Many people are familiar with C.S. Lewis’ books, “The Chronicles of Narnia,” which also happen to be some of his best known works. It is interesting to examine the effect the author’s faith had within his writing, especially elements of religion within the series which pertained to Biblical structure. In particular, this can be seen most with the child, Edmund.
Out of all of the children in the first book of the series, “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe” the most important one to look at when comparing to Biblical structure would be Edmund. Near the beginning of the story when Lucy first discovers the world behind the wardrobe none of the children believe her even after she tries to explain it to them. During this time, it is clear that all of the children, Edmund especially are representative of “Doubting Thomas.” In the Bible, Thomas was the one who denied that Christ had risen and refused to believe it until he had both seen and touched the wounds upon his hands, feet, and side. This can be seen in John 20:24-26.
“Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”’
In a very similar way, the children refused to believe that Narnia was in fact a real place until they were able to see it for themselves.
Once Edmund enters Narnia, when he followed Lucy, his character changes from being a “Doubting Thomas” to resembling Judas Iscariot. This is most prominent after Edmund meets the White Witch and especially when he is at the Beavers’ house with all of his siblings. When all of the children sit down to enjoy the dinner that Mrs. Beaver had prepared for all of them, Edmund was thinking of how to slip away to betray them to the White Witch.
The reason that this scene is so interesting is that it is an oddly perfect parallel to the night of the last dinner that is seen within the Bible. The children all could be representative of the holy apostles that were at the dinner, and Edmund is the Judas figure. Just as Judas leaves the meal to betray Jesus, Edmund leaves during the meal to betray his siblings to the White Witch.
Another similarity between the two could be the form of payment for the act of betrayal. In the Bible it says that Judas was given silver coins as payment for betraying Jesus, and in Edmund’s case, he was promised that he would be able to eat more of the magical Turkish Delight that the Witch gave him when he first met her.
Edmund can also be compared to the downfall of Adam and Eve. The Turkish Delight which is offered to him by the White Witch, could be representative of the forbidden fruit that was found on the tree of knowledge. Just as the devil took a different form and tempted Adam and Eve with all of the wonders which the fruit would provide if they were to eat it, so too does the witch tempt Edmund with the Turkish Delight. The White Witch even tells Edmund that it is magical Turkish Delight, and offers him more of the taste should he do as she says.
For me, it is interesting to examine these parallels, as it allows us to look at the books from a different perspective.
