The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe: Historical Narrative Revealed

            C.S. Lewis is known primarily for his brilliant use of myth in the Narnia series.  Surely he has accomplished many more feats in his illustrious career but the Narnia series has been a classic for children and adult alike for decades.  In the first book written in the series, Lewis uses some not so subtle comparisons to the biblical story of Jesus of Nazareth.  Much of the rest of his stories have comparisons to biblical themes but The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is by far his most direct myth depicting a biblical narrative. 

            In our class discussions, as well as the readings, it seems that a myth is created as a fanciful account depicting that which is true.  The author uses myth to bring a certain view to life in a way that a “true” or historical story could not accomplish.  Lewis does this in his book but seems to be blatant about his parallel.  Anyone who has read an account of the life of Jesus of Nazareth will clearly see that Lewis has created a fictional world that merely reenacts that which happened on earth nearly two thousand years ago.  This seems to be much more like history than fiction if you ask me.

            Let me show some examples.  In the biblical narrative there is a trader, Judas, who betrays Jesus for money.  In The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Edmund, betrays Aslan and goes to the Witch.  In the biblical narrative upon death Jesus rescues those who belonged to God and died beforehand.  In Narnia, Aslan resurrects and those who were frozen come back to life.  By far the most striking example is in the end of the gospel account Jesus dies and says on the cross, “it is finished.”  When Aslan defeats the Witch at the end he quotes, “it is finished.”  It is clear that The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is a myth set to bring the biblical narrative to life, however it is odd how strikingly similar Lewis makes the story.  Perhaps I now know why Tolkien was perplexed by the Narnia series as it is much more historical narrative with a myth-like twist than anything else, all be it a beautiful one at that.