The Narnian: The Life and Imagination of CS Lewis is a great 2006 book by Alan Jacobs that explains CS Lewis and his book series The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. The Narnian: The Life and Imagination of CS Lewis, because it is about a popular book series that will appeal to everyone. The characters in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe have a heavy biblical undertone, and this book by Jacobs explains that. Would you find The Narnian: The Life and Imagination of CS Lewis useful to you?
Summary of The Narnian: The Life and Imagination of CS Lewis
The Narnian: The Life and Imagination of CS Lewis is written chronologically. After its introductory section, the author starts with Lewis’s early childhood, detailing his bad experiences as a bookish young man in private school education in an atmosphere where such people were teased and bullied. Jacobs then discusses C.S. Lewis’ war experience, Lewis’ starving of the imagination during his atheistic years, his immense problems with his father, his resolute privacy about his unorthodox personal life, and his fame as a Christian apologist.
Jacobs comments as well on Lewis’ rapid decline in health, his friendships, his brother’s and father’s alcoholism, and the struggle over the death of his wife Joy, taking a little more than 300 pages to discuss the life and imagination of C.S. Lewis, accomplishing the difficult and worthwhile goal he set out to do with a clear mastery of the wide-ranging books of C.S. Lewis and many books written about him. Jacobs claims at the end of the introduction of The Narnian: The Life and Imagination of CS Lewis that he never plans on writing a word about C.S. Lewis again, which is funny.
Character List of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Aslan – The Lion and King
In the allegory of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Aslan represents Christ. Aslan’s death to save Edmund’s life and his subsequent resurrection are clear references to the life of Christ. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe makes some changes to the figure of Christ that makes Aslan more accessible to children, the intended audience for the book series, than the Christ they learn about in church. He is the good Narnian.
The Stone Table
The Stone Table refers to the stone tablets that Moses brought down from Mt. Sinai, according to the Bible. These tablets contain the Commandments, and they represent an older form of religion. In the days when the Ten Commandments were brought down from the mountain, infractions against God were punishable by death—retribution was swift, harsh, and irrevocable. When Aslan rises from the dead, the Stone Table is shattered, signifying the end of an older, crueler time and the advent of a newer, kinder era. Aslan has defeated death by rising from the dead, just like Jesus Christ.
The Sea
This one is underappreciated because there are only a few passing references to the sea in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, but they are significant because of the context. We only get a glimpse of the sea, and we learn that the emperor-Over-the-Sea, who is Aslan’s father, is God. The sea is the boundary between Narnia, the Earth, and heaven. Lewis reveals in later novels, such as Voyage of the Dawn Treader, that it is actually possible to physically sail across the sea to heaven. Moreover, the sea is also a boundary between Narnia and our world. In traditional imagery, the sea often represents death. So, there are three parallels Narnian here.
The White Witch
This one is pretty clear: She represents Satan, who is battling Jesus. She is the evil Narnian.
Peter Pevensie
Peter Pevensie, the eldest of the four siblings, is characterized by his bravery, leadership, and sense of responsibility. As the High King of Narnia, he embodies the qualities of a ruler, often making difficult decisions for the greater good. It is a good thing he becomes a ruler.
Susan Pevensie
Susan Pevensie, the second sibling, is portrayed as practical and nurturing, often serving as the voice of reason among her brothers and sister. Her character reflects the theme of skepticism versus faith, as she initially struggles to believe in the magical elements of Narnia. Susan’s development throughout the story highlights the balance between caution and bravery, ultimately embracing her role in the fight against evil.
Edmund Pevensie
Edmund Pevensie’s character arc appeals to many because it is about betrayal and redemption. At first, he is swayed by the White Witch’s promises of power and treats his siblings poorly. Edmund’s transformation from a self-serving boy to a loyal ally emphasizes the fantastic themes of forgiveness and the possibility of redemption.
Lucy Pevensie
Lucy Pevensie, the youngest sibling, is characterized by her innocence, curiosity, and unwavering faith in Aslan and the world of Narnia. It is important to note that her discovery of Narnia sets the adventure in motion. Lucy’s character embodies the theme of childlike wonder and the importance of believing in the extraordinary, serving as a catalyst for the events that unfold. Her blind love for Aslan recalls when Jesus said to let the children come to him.
Conclusion
The Narnian: The Life and Imagination of CS Lewis is a useful book because it interprets a popular set of books and movies. The Narnian: The Life and Imagination of CS Lewis will appeal to a large group of people because The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and the movies made about them are so popular. The meaning of the characters in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe clearly has significant biblical undertones.
