A review by kcw98
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

 

I decided to read an old childhood favorite, and the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe did not disappoint! The story is imaginative with its mythical creatures and magic, which appealed to me as a child, and it’s also profound with its sibling relationships and Christian symbolism, which appeal to me now as an adult. It has great pacing, strong descriptions, and a good mix of humor and adventure. The interactions with Mr. Tumnus in chapter two were especially funny, and so were the narrator’s brief interruptions to address the reader. 

C. S. Lewis writes in a way that draws you in and makes you feel how his characters feel. I actually got emotional at the part when Lucy and Susan followed Aslan to the Stone Table, clinging to his mane and walking with him in his final hours. I admired the sweetness of the girls, and I saw myself in them and pictured myself walking with Christ on the way to the Garden of Gethsemane. I was surprised by how much the story touched me! I’m a big symbolism fan, whether it’s subtle or not, so I loved drawing all the gospel parallels.

I also loved the four siblings: Peter the Magnificent, Susan the Gentle, Edmund the Just, and Lucy the Valiant. They were all very different from each other, but they each had their own strengths and they needed each other. I know Edmund is painted as the “bad” one, but I found him to be the most interesting and relatable character. He was impatient, doubtful, quick to complain, and selfish. He just wanted to wear a gold crown and eat those dang Turkish Delights! But he also felt regret, disappointment, and shame. He is me, he is all of us, at one point or another. He was deceived by the White Witch (who, to be fair, is exceptionally skilled at deceiving people) and had to suffer the consequences. 

I know it's a children’s book, so you don’t need to dig too deep for the hidden meanings, so I won’t get into everything. Still, I do want to share my favorite part of the book. When Edmund meets Aslan, they have a little talk, just the two of them. Keep in mind that this is after Edmund had betrayed them all to the Witch, knowing that she was evil, because he thought she’d make him a prince. The narrator says that nobody heard what was said between Edmund and Aslan, and nobody ever needed to hear it, but when they returned to the rest of the group, Aslan told the children, “Here is your brother… there is no need to talk to him about what is past.” It’s such a powerful example of forgiveness, showing how personal it is between us and God, and how once we’re forgiven, our sins really are remembered no more. We can clean our slates and move on. 

The White Witch called Edmund a “human traitor,” clearly considering him small and not worth saving, but Aslan saw Edmund for who he really was—a potential king. Just like all of us! 

Thank you C. S. Lewis for this masterpiece! And to my hoopla narrator who did such a good job making the characters come alive. For the first time, I enjoyed listening to an audiobook more than reading the book myself. And I can’t wait to be the one narrating it to my kids someday! 

And now, on to my favorite quotes…

• “Daughter of Eve from the far land of Spare Oom where eternal summer reigns around the bright city of War Drobe, how would it be if you came and had tea with me?”

• “She knew that it is very silly to shut oneself into a wardrobe, even if it is not a magic one.”

• “Perhaps it has sometimes happened to you in a dream that someone says something which you don’t understand but in the dream it feels as if it had some enormous meaning—either a terrifying one which turns the whole dream into a nightmare or else a lovely meaning too lovely to put into words, which makes the dream so beautiful that you remember it all your life and are always wishing you could get into that dream again.” (65)

• “Oh, can no one help us?” wailed Lucy. / “Only Aslan.” (80)

• “The shorn face of Aslan looked to her braver, and more beautiful, and more patient than ever.” (139)

• “At the name of Aslan each one of the children felt something jump in its inside. Edmund felt a sensation of mysterious horror. Peter felt suddenly brave and adventurous. Susan felt as if some delicious smell or some delightful strain of music had just floated by her. And Lucy got the feeling you have when you wake up in the morning and realize that it is the beginning of the holidays or the beginning of summer.” (65)
  • How does the name Aslan (Christ) make YOU feel?