The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, Witch and Wardrobe

On a sunny summer day, I left the computer lab while it was processing and ran across Queen's Square Quad to revel in the library. I had two hours to kill before I needs check on my machine, so I found the children's section and collected Little Men, a french translation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, or The Lion, Witch and Wardrobe. I quickly perched myself by the window and began the "chapter book" I had wanted to read since "I saw the movie first.", and yet had felt secretly ashamed and childish to sign out.

This first "Narnia" book only took me an hour and a half, and was enjoyable and engrossing. Of course, I couldn't help envisioning the children of the movie: I loved little Lucy Pevensie and her staunch braveness, and had trouble reconciling the girl in the film with the blond in the novel.

It bothered me that Susan never really "did anything" in the fray. Father Christmas said that "Wars are ugly things for girls to be in," which can explain Susan's minimal involvement. Was she supposed to portray a different role - more traditionally female/domestic guidance for the group, maybe? Aren't wars ugly anyhow? C. S. Lewis was ready to acknowledge that Lucy is brave. Why this - is it supposed to be a sexist statement?

I had previously debated with friends over the extent to which the story is a Christian allegory. I found the references very pointed, as phrases like, "Daughter of Eve," "Son of Adam," denote. (For instance, in The Colour Purple, the story begins with "Dear God" and is first and foremost about religion). Father Christmas as well. I wonder what the "deep magic" and "deeper magic" would be.

As for Aslan's sacrifice to save edmund's life with his own was ... it was very nice. Edmund is a child who has realized the enormous consequence of his greed/temptation/mistake, and it would be cruel and heart wrenching and ... indicative of a very unbenevolent world if he was forever condemned for his sins. aslan's ressurection "made everything okay" too - aslan being wisdom ultimate of the story, if he didn't come back [just like how Gandalf came back and how i think Dumbledore will continue to have a presence in HP... opening a whole new can of worms here though.] Narnia would be a very dark world indeed. Aslan the lion doesn't lack in virtues of gentleness and humbleness associated with lambs.

Who is Lilith? What is the story behind her being Adam's first wife?

By the way, did you know C. S. Lewis's full name is Clive Staples Lewis? What a mouthful!