Book Response #4: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is an excellent example of a book with a religious message that's been hidden (not-so-subtly) in a story that would otherwise not be religious at all.  I think it's cool that a lot of fiction with fantastic elements in it resonate as religious for me.  Lord of the Rings can do so, Harry Potter can do so, Eragon can do so--it really just depends on your perspective.  I think it's because a lot of fantasy deals with the idea of the supreme being: there is always someone who is all-knowing or all-powerful that is there to protect, and there is also always the all-evil who is there to threaten the balance of nature.  It's stories like these about the forces of good and evil that allow for easy religious connections.

For The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, I've found that much of the metaphors and messages arise from Christian beliefs about Christ and the Resurrection.  The book deals with many themes that have to do with bravery and goodness, but one particularly important one has to do with faith.  The children must have faith and valor and courage to save Narnia and the people there. In a way, they are acting as the catalysts for the act of the atonement where Christ suffered for the sins of all mankind, and Aslan then fills the role of Christ as he is sacrificed and the resurrected to rise again and end the battle with the evil Witch.

But the religious message is so apparent and obvious, that I feel the need to discuss something else.  As Tom talks about in his religion and media lecture in 102, he outlines the two styles that can be attributed to different types of religious media.  The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe almost fulfills the abundant style, as its religious representations are seemingly directly stated.  Yet, it still remains familiar, because the religious terms are translated ever so slightly.  There is one particular quote that I find very beautiful and oddly comforting that I think is noteworthy:

"And now a very curious thing happened. None of the children knew who Aslan was any more than you do; but the moment the Beaver had spoken [his name] everyone felt quite different.... At the name of Aslan each one of the children felt something jump in its inside. Edmund felt a sensation of mysterious horror. Peter felt suddenly brave and adventurous. Susan felt as if some delicious smell or some delightful strain of music had just floated by her. And Lucy got the feeling you have when you wake up in the morning and realize that it is the beginning of the holidays or the beginning of summer."

This excerpt is important to me for a couple reasons.  It shows the difference between those who are weighed down with guilt and fear Christ.  Edmund is an individual who has committed wrongdoings in his life and because of that, he fears God.  This is a very subtle way to not only teach religious messages to children but to also teach morality.  The other reason I like it so much is because Lewis puts religious impressions and feelings into such beautiful familiar language.  Instead of talking about having a burning in your chest or the sound of the still small voice (phrases we are familiar with when talking about religion), he relates the joy and beauty of Christ's presence to something like a good smell or a good progression of notes.  

It's really important, I think, to find religious confirmation in the mundane and the everyday.  Sure, church is awesome and general conference is uplifting, but aren't we encouraged to constantly have the Holy Spirit with us?  The Chronicles of Narnia is just one example of a book series that deals with religious content without becoming didactic or hyper-religious.  It puts familiar, comfortable, and accessible words and sentiments to religious concepts that we can relate to.  Perhaps this is the case with all spiritual or religious media and literature, but the way Lewis handles it is full of awe and grace and poetry.  It's beautiful to read and I feel is important to give to children.

It's also nice because the child reading the book can identify with the children protagonists in the book.  They can read and understand their own role in the plan of salvation.  They rely on and need Aslan, or Christ, to get through to the end, but they are also their own saviors.  They must make the decisions and fight their own battles, with a brave lion by their side when they need the help.  Christ is there to make up the difference in strength and valor, but the children need to have the faith that he will be there to help them and that he will be their arms.