The Christian Concerns of The Chronicles of Narnia

Wang+Qiao

【Abstract】This paper focuses on the presence of Christian messages in the Chronicles of Narnia. The author thinks that although the work carries with Christian messages and values， the messages are well conveyed by an accessible way to the children readers. This journal explores the Christian concerns of original sin， faith， redemption， individual and group.

【Key words】original sin； faith； redemption； individual and group

1. Introduction

The Chronicles of Narnia， written by C. S. Lewis， tells a story of a group of children who have grown up after a mysterious adventure. When Lewis constructed this utopian world， he related to the concerns of original sin， faith， redemption， individual and group. Different from the criticism or expression of the general writers， Lewis has a strong theological， historical and literary foundation. The Chronicles of Narnia is close to the real world， and also has strong theoretical support. The concerns of original sin， faith， redemption， individual and group are Lewis gift for the postwar world as a consolation.

2. Original Sin

From the beginning to the end in the Chronicles of Narnia， Lewis have emphasized that the origin of all sin leads to suffering and misery. There are various forms of original sin In the Chronicles of Narnia， which are embodied in both children and adults. Needless to say Uncle Andrew is cruel， cunning and cowardly. Digory did not withstand the temptation of the inscription and sounded the bell. Queen Jadis was awakened， and eventually evil was brought into the new kingdom of Narnia， where the peace was disturbed. Because of greed and edacity， Edmund betrayed his brother and sisters in front of the Turkish Delight and turned to the White Witch that made his brother and sisters be in danger. Shasta was ashamed to admit that he didnt really know how to use the reins. That was why Shasta soon found himself at the tail end of the procession and couldnt see any of the others at last. After seeing the dragon died in the cave， Eustace embraced a great treasure to sleep with the joy of greed and a feeling of relief was on his mind， then he became a dragon. Prince Rilian was tempted by the shining green woman. At the edge of the cliff， Jill regarded bravado as brave. When she was aware of the danger， she was still vainglorious. Finally， with vertigo and dizziness， she pushed Eustace down the cliff who tried to pull her back.

3. Faith

In the beginning of the birth of the kingdom of Narnia， Aslan called up the stars and the sun， mountains and rivers， plants and animals by his songs， which is exactly the same as God that created the world in six days. In the 2555 years history of Narnia， Aslan led the people to repel the invasion of evil forces again and again. He is the Messiah. Finally， on the eve of the destruction of the kingdom of Narnia， he led the people to the new world， just as the book of Revelation was written. After the end of the day， God opened the gates of heaven to the good.

4. Redemption

God saves people because they trust in god absolutely. After Edmund sold his soul to the White Witch for the greed of Turkish Delight， Aslan redeemed his soul with his own life. In Revelation， it says， “Thou art worthy to take the book， and to open the seals thereof： for thou wast slain， and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred， and tongue， and people， and nation”. When God wearing blood soaked robe struggles against evil， people can not help but think of the redemption of Jesus. Then Lewis alluded to the resurrection of Jesus with the resurrection of Aslan. Jesus was the “First resurrection from the dead， and he loved us and keep us from sin with his blood”. Jesus also told the herald John “dont be afraid！ I am the first and I am the last， and the living. I have been dead， and now I have lived forever and ever”. Lewis would like to suggest that God will come to the end.

5. Individual and Group

Digory had a difficult choice between the commitment he made and his seriously ill mother. He resisted the temptation of Jadis successfully by the faith of Aslan. After becoming a dragon， Eustace finally came to the rescue of Aslan due to the awakening of conscience and determination of unwilling to sink ； Prince Rilian was trapped underground for ten years and unable to get rid of the magic because he was bound on the silver chair when he was awake every night. However， he did not give up struggling until the deliverers sent by Aslan came.

6. Conclusion

All above， the thinking and exploration of original sin， faith， redemption， individual and group ultimately build a better Narnia Kingdom. In this new world， Lewis admits the difference. Lewis is also deeply aware that the original desire of mankind is the source of all disasters. It can destroy not only a person， but also a world. As long as we have faith in our hearts， have rational thinking in our minds， we can escape from misery and be redeemed from the hell.

作者簡介： 王巧（1986-）， 女，汉族， 辽宁大连人， 助教，辽宁师范大学英语语言学在职硕士研究生在读， 现就职于辽宁大学外国语学院， 研究方向： 教育管理研究。