Christian Symbolism in the Chronicles of Narnia

[Behind the Veil]

[matdonna]

[Fea_Istra]

[nomad]

[Fea_Istra]

[nomad]

That's interesting, fae. I pretty much only write (fiction) when the conscious thoughts touch deep and I can't quite put them into "explanation" terms. It's like they require pictures/story/myth to find adequate expression.

[Puddleglee]

[Jill Pole]

[ArdenZ]

I may be somewhat of a heretic, but I, unlike most others, see Jadis as sin and mainly its consequences rather than Satan himself. Digory awakened her by ringing the bell and he unintentionally brings her to Narnia where she flees to the north for a season. Digory didn't awaken the devil, but he awaked sin. Also in LWW, Aslan kills her. In our world, the devil wasn't destroyed after Christ's death. The total eternal consequence of sin was. Satan will be banished for 1,000 years, and then sent to the lake of fire at the end of time. I thought for a while that Tash was the devil (which, in LB, it is most likely), but there is no eternal punishment on (him) at the end. Peter just commands that he leave. Hmm... maybe I'm looking too deeply into this.

[Pete]

Interesting ideas, Arden. As for Tash being punished - how do you know he doesn't get punished after the book ends? After all...there's a lot of things that take place in between these stories and before and after so...keep pondering. As for the White Witch being Sin rather than Satan, I think both readings have merrit...but I would advise - don't read too much into what these characters "represent", after all these books are not allegories. I think the key point to take from them is not so much whether they represent Satan or Sin or whatever...but that they are enemies of Aslan, and Aslan is victorious over them all.

[mpj334]

I've recently been inspired to re-read CoN. I used to read them every summer, but think now that I've developed part of my own theology (and critical reading skills) I should give it another shot. What's inspired me is seeking Shadowlands in my Comp II class.

When Lewis is describing the entrance into Narnia from LLW (and people are trying to analyze the purpose of the fur coats), I couldn't help but think, "That's baptism." His description of a suffocating, a scary thought of not knowing called to mind Richard Giles's view of Baptism as something that is scary, something from which one could die. Through this initiation the children are brought through the scary part into a brand new life.

Although Eustace's cleansing is certainly way closer as that it involves water, I think that I'm going to go back through and look for more stuff.

[matdonna]

I'm not sure about the wardrobe as a symbol for baptism, but you will remember that in The Magicians' Nephew there are pools of water in the Wood between the Worlds...there are also many, many water references in the Chronicles. As you mentioned, Eustace's transformation in DT stands out, but there is also a great deal about water in The Silver Chair. I have an article about it here if you are interested:

[CoinOperatedChristian]

The Wardrobe as font seems ever so clear to me. But then I hold a high view of Baptism, (In line with the historic Christian faith and practice, and less in line with the much later perspectives introduced during the Anabaptist movement) and so view the whole of our Christian identity through the miracle of water and the Word. It is so central to my experience that I often look for it and find the sacrament of baptism at the heart of all good stories. (My favorite is “Lilo and Stitch” where you will find it all over the place)
Just like in the ancient churches where the font was set into the entryway to remind the membership that it is through baptism that we enter into the fellowship of the communion of saints, so the wardrobe is the entry into Narnia. The fur coats they wear further cements this for me since it seems clear that their identitfy them with the Talking Animals.

[Stanley Anderson]

[rusmeister]

I don't think much of Baptism imagery if no real change in the person is affected. In VDT, the Lion presides and performs the 'Baptism' (priest), and Eustace the dragon is really and deeply changed. THAT is a symbol of Baptism. It is possible to read too much into books/film/etc. A person simply being splashed with water by a car and laughing would hardly be symbolic of Baptism.