers to capture and execute Susan, Lucy, and Peter, as well as the beavers who are helping the humans.

Aslan

Aslan the Lion is the character that is most representative of Jesus Christ in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. It is important to remember that Lewis did not intend for Aslan to be identical to Jesus but he did anticipate that many of Aslan’s characteristics would mirror those of Jesus. First, in the bible Jesus right hand disciple was Simon-who Jesus called Peter. In The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Aslan’s right hand man becomes one of the children whose name is also Peter. While the use of the name Peter might be a coincident, many of Aslan’s actions are nearly the same.

When Edmund returns to his siblings, Aslan sits down with Edmund and has a talk with him. Like Jesus, Aslan forgives Edmund of his sins. However, the White Witch enters the camp where Aslan and his followers are staying. She demands that Edmund return to her or that there be some sort of sacrifice. In a closed meeting, Aslan offers to sacrifice himself so that the sins of Edmund are forgiven by all. In the middle of the night, Aslan leaves to go to his execution with Lucy and Susan following him. This nearly identical to the women who follow Jesus: “A large number of people followed him including women who mourned and wailed for him” (Luke 23:27).

Prior to his execution, the White Witch’s soldiers mock Aslan. They shave his mane and place a muzzle on him. In addition, they surround him “kicking him, hitting him, spitting on him, jeering him on” (Lewis 181). This echoes when Jesus is mocked by the Roman soldiers: “Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, ‘Prophesy!’ And the guards took him and beat him” (Mark 14:65).

Finally, one of the most critical elements that link the The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe to the Bible is the resurrection. In the Bible, “the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus” (Luke 24:1-3). In The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Lucy and Susan fell asleep at the table where their slain lord rests but not before removing Aslan’s muzzle. When they woke up, they began to walk back to camp to tell everybody what had happened to Aslan but are stopped when they hear a loud cracking noise. They ran to the table which “was broken two pieces by a great crack that ran down it from end to end; and there was no Aslan” (Lewis 184). In both stories, Jesus and Aslan are resurrected from death through the power of God or “deep magic.” They are able to once again speak to their followers.

Summary

Many components of C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe are analogous to the stories of the Bible. One of the “sons of Adam,” Edmund, is tempted by the White Witch just as Adam and Eve were tempted by the serpent. Edmund can also be compared to Judas the Betrayer in the sense that he hands reveals the location of his brothers to the witch in order to receive a room full of sweets and for the chance to become a prince. However, the greatest parallel between the Bible and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is between Aslan the Lion and Jesus Christ. Just as Jesus preached forgiveness, Aslan is able to forgive Edmund of his betrayal. Furthermore, Aslan dies for the sins of Edmund which is similar to Jesus dying on the cross for mankind. Both Jesus and Aslan were mocked by their executioners prior to their death. Most importantly, Aslan is resurrected from death through the power of deep magic just as Jesus Christ was born again through the Holy Spirit. Lewis uses the characters in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe to represent key elements of the bible and to “establish a connection for young readers” (Brennan).

Ethan Farrell - F. poorly organized, too many grammar mistakes, and uninformative.

Yeah interesting why Bigfoot is deleted and not this. But im not complaining.

Otheres have said Edmund = Judas. Yet Edmund doesn't hang himself. Perhaps Edmund = Everyone. In a way we have all turned away from Christ. Christ still died for us and Edmund returned to Aslan and Aslan still loved him as his own. Christ died so we could all leave the evil(the witch) and return to him. Theres a bunch of other stuff too. It was good that someone got that the first two people to see Aslan resurected were the two women.

Somone brought up Mere Christianity. I am actually reading that right now. I have four books that I have to read for the Facing Your Future program at Calvin Theological Seminary. So far it is a very interesting read. Not written like Narnia at all. Mere Christianity is "written" in a very "smart" style. I say this because it actually wasn't written to begin with. Lewis had a series of broadcasts over the radio durning the war to encourage people, and Mere Christianity is what came out of it. Just reading it, it is hard to believe that he could organize his thoughts on "mere" Christianity so well, and he could make such an airtight case. Just read it and youll see what I mean, he covers himself very well and makes sure you can't poke holes in what he is saying.

