C. S. Lewis The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe

Discovering a land that holds many wonders and magic is etched into the reader’s minds due to C.S. Lewis’s marvelous series the Chronicles of Narnia. His first book, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a classic that many children and adults still read today. For those who cracked open, the binding adventure was painted in their hearts. Many who read it might wonder what is so significant about the main characters and their roles in the story, but not many think about the title of the book. What is special about these characters and object in the book? Why did C.S. Lewis decide to name the first book he wrote in the Chronicles of Narnia, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe? Lewis wanted to show the power of the savior of the world through

the Lion, the wickedness of the world through the Witch, and the wonder of the world through the Wardrobe.
No one would have guessed that opening a wardrobe door could change lives and save a whole land.

One big wardrobe full of mothballs and coats is a gateway to a whole new world and for one little girl with one big imagination full of wonder. When Lucy entered the wardrobe, “She took a step further in -- then two or three steps -- always expecting to feel woodwork against the tips of her fingers. But she could not feel it” (Lewis 113). Eventually, when she was standing in the midst of pine trees covered in snow, “she looked back over her shoulder and there, between the dark tree trunks, she could still see the open doorway of the wardrobe” (113). The wardrobe is the most important inanimate object in this story because, without it, Lucy would not have discovered Narnia. It opens the wonders of Narnia to the children who would eventually save and rule the land. The wardrobe was the gateway to the adventures of Narnia, and it was the gateway to many of the hearts of the readers who fell in love with

Narnia.
While the wardrobe is the most important inanimate object, the lion is the most important being in Narnia. The lion, Aslan, is not mentioned in the book until halfway through the story, but the reader finds out that he is an important part of the story pretty quickly. From the moment Mr. Beaver told the children, “Aslan is on the move -- perhaps has already landed” (141), the hopeful could feel their hearts fill, the brave could feel their strength grow, and the fearful could feel their knees knock. The power of the name itself showed how important and powerful the lion was in Narnia.
Lions are normally associated with being a majestic and proud king of all; knowing this, it is no wonder Lewis picked the lion to be the savior of Narnia. Lewis constantly kept the reader’s focus on the power and radiance the of the good of Aslan. For example, when the winter was turning into spring from Aslan’s presence, the children’s interpretation of Aslan when, “they just caught a glimpse of the golden mane and the great, royal, solemn, overwhelming eyes,”(169). Not only is Aslan portrayed as the root of good in Narnia, he acts upon it as well. “They began to drag the bound and muzzled Lion to the Stone Table” (181); he was humiliated and mocked at: “Puss, Puss! Poor Pussy,” (180), ridiculed for his goodness: “Fool, did you think that that by all this you would save the human traitor? Now I will kill you instead of him” (181), and was soon put to death by the Witch. When he arose again from the dead he went out to save the land of Narnia, for he was the true king of all. The Lion is the savior and king of Narnia, the land of Narnia and the reader’s hearts would have perished if he had not come to save them all.
The Wardrobe and the Lion are the most important object and being in the story for the good, but the last question remains; why did C.S.

Lewis want the evil Witch to be apart of his title of the beginning of this wonderful series? The Witch is not the reader’s favorite, so why is she a part of the title? The White Witch was first mentioned in Lucy’s and Mr. Tumnus's encounter: “Why it is she who has all of Narnia under her thumb. It’s she who makes it always winter and never Christmas” (118). Those who are very fond of Narnia at this point are troubled by Mr. Tumnus’s statement on the White Witch. She is the epitome of evil and when Narnia is under her rule it is frozen in fear and seems to have lost all hope. She killed many of the creatures of Narnia, including the true king of Narnia. Even though she is evil and brings darkness; she is the one who allowed the story to take place. The Witch’s evilness made Narnia cry for help which allowed the wardrobe to let the children into Narnia, and her evilness brought back the savior of

Narnia.
When Lewis wrote this wonderful story, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, he intended to reach the adventure within the reader's heart and imagination. The question remains, though; why did Lewis name it The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe? Because Lewis wanted to emphasize the characters and object that allowed the story to happen. The adventure that Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy went on would have never happened if the gateway was never opened through the Wardrobe, if Narnia wasn’t under the darkness of the evil White Witch, and if Narnia did not need its savior, the Lion.