By Joel Mitchell
Though the seven books of The Chronicles of Narnia are written as fairytales for children, they follows C. S. Lewis’s philosophy that, “A children’s story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story in the slightest,” and “No book is really worth reading at the age of ten which is not equally – and often far more – worth reading at the age of fifty and beyond.” While I have not yet reached the “fifty and beyond” category, I enjoy these books a little more each time I read them (and I have read them every two or three years since I was in first grade).
The Chronicles of Narnia tell the tale of a magical world of talking animals in which British children have a variety of adventures (defeating a witch, winning the throne for the rightful king, rescuing a lost prince, etc.). Though children from our world are the main characters, the true hero of the series is Aslan, The Great Lion and Son of the Emperor-Over-the-Sea. Aslan is clearly a Christ character, intended by Lewis to be “a supposition” of what it would look like for the Son of God to appear in a different world. Lewis recognized that “The value of myth is that it takes all the things you know and restores to them the rich significance which has been hidden by the veil of familiarity.” Each book, besides being a fun fantasy story, explores a different aspect of Aslan’s character.
- In The Lion the Witch an the Wardrobe he is the Redeemer
- In Prince Caspian he is the One who sends help
- In The Voyage of the ‘Dawn Treader’ he is the Guide and Renewer.
- In The Silver Chair he is the One who guides with his Words.
- In The Horse and His Boy he is the One in sovereign control of events.
- In The Magician’s Nephew he is the Creator.
- In The Last Battle he is the One who ushers his children into paradise.
…and so much more. These books have grown with me through increased understanding in a way described by Aslan in Prince Caspian:
“ASLAN,” SAID LUCY “YOU’RE BIGGER.”
“THAT IS BECAUSE YOU ARE OLDER, LITTLE ONE,” ANSWERED HE.
“NOT BECAUSE YOU ARE?”
“I AM NOT. BUT EVERY YEAR YOU GROW, YOU WILL FIND ME BIGGER.”
The only book in the series about which I have some reservations is The Last Battle. It contains breathtaking descriptions of paradise but also emphasizes some confused pluralistic ideas that depart from biblical orthodoxy. It is still worth reading, but those who take seriously Jesus’ claims to be the only way to heaven (e.g. John 3:16-18) should approached it with discernment.
The order in which I have listed the books above is C. S. Lewis’s original publication order, and I personally think they are far better when read in that sequence rather than the “chronological” order currently used by publishers. If nothing else, Lewis clearly intended The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe to be the readers’ first impression of Aslan. And I will leave you with part of Aslan’s beautiful introduction from that book. Come meet Aslan:
“…ASLAN IS A LION–THE LION, THE GREAT LION.”
“OOH!” SAID SUSAN, “I’D THOUGHT HE WAS A MAN. IS HE–QUITE SAFE? I SHALL FEEL RATHER NERVOUS ABOUT MEETING A LION.”
“THAT YOU WILL, DEARIE, AND NO MISTAKE,” SAID MRS. BEAVER, “IF THERE’S ANYONE WHO CAN APPEAR BEFORE ASLAN WITHOUT THEIR KNEES KNOCKING, THEY’RE EITHER BRAVER THAN MOST OR ELSE JUST SILLY.”
“THEN HE ISN’T SAFE?” SAID LUCY.
“SAFE?” SAID MR. BEAVER. “DON’T YOU HEAR WHAT MRS. BEAVER TELLS YOU? WHO SAID ANYTHING ABOUT SAFE? ‘COURSE HE ISN’T SAFE. BUT HE’S GOOD. HE’S THE KING I TELL YOU.”
“I’M LONGING TO SEE HIM,” SAID PETER, “EVEN IF I DO FEEL FRIGHTENED WHEN IT COMES TO THE POINT.”
