Welcome to the month of June! To kick off the summer season, we’ll be focusing on all things high fantasy. Old and new, adapted or not, we’re chatting about the massive resurgence in love for the genre, with tons of high fantasy works being published monthly. To begin this month’s podcast with a classic, this week we’re revisiting the 2005 adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ beloved installment in his Chronicles of Narnia series, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.
Note
The following is an editorialized transcript of our weekly literary podcast. If you would like to listen to the podcast, click the play button above orlisten on your favorite platform with the links below.
What Is The Story of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe?
We begin in the midst of the London Blitz during World War II when the Pevensie children – Peter, Susan, Edmund, and young Lucy – are evacuated from the city to the countryside for their safety. They are sent to live with the eccentric Professor Kirke, whose connection to the magical world of Narnia will slowly be revealed. The children, portrayed as classic sibling archetypes, struggle to entertain themselves in the old professor’s house until Lucy stumbles through an enchanted wardrobe into the snow-laden land of Narnia.
In Narnia, we encounter the first of many talking mythical creatures – the faun Mr. Tumnus, charmingly played by a young James McAvoy. He explains to Lucy that Narnia is ruled by the cruel White Witch, who has cast a spell of endless winter, denying the inhabitants their cherished Christmas celebrations. This deprivation of an iconic childhood joy sets an ominous, oppressive tone demonstrating the Witch’s villainy. Mr. Tumnus alludes to an ancient prophecy that human sons of Adam and daughters of Eve will one day defeat the Witch with the help of Aslan, the great lion and rightful king.
When Edmund follows Lucy into Narnia, we witness the first glimpses of his jealousy and selfishness as the younger brother is easily seduced by the Witch’s Turkish Delight and empty promises of power. Tilda Swinton is mesmerizing as the seductive yet menacing White Witch, luring Edmund into betraying his siblings. This sows the first seeds of division within the family that must be overcome.
As the other Pevensie children finally experience Narnia for themselves, meeting delightful comic relief characters like the Beavers, we see their contrasting reactions. Lucy maintains her childlike innocence and willingness to believe, while Susan voices stubborn skepticism despite the magical evidence around them. Peter however begins exhibiting flashes of the brave leader he is destined to become in fulfilling the prophecy.
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Underlying Themes
The Christian allegories and symbolism that C.S. Lewis wove into his novels become increasingly apparent. We learn Aslan is a Messianic figure, able to wield powerful ancient magic, whose eventual sacrificial offering to protect the Pevensies echoes the biblical stories. Meanwhile, the Witch represents the temptations of evil, power, and a denial of virtuous living that the children must reject to truly embrace their heroic roles.
Edmund’s self-serving betrayal creates an emotional core conflict, as the family fractures with his departure to the Witch’s camp. We see the hurt and disappointment in the eyes of the girls, while Peter grapples with both protecting his siblings and recovering the lost brother who has succumbed to darker desires. The White Witch’s deceptive dark magic presents a looming threat against which Aslan and his forces of good must muster in an epic supernatural battle of redemption.
Narnia unlocks the children’s imaginations and belief in the unprecedented. We experience their sense of wonderment, fear, and adventure through this discovery of an entirely new existence beyond that of ordinary British children. The frozen tundra dreamscape coupled with Narnia’s medievalesque talking animals, dwarves, centaurs, and minotaur warriors taps into humanity’s collective mythological unconscious.
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The Film’s Climactic Third Act
Ultimately, the Pevensie children embrace courage, faith, love, and sacrifice to fulfill the prophecy, defeat the White Witch, and restore not just Narnia but their own family’s unity and solidarity. The eternal winter is lifted, representing the triumph of hope, renewal, and the Christmas spirit over dark oppressive forces. Through captivating heroic fantasy, we experience timeless themes of good versus evil, growing up, and forming one’s morality. The Cross-cultural Christian symbolism may be divisive, but it enhances the universal appeal of this beloved classic tale.
After Edmund’s betrayal, the White Witch turns Mr. Tumnus to stone, one of many victims she has petrified for defying her reign. The Pevensies and Beavers must flee their hideaway when the Witch’s wolf forces attack. We ponder why certain animals ally with Aslan versus the Witch, questioning if all will be accepted back when Narnia is restored.
On the journey, Father Christmas emerges, a sign the Witch’s spell is weakening. He gifts the children symbolic tools – Lucy’s healing cordial, Susan’s horn to summon aid, and Peter’s sword and shield. Finally reaching Aslan’s camp, the lion agrees to negotiate with the Witch over Edmund’s treachery, bound by an ancient law granting her traitors.
In a heart-wrenching scene, Aslan accepts death by the Witch’s hand to spare Edmund, a poignant Christian allegory of sacrificial atonement. The grieving sisters witness his brutal killing, an intense depiction of a children’s film. However, Aslan is resurrected, having reversed the Deep Magic with his willing death.
Emboldened, he leads a rousing resurrection of Narnian creatures turned to stone by the Witch. In the climactic battle, Peter leads the charge, and Lucy uses her cordial to revive the wounded. Aslan slays the Witch, her evil forces vanquished. The Pevensies, now mature kings and queens, reign over a liberated Narnia until stumbling back through the wardrobe years later.
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Final Film’s Analysis Thoughts
The film’s Biblical symbolism and themes of courage, family unity, and sacrifice overcoming oppression may strike some as heavy-handed. However, the enchanting magical world taps into universal mythologies and childhood imagination. Visual effects still impress, with Tilda Swinton’s chilling yet stylish White Witch a standout amidst the noteworthy performances from the young leads.
It’s clear to many audiences that this film represents the ultimate sort of escapism for a young audience. Its’ characters, themes, and world-building lend themselves perfectly to creating a classic tale that will continue to be shared for years to come.
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