Edmund's transformation is completed when Lucy gives him the juice of the fire-flower, healing him both physically and symbolically. Finally, Edmund too comes of age: his character has undergone profound internal changes over the course of the story, and in the battle against the White Witch he finally reveals how far he has come.
Like Peter, he is rewarded for his courage and made a Knight. The rift between the brothers appears to be healed, and even seems to have reached a deeper level than ever before. Peter demonstrates his awareness of how much Edmund has changed by expressing admiration for Edmund's quick thinking on the battlefield. After the children assume their thrones, Edmund becomes known as "Edmund the Just".
To be "just", Lewis implies, one must have experience both with justice and with injustice. Susan's character is somewhat neglected throughout the story. Although she is a constant, gentle presence, she has little if any impact on the dramatic events taking place.
This may largely be a consequence of the fact that she and Edmund do not visibly clash; since it is he who is the center of the tension in the tale, Susan has little to do if she does not directly confront him. Susan is calm, gentle, cautious, and practical; in other words, she possesses characteristics ideally suited for a queen.
Lucy, in contrast, is far more spirited, and thus plays a greater role in the progression of the plot. The children's reign is just, peaceful, and good, standing in direct contrast to the reign of the White Witch, with her Secret Police and everlasting winter.
They become very much a part of Narnia, and after some time even forget about their previous lives. Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy, in other words, become a part of the fantasy. Their memories are sparked, however, when they see the lamp-post, and return to them completely once they tumble out of the wardrobe, back into the very moment in which they were hiding from Mrs. Macready and the tour group. Macready, oblivious to the events that have taken place, announces to the group that there is nothing of value in the Wardrobe Room, suggesting that the children's experience is privileged.
The idea of "privilege" is further intensified by Lewis' illustration of monarchical reign in his story; the experience of the truth, in the end, is limited to only a select few.
Now it is Narnia that seems like a dream, but they believe in their experience, and the lessons they learned remain with them. The Professor believes their story entirely because his past experiences have shown him that the children are truthful.
Their fantastic story, therefore, must be real. Through this story, Lewis suggests that fables are not impossible, but are at the very least truthful in the lessons that they teach. The Question and Answer section for The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.
Peter's army is fewer in number compared to the Witch. The battlefield is covered with statues thanks to the Witch's wand. The girls get off Aslan's back, he roars and then leaps onto the Witch. The Witch is horrified at the sight of the very much alive Aslan. Indeed, if I recall correctly, this joy will be a bit muted in the next chapter as the consequences of the war become apparent.
Maybe that's it. They are so overwhelmed with the joy of being un-frozen perhaps I would feel the same way that the consequences of the impending rather, immediate war are minimized or even forgotten. What's interesting is that everything I have described above is not lost on one person in the story--Lucy.
Here's what the narrator says as they are all approaching the ongoing battle: "Lucy heard above all these noises another noise--a different one, which gave her a queer feeling inside.
It was a noise of shouts and shrieks and of the clashing of metal against metal" p. I would venture to guess that Lucy knows what is coming. The joy of what has just occurred is not forgotten, but I bet she knows the consequence of what is about to occur. It is interesting as well that C. Lewis chose Lucy as the character to have this keen sense of awareness and not Susan--but after all, Susan has already used her gift from Father Christmas, and I suspect that it is now about time for Lucy to use hers.
Eventually, they set off. The animals that can track scents — dogs and lions and wolves — pick up the scent of the army and lead the way. The animals that can run trot along behind them, with everyone else riding on their backs.
Lucy and Susan ride on Aslan. As they come to the end of the valley and onto the plain, Lucy is able to hear the sounds of the battle — metal clashing against metal, shouting, and shrieking. On the battlefield, Peter, Edmund, and the rest of Aslan's army are valiantly holding their ground against the Witch's forces, even though they are outnumbered and exhausted.
There are statues everywhere, but the Witch seems to have lost her wand and is using the stone knife to fight Peter. Lucy and Susan get off Aslan's back and he rushes toward the Witch and pounces on her! The people and creatures that Aslan has freed from the Witch's castle rush into the battle, acting as reinforcements.
0コメント