Narnia & the Bible

When I was a child, I was read picture books (in Cantonese? Mum particularly liked fables or stories with morals). When I was a teen I read paperbacks (Babysitters Club, Sweet Valley High... then I got a toothache and switched to fantasy and darker stuff). When I became a Christian, I read theology. My reading repertoire has always been genre specific.

So I completely missed the classics and children's novels, including The Chronicles of Narnia. Happily, that was remedied this month.

Everyone seems to know the Narnia series so I've love to hear how you read it. I've noted a few parallels between the books and the Bible (with Wiki's help!).


The Magician's Nephew

Aslan is God, through whom all things are created.

Its an allegory on the creation narrative in Genesis. The other world represent the reality of the Spiritual world which parallels our world, where time corresponds inexactly.

The White Witch is sin, evil, the Devil. She can't actually make anything herself, but just steals (jewelery, food), kills (by turning others into stone by the Deplorable word) and destroys things (the carriage, the lamppost) that others make and offer. She has a reign of some sort but her powers are limited. She and lusts after power, being completely self-centred and only acknowledges people who may be of use to her. Some see her for what she is, while others are entranced and attracted by her.

King Frank and Queen Helen (a Cabbie and a maid in London) may be pre-fall Adam and Eve or the ideal Christian leaders. Frank loved listening to Aslan. They demonstrate the inverted values of Narnia, where personal attributes, rather than education or class, determine one's suitability for office.


The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe

Aslan is revealed to be Jesus, who dies in the place of Edmund.

The-Emperor-Over-the-Sea is Father God.

Deep Magic is Scripture, binding and lasting.

The long winter is the deadening force which sin brings.

The Turkish Delight represents the worthless idols we pursue, and for which we willingly betray people and good pursuits. It's not at all substantial and a poor substitute for real food (ask SJ about the ingredients!), so consuming it is not satisfying, but only makes you crave more.

Edmund is Peter (the Apostle), whose initial betrayal and unfaithfulness is inverted.


The Horse And His Boy

Perhaps this book represents the Exodus.

Shasta, the exiled Narnian (who is revealed to be Prince Cor) is Moses. He's found in floating as a baby and adopted by a person of a hostile nation. But he's really a leader of God's people, and more ready to lead than his brother.

Calormen is Egypt, and with Telmar (Babylon?), it represents the other nations which are characterised by hardship and tyranny. They must cross a desert to return to. (Babylon is actually NE of Israel, but since a desert lies between them. Babylonians must come across the top and down to attack Israel. Therefore, they are a known as the force "from the North")

Bree represents the faithful whose character has been shaped (for the worse) by the enslavement of other nations, who then experiences difficulties returning to their own land.

The Wizard who looks into the pool to view action remotely represents the Old Testament Prophets.

There is a theodicy / explanation for suffering and trials (meetings with wild lions). They are all unhappily endured, but inflicted by Aslan and in the end, shown to be valuable and character building experiences that led them on the right path.


Prince Caspian

Maybe the Exile? Where the leader of God's people need to reclaim the land rightfully from powers that do not acknowledge Aslan.

The Narnians are scattered and in hiding, thought to be extinct as a people group.

Dr Cornelius represents God's people who have assimilated with the culture of foreign nations, but who remained true to Aslan. His knowledge and teaching about Narnia's history and the stars (prophecy) make him subversive and dangerous. But it is with knowledge that Prince Caspian defies the corrupt powers that have established themselves over the Narnians. I'm not sure about this... what part of the Bible does this resonates with?


The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader

I wonder if this is Acts or the Epistles, because they go out to different countries. (Or maybe it's the seven churches in Revelation?)

Eustace is Paul. Initially an enthusiastic persecutor of God's people, he soon is constrained by scales / dragon exterior. Stuck as a dragon, Eustace mourns his behaviour and attitudes. The gold bracelet which bites into his dragon arm may represent a thorn in his flesh. Only with God's help is he freed from them. While he is humbled (in dragon skin), he is helpful more than anyone else (flying over vast territories) but he also finds himself doing things he hates doing (he finds his eating habits shameful). He occasionally tussles with Edmund (Paul and Peter?). Eustace is transformed and becomes considerate and courageous, suffering many injuries. The adventures of Narnia continue with him rather than the Pevensie children, like how Paul dominates most of the New Testament.


The Silver Chair

May describe the Christian experience.

Jill may represent those who are converted without a Christian upbringing, because she is not acquainted with Narnia's history, which is a detriment. She is slow to keep God's words.

Rilian represents the elect who are in enslaved to sin, who need to be freed by God's people. When he is under the spell, he inadvertently plots and strives to conquer a land which he rightfully has already. (Doesn't this sound like the silly striving of non-Christians for paradise, when God offers to give it to them anyway?) Once freed, Rilian must destroy the chair that kept him in bondage (Romans 6 style). Even then, it is easy for him to be ensnared again by the Green White.

Puddleglum represents the Anglicans (kidding!)

The Green Witch is the White Witch in another guise, but is still playing the same power game. Harfang is the new deception and lure away from the walk of faith. Like the long winter, the underworld is another place of anti-life and hardship imposed by sin.


The Last Battle

The darkest book in the series is probably Revelation, where many of God's people are deceived by the Anti-Christ. There is a climatic battle, Armageddon, of both physical and spiritual forces, where God's people are few and heavily persecuted. It is a battle for truth.

Shift, the Ginger Cat, Rishda Takaan represent the string of people who lead God's people astray from within with increasing cleverness and success.

It's very hard to escape the thought that Calormens represent Muslims, and Tash is Allah (a mask for evil). While both Tash and Aslan are powerful and inspire fear, Tash's fearfulness is untempered by loveliness and mercy.

At the end of time the creatures walk before Aslan, who judge and separates them to his left (to destruction) and right (to glory and real life). Not much allegory here.

The final reunion of all the main characters is the resurrection of the dead.

Aslan's mountain is heaven, after the world is remade new, where they will all dwell without sin.