The rigorous rehtorical training that he went through in his youth is definately evident in his theological works, but I disagree that his case is airtight. For thousands of years, geniuses have been pondering the question of whether or not God's presence can be proven. Lewis didn't settle the question in a couple of radio broadcasts. I actually think that Mere Christianity is grossly oversimplified but furthermore, that it is a misguided enterprise--who ever said that Christianity needs to be proven? Not any Christian that I've ever known?

That said, it is still a valuable work if only because it presents a very different way of mentally approaching what is essentially the same orthodoxy. I personally prefer Tolkien's views since he leaves room for mystery and for the heart, not just for the mind.

First of all Peter is believed to represent the Apostle Peter because of his strong leadership. Susan is representing a Christian who has a strong faith earlier on in their life, but soon grows out of it. Edmund is representing not only Judas when he betrayed Jesus, but Adam and all sinful people. Lucy is believed to represent the child-like faith we should have. The Witch represents evil and Satan and the winter is the sin all man have. Once Aslan comes back and is sacrificed on the stone table, all man's sins are forgiven. Hope this helps. There is a lot more symbolism if you read the other six books and even in this one as well. I love these books. C.S. Lewis is a great author.

6packjack wrote:

I am re-reading "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" by CS Lewis before the movie comes out and wanted to know if anyone had any quick insights into the symbolism of the book that I should be looking out for as I read it.

I do realize the lion represents Christ, but what about each of the kids, the winter and the witch?

CS Lewis a great philospher? You must be kidding. He isn't even a good apologist. Lord, Lunatic or Liar? (You missed an "L" How about Legend?) Have you ever read any critical theology or any real critiques of the argument from design? God, CS Lewis is really, really bad. I would love to have been able to watch a Dawkins or Hitchens blow him away in a debate. Better yet a critical religious scholar like Bart Ehrman, Bruce Metzger, Burton mack, or Robert Price, who all undoubtedly know the Bible much better than he did.

I can really only believe you have never seriously grappled with any counter-arguments to Lewis.

I can't believe the utter biblical ignorance displayed by apolgists about the Bible. Doesn't it bother you that smarmy atheists like me actually know the Bible better than you.

Which Gospel are you reading where Peter displays strong leadership? In Mark, the disciples are depicted as idiots who can't comprehend the simplest things (which really aren't so simple unless you are already "in" on later christology). It is only in John (which I think must be the only Gospel most folks read apart from Christmas-time) are the disciples presented in a positive light. Have you even read Paul's letters? He doesn't think much of these disciples (and doesn't seem to have any repect, or possibly any knowledge, that they were disciples of an earthly Jesus, but simply an "apostle" like himself, as he ranks his "spiritual" resurrection appearance with theirs. Did Paul know something we don't know? Paul also disputes in Galatians any authority of the Jerusalem apostles, as he calls them.

I honestly don't think you folks have read the Bible if you haven't noticed that the Gospels tell much different stories. Matthew and Luke rewrote Mark for a reason - they didn't like the theological implications and weren't happy with the shitty ending (no resurrection! - last 16 verses of Mark are a later scribal addition).

Instead of wasting yout time in "bible study" classes at church, why not do some real Bible study, throw out the CS Lewis, and learn what scholars have known since the Enlightenment. You might start by just carefully reading the Bible you have instead of assuming you know what is in it because a cherry-picking preacher takes a verse here and htere and strings them together as if they form a coherent whole.

He's not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy.

Here is what I found in the internet, it might help.

• Aslan (which means lion in Turkish) is the creator of Narnia. He symbolizes Jesus Christ and the power of good.

• Queen Jadis, the White Witch who has ruled Narnia for 100 years, represents the power of Satan or evil in the world.

• Peter, the eldest Pevensie, is a strong leader who becomes the High King of Narnia. He has been compared to the Apostle Peter.

• Susan becomes a courageous queen in Narnia, but later dismisses their adventures as childhood stories. She represents someone who was religious early in life but abandoned her faith as she grew older.

• Edmund is tempted away from his family by the White Witch, her Turkish Delights and the promise of power. Because of his betrayal, he has been compared to Judas of the New Testament and Adam in the Garden of Eden. He also is the symbol of “everyman” that Jesus died for on the cross.

• Lucy, the faithful youngest child, is the strongest believer in Aslan. She symbolizes the simple faith all Christians are asked to have in God.

• The Stone Table is the Narnian equivalent to the cross Jesus was crucified on.