The Lion The Witch And The Wardrobe And Religion Essay

C.S. Lewis, world-renowned British author once said, "Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important." His view on the importance of religion is evident throughout the underlying themes of many of his works, including The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Allegory, a form of extended metaphor, in which objects, persons, and actions in a narrative, are equated with the meanings that lie outside the narrative itself, is the main way Lewis present Christian ideals through his novels. In the novel, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis uses allegorical parallels with the Bible and the Christian faith to emphasize the importance of religion in the development

Lewis makes countless parallels to the story of Jesus’ crucifixion through his character, Aslan. The story in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe begins as Aslan stumbles while he is walking and the girls ask him if he is sick. Lucy and Susan, two major characters in Lewis’ book, do not know what is coming for Aslan. "I am sad and lonely. Lay your hands on my mane so that I can feel you are there and let us walk like that" (Lewis, 150). Many literary critics argue that Aslan could have killed them all with one swipe of his paws as Jesus could have called on ten legions of angels. This idea parallels the concept of free will. Both figures freely gave themselves as sacrifices. Jesus was beaten and mocked; Aslan was shaved and mocked. Shortly after, Christ was crucified on the cross in exacting style as the prophecy foretold, and Aslan was bound muzzled and put on the sacrificial stone table and killed as the prophecy foretold (Perry). After his death, Lucy and Susan sat and mourned the lifeless body of Aslan on the stone table. As morning was coming, the two decided to take a walk and then from behind them, they heard “…a loud noise - a great cracking, deafening noise as if a giant had broken a giant's plate” (Lewis, 161). The girls turned around and saw that Aslan was gone, and the stone table is broken in two pieces. The biblical parallel is clear, because the bible says “and, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth

Lewis’ chronicles as childish nonsense, others perceive the works as utterly transformative. For those, this evocative story, rich in symbolism, affirms that it is possible for the weak and foolish to have a noble calling in a dark world; that there is indeed something beautiful and wonderful at the heart of the universe, and that this may be found, embraced and adored. Whether Lewis is right or wrong in his Christian parallels, he has given readers a children's story that opens up some of the deepest questions of life using powerful imagery (Mcgrath). C.S. Lewis recognizes the fact that religion is an important part of life for many people in the world. The reason for this is based largely on the belief that society needs religion. As a society we benefit from our collective religious beliefs. In fact there are many people who would argue that we could not function without religion (Eva). With this being believed by many people, children read The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and fall in love with the hypnotic Aslan, though he is not a character; he is pure, raw, awesome power. Without an Aslan, there is no one here but ourselves to suffer for our sins, no one to redeem us but ourselves: we are obliged to settle our own disputes and do what we can (Toynbee). This ideal in C.S. Lewis’ novel allows children to gain an understanding for the necessity of religion, before being exposed to it on a deeper level as an