Paul A. Karkainen - Narnia: Unlocking the Wardrobe

1979, 2007 by Paul A. Karkainen

Published by Revell
a division of Baker Publishing Group
P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
www.revellbooks.com

Spire edition published 2007

Ebook edition created 2010

Ebook corrections 12.08.2016

Previously published under the title Narnia Explored

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

ISBN 978-1-58558-606-6

Unless indicated otherwise, Scripture is taken from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture marked KJV is taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture marked NASB is taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

To my dad, who showed me, through his crippled body, the meaning of courage and perseverance, and for whom the holidays truly have begun.

Contents

More than fifty years ago, a professor of English literature named C. S. Lewis created the fantasy world of Narnia. Since then, generations of readers have found the Chronicles of Narnia unending sources of inspiration and delight.

For many authors, the fantasy novel may seem childish and unworthy of attention, but Lewis understood the human need for such imaginative tales, and he brought to them the combination of the depth of one of the finest minds of England and the heart of a child. The unique result was the Chronicles of Narnia. This seven-book series tells the story of the imaginary land of Narnia and the children who discover it. Each story is enjoyable and perfectly understandable for children, yet there is a deeper level of meaning that is best understood by adults. And now a major motion picture has translated the magic of Narnia into a vivid, visual portrayal of four memorable children and the great lion, Aslan, who permeates their world and changes it forever.

Narnia has multiple meanings for the millions of people who have been touched by the books, and now also for those who have been inspired by the film adaptation of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Fantasy lovers revel in the world of talking animals and mythological creatures. Those who are concerned about moral drift focus more on the character-building events and lessons that appear in every story. Yet it is the looming presence of Aslan that dominates these books. Narnia without Aslan would be a world without a soul.

From the time Aslan is first introduced by Mr. Beaver in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, every character is either drawn to or repelled by the very mention of his name. For some, a strange feeling like the first signs of spring, like good news, had come over them. It is Aslan who transforms Narnia from a merely entertaining world to a place where the audience must either accept or reject the divine presence of the king of beasts in a world of talking animals.

Narnia is, in fact, a spiritual countrya place that is rich with meaning and filled with the rumor of Gods presence. In our world, it is all too easy to wander aimlessly from day to day without acknowledging Gods importance in our lives. We place great value on earning a living, making friends, accumulating things, and avoiding trouble, but all too seldom do we wonder about the eternal purpose for which God created us. In Narnia, the children must choose between following Aslan or the White Witch, just as we must decide whether to serve God or listen to the clamorous voices of secular society. When the children choose to follow Aslan, the very air of Narnia works to make them braver, stronger, and wiser. We too can inhale the oxygen-rich air from Gods Spirit.

At first, the children believe that only in Narnia can they experience friendship with the lordly lion. However, at the end of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Aslan makes it clear that he can be found in our world as well. It isnt Narnia, you know, sobs Lucy. Its you. We shant meet you there. And how can we live never meeting you? Aslan replies that Lucy will meet him in our world. But there I have another name. You must learn to know me by that name. He further explains that she was brought into Narnia so that, by knowing Aslan a little there, she could know him better here. Christians will recognize that Aslans name in our world is Jesus Christ.

Aslan clearly represents what Jesus would be like in a world of talking animals. For example, one overarching theme is that Aslan is not a tame lion. As Mr. Beaver explains it, Aslan is not safe, but he is good. He is fierce with the Witch; kind and gentle with Lucy (who loves him the most); terrifying with the talking horse, Bree, who needs the motivation of Aslans roars and claws to keep him moving; and always understanding what every character needs at the moment.

There are telling truths and wonderfully portrayed lessons in every book. In The Lion, the Witch and theWardrobe, the deep magic established by the Emperor-Over-Sea requires a willing (and worthy) victim to give up his life to pay for anothers treachery, and deeper magic makes death itself work backward and become life again. Prince Caspian emphasizes the necessity of following Aslan instead of conventional wisdom in order to achieve ones destiny. In The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, the power of Aslan strips the dragonish character out of a very egotistical, cowardly, and boorish boy. The Silver Chair shows the vital importance of obeying Aslans signs in order to penetrate the poison-green witchs underground realm and free the enchanted prince. The Horse and His Boy illustrates the importance of humility and the folly of making false assumptions about someones character based on appearances. TheMagicians Nephew describes the terrible price of following ones thirst for knowledge at all costs. Finally, The Last Battle demonstrates that truth can be distorted and evil is powerful, but all worlds will eventually come to the end that God has decreed for them. Therefore, all soulish creatures (people and talking beasts) must take the adventure that Aslan sends.

The purpose of Narnia: Unlocking the Wardrobe is to show how Aslans presence permeates the world of Narnia, and how following Jesus in our world lifts us from being horizontal creatures who never look up to being happy, fulfilled inhabitants of Christs divine kingdom. I aim to ferret out the wisdom on every page of the Chronicles and show how these timeless tales reflect the Christian worldview of C. S. Lewis.

Narnia should be read one chapter at a time. Watch the movies as they are released, or read one of the seven Narnia books, before reading the corresponding chapter in this book. The Chronicles of Narnia richly repay endless rereadings with new insights. Every page is filled with eternal truth and a fresh perspective into the abundant life that God offers to all who seek Him with their whole hearts. Like Lucy, we must fall in love with the God who has come down to live among us and embrace the joy and fulfillment that He offers to all who accept Him as Lord and Savior.

1
The Magicians Nephew

The call of the occult is strong in this world. From the daily horoscope read by millions of people to the First Church of Satan, people are dabbling in, laughing at, entertaining themselves with, being subtly influenced by, and becoming deeply enmeshed in the lure of magic. To many, it is a game. Their thinking runs this way: