The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe

Whenever someone mentions Narnia, I get a warm feeling and can't help but smile. I think a lot of other people feel this way. The world C.S. Lewis created is not just a place in a book; it is a world so many feel a real connection to. I thought it would be very fitting to use the story that started it all as my final blog book. I know many of you know this story, but I hope you'll enjoy once again stepping through the wardrobe into a world of talking animals, dwarves, fauns, witches, and the noble lion Aslan.

     A Brief Synopsis

One summer, four children named Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy were sent to live with an old Professor in the country, for it was too dangerous for them to stray in the cities. The Professor's house was enormous, and one day while exploring Lucy discovered a wardrobe. She stepped inside and found hersel

f in a wintery wood, standing at the base of a lamp post. After meeting a faun named Mr. Tumnus and having tea with him, Lucy discovers that the faun, under orders from the White Witch, was ordered to turn any human he found over to her. Seeing that Lucy is sweet and innocent, he agrees to help her get home.

When she returns, none of her siblings believe what she has gone through. Later, Edmund steps in the wardrobe and meets the White Witch. The Witch charms and coerces Edmund into bringing his siblings to meet her. A few weeks later, all the children find themselves in Narnia, the name of the wintery country, and set out to see Mr. Tumnus only to discover that he has been arrested by the Witch for helping Lucy. Mr. Beaver, a friend of Tumnus, takes them to his home and tells them of Aslan, the king of all who has returned to Narnia and is their only hope of

rescuing Mr. Tumnus and defeating the White Witch. During this time Edmund, angry with his family, sneaks out and betrays them to the Witch. It is now a race to see who will make it to Aslan first: the children or the Witch.

Aslan is like nothing the children have ever seen. He is a great lion, kind and good, but fierce and powerful as well. Edmund is rescued from the clutches of the Witch, but at a terrible cost. Aslan, telling no one, has agreed to be killed in Edmund's place. The girls follow him at night and see the terrible deed. The Witch, believing her problems to be solved, sets out to destroy Peter's army and reclaim her kingdom. What she does not know is that deep magic runs through the Stone Table on which she killed Aslan, magic that when an innocent soul is killed for the sake of another, death itself will begin to turn backwards. The Witch was quite surprised to see the great lion bounding over the battlefield. She was even more surprised to be killed at his hand.

The four children, accompanied by Aslan, made their way to Cair Paravel, the true castle of Narnia, to be crowned kings and queens of that blessed country. They would rule there for many years, creating a Golden Age in Narnia. As they grew, they became known as Peter the Magnificent, Susan the Gentle, Edmund the Just, and Lucy the Valiant. They had completely forgotten their previous life in England until one day, while hunting the famed white stag, they came across the lamp post. Pushing through the trees, they begin to feel not branches, but coats, and all of a sudden they tumble out of the wardrobe, children once again.

     My Thoughts

This story is so magical. I just adore it. And the messages in this tale are stronger than any of the other books I've written about. The horror of Edmund's betrayal, the impact of Aslan's sacrifice, and the amazing triumph of good over evil is simply awe-inspiring. There is so much one can learn about life in these pages.

I love Edmund. Yes, he is horrible and mean in the beginning of the book, but the transformation he goes th

rough is so real, so relatable, that you can't help but respect him. He is just so human; he is scornful, tempted, regretful, and redeemed. The forgiveness shown to him by Aslan and his family is touching and beautiful. It's worth reading the whole book just for this story arc.

C.S. Lewis effectively created a world that you can completely immerse yourself in. The description was so unique (and not over-done) that Narnia felt like a place unlike any other. I can think of nowhere else I'd rather live.

This book is incredible. It is not only an exciting, magical adventure, but a powerful, redemptive story. This is by far my favourite book series, and this book isn't even my favourite in the series! Lewis created so much more than a story; he created a world of wonder and imagination, a place where good always triumphs, but people aren't always perfect. I don't think I can recommend this book more highly. It is near-perfection.