Themes, Symbols and Characters Depicted in the Film, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

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The feature film, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, directed by Andrew Adamson is a fantasy film which relates the adventures of the four Pevensie children in a mystical land. The film explores the Christian theme of sacrifice and the ideals of family love, loyalty and the triumph of good over evil. Aslan, Peter and Edmund Pevensie function to develop these themes. Through the filmic language used to construct the characters Adamson reveals the importance of being brave, unselfish and loving.

Edmund is characterised as a selfish and disloyal boy who must learn how to be a better person. Adamson shows the viewers exactly how disloyal Edmund is in the scene where he is first confronted by the White Witch. He is tempted by the Turkish delights and the fact that he may become the prince of Narnia. However, in return, he had to bring his siblings to the Ice Castle. Around the White Witch, Edmund is seen as weak, vulnerable and easily manipulated as he is easily tempted by the ‘sweeties’ (Turkish Delights). Adamson showed Edmund’s flaws by shooting him from a high camera angle and closing in on him. This assists in making him look weak and vulnerable while he is eating the ‘sweeties’. In the scene where Edmund and Mr Tumnus are held prisoners by the White Witch in the dungeon, only then does Edmund realise what he is doing. Adamson uses close-ups to help indentify the character’s emotions through facial expressions. He uses this to show the sadness and disappointment in Mr Tumnus’s faces when hears that it was Edmund (the lovely Lucy’s brother) who betrayed him and lead him to his death (Mr Tumnus didn’t die, he was turned to stone and returned to normal by Aslan). It is after this that Edmund changes to...

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...the other hand, Aslan’s army is filled with mythological heroes like centaurs. Peter’s shield has the St. George dragon imprinted on it which shows Christian faith. Peter also rides a unicorn which is seen as a graceful and mystical creature which symbolises purity, magic and awe. When Aslan appears on the mountain overlooking the battle scene, he is backlit by the bright sky. This reveals him as a bright and noble creature. Viewers can identify Aslan’s army with good, and Jadis’ army with evil in this way.

Narnia, directed by Andrew Adamson explores the Christian theme of sacrifice as well the motifs of loyalty, family love and the triumph of good over evil. Aslan, Peter and Edmund act a part in developing these themes. Adamson used filmic language to construct the characters and themes in the film, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

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