708 Lewis, C. s.
Though second in the chronological order of the
series after The Magician’s Nephew, it was published
first, in 1950.
Set in the early ’40s, it is the story of four sib-
lings: Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie,
who are sent to the English countryside to escape
the London bombing during World War II. While
playing hide and seek, Lucy discovers, inside an old
wardrobe, the enchanted realm of Narnia, ruled by
the evil White Witch who has cast a spell on the
whole country to keep it in an eternal winter with
no Christmas. The other children do not believe
Lucy’s story until they all hide in the wardrobe and
find themselves in Narnia. The kids, who (accord-
ing to an ancient prophecy) can save Narnia, begin
a troubled journey, helped by Mr. and Mrs. Beaver
and Father Christmas, to meet the lion Aslan, the
true king. Edmund, tragically, leaves them to join
the White Witch. Aslan offers himself to the Witch
in Edmund’s place but, because Aslan is an innocent
victim, he may return to life. In the final battle, the
children defeat the White Witch, with the help
of Aslan and other magical creatures, and become
kings and queens of Narnia. They rule for a long
time, but when they go back to England through the
wardrobe only five minutes have passed since they
hid in the wardrobe.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a delight-
ful fairy tale for both children and adults in which C.
S. Lewis explores such themes as justice, heroism,
guilt, time, and nature in a light, yet significant
way.
Chiara Sgro
heroiSm in The Lion, the Witch and
the Wardrobe
Heroism is one of the most important themes in The
Chronicles of Narnia and, in particular, in The Lion,
the Witch and the Wardrobe. Though the words “hero”
and “heroism” are never mentioned in the book, the
story of Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy follows
the main steps of the classic hero’s quest typical
of the tradition of epics and medieval romance.
Moreover, although they are not directly referred
to as heroes the children, as well as Aslan, have all
the characteristics of the hero: loyalty, courage, and
complete self-sacrifice in service of the mission. For
this reason, in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,
heroism is strictly linked to self-sacrifice and the
story is full of great and small acts of heroism until
the mission—to defeat the White Witch and restore
peace in Narnia—is completed. The characters, just
as the heroes of ancient poems, are called to acts of
self-sacrifice for a greater good and regardless of the
consequences to their own lives.
Lucy’s adventures in Narnia and the rebellion
against the White Witch begin with a small act of
heroism done by Mr. Tumnus. Indeed, he decides
not to hand Lucy over to the Witch though he
perfectly well knows that this disobedience will lead
him to imprisonment and maybe death. It is when
Lucy goes back to Narnia with her brothers and
sister and discovers that Mr. Tumnus has been cap-
tured by the Witch that they begin their adventure
through Narnia to meet Aslan and help him defeat
the false queen. Their travel—like the voyage in a
hero’s quest—will be characterized by challenges
and trials necessary to reach the final goal. As in the
tradition of epic and romance, they will be helped
in their tasks by magical or special helpers. Indeed,
they begin their actual travel to the Stone Table—
which recalls the Round Table of the stories of King
Arthur and his Knights—with the help of Mr. and
Mrs. Beaver. The help and support the two little
creatures offer the children, leaving their home and
challenging the Witch’s power, is yet another act of
heroism. This act highlights the novel’s revolution-
ary idea that everyone can be a hero by doing some-
thing, small though it may be, for the greater good.
The story also calls attention to the novel detail
of children as heroes and saviors of a nation. For this
reason, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy are treated
and presented as the heroes of epic poems. In partic-
ular, the encounter with Father Christmas is crucial
to the identification of the children as heroes and to
the understanding of the particular kind of heroism
being expressed by C. S. Lewis. Father Christmas
gives Peter, Susan, and Lucy precious gifts that will
help them complete their mission. These gifts are
not only weapons but also special objects that will
have a particular significance and use later in the
story. The gifts belong to the tradition of heroic
poems and make the children become real heroes.
Peter receives a sword and a shield, as did ancient