It is no surprise that conservative Christians admire these books (Chronicles of Narnia). They teach us to accept authority; to love and follow our leaders instinctively, as the children in the Narnia books love and follow Aslan. By implication, they suggest that we should and will admire and fear and obey whatever impressive-looking and powerful male authority figures we come in contact with. They also suggest that without the help of Aslan (that is, of such powerful figures, or their representatives on earth) we are bound to fail. Alone, we are weak and ignorant and helpless. Individual initiative is limited—almost everything has already been planned out for us in advance, and we cannot know anything or achieve anything without the help of God. The Passion of CS Lewis by Alison Lurie in NY Review of Books, February 9, 2006
Why do supposedly intelligent liberals confuse two easily separable issues? “Conservative Christians” (and all other Christians that I know of) do preach that “alone we are weak and ignorant and helpless.” We believe that we are dependent upon and subject to the authority of God through Jesus Christ who is the Lord of all creation. It does not follow “by implication” that these same Christians follow all male leaders instinctively or fear and obey any impressive-looking Joe who comes along with a strong voice and a nice haircut. In fact, following Christ often impels the Christian to reject or respectfully disobey authority, although we are told in Scripture to be careful to obey lawful authorities insofar as they do not contravene the law of God. I really think that’s what makes the liberals who do have some influence and power angry and scornful. Like Peter and John, “we (Christians) must obey God rather than men.” They want us to be “poor, undereducated, and easily led,” and They keep trying to find the right buttons to push so that They can do the leading.
And just who are They? Well, Allison Lurie is a Pultizer prize winning novelist and an editor of children’s books. I’ve never read any of her novels–which probably suggests that I’m bound under the authority of male novelists. Another author who has been critical of the male and female role models in Narnia is Philip Pullman, author of the His Dark Materials books, who says that the Chronicles of Narnia are “monumentally disparaging of girls and women.” I’m assuming he would prefer that children read his books which are monumentally disparaging of Christians and the Church. A couple of quotes are sufficient: ” That’s what the Church does, and every church is the same: control, destroy, obliterate every good feeling.” And “the Christian religion is a very powerful and convincing mistake, that’s all.”
So do the Narnia books disparage girls and exalt all male authority? I find it difficult to make that case. Aslan is exalted; The White Witch/Jadis is defeated. Lucy leads the children to Narnia; Edmund is the traitor in need of redemption. All four of the children become kings and queens in Narnia. Throughout the Chronicles, the girls are generally the ones with the level headed common sense needed to get the children out of whatever predicament they are in. The boys are sometimes brave and sometimes foolish, just as boys are. All of the children in the books are called to follow and obey Aslan, not just any male authority that happens to come along.
And conservative Christians are smart enough to know the difference between Christ and George W. Bush.
I think Pullman’s main concern is with The Last Battle in which Susan, previously portrayed as wise and gentle Queen Susan, is condemned as no longer “a friend of Narnia”. She is cast out of paradise for being “too keen on being grown up” and “interested in nothing nowadays except nylons and lipstick and invitations”. Whereas Edmund, who has betrayed the others to the Witch, is allowed to repent and remain King Edmund. Susan’ s faults by comparison seem much less serious, but she doesn’t get the benefit of the doubt.
There is of course also the vexed question of the rascism of The Horse and His Boy.
Throughout the books, Susan is emblematic of Reason alone–and of Doubt. She always trusts too much her own understanding and common sense–instead of melding these with Faith.
Lucy, on the other hand, embodies the childlike faith Christ said we all should have. In Prince Caspian, she is the only one able to see Aslan beckoning to go the way that didn’t seem reasonable. After they tried the way of common sense and had to retrace their steps and try the way Lucy had seen him indicate, one by one the others began to be able to see him too. Susan is the last to be able to see him–and admits, “…I really believed it was him tonight, when you woke us up. I mean, deep down inside. Or I could have, if I’d let myself…”
When Aslan greets her, he says, “You have listened to fears, child. Come, let me breathe on you. Forget them. Are you brave again?”
I think Susan is like the seed that springs up, but is choked out by the cares of the world–doubt, fear and reason without faith.
But I think Lewis made Lucy, a female character, the most appealing image of faith, of belief, of hope and trust, of healing (her vial), of clear vision (seeing Aslan when the others couldn’t), of ears to hear (Aslan’s voice wakes her alone), of ability to enter Narnia, the kingdom of heaven, if you will.
Elsewhere, Lewis has said something to the effect that: God is so masculine that we all are feminine in relation to him–He is the Initiator, we can only respond. Lucy, I think, was Lewis’ example of how we respond to God in a childlike and feminine way.
Sorry, but Mr. Pullman’s claims are not supported by Lewis’ writings!