The Wardrobe
I don’t know if you’ve ever read the CS Lewis Narnia series. I think, out of all the books in it, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe touched me the most. I know I got it in my stocking at Christmas when I was either 7 or 8 and I remember we were going out somewhere (whether it was relatives or friends I don’t remember) because I took the book with me and by the end of the day (whatever day it was) I had reached the grand page of 41! I was very proud of myself, to be honest with you to have got so far.
As you know (or if you don’t I’m telling you now - and no, I won’t spoil the ending) it is a story about 4 children Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy who are sent as evacuees to a large country estate that a professor lived in with his housekeeper. They were told to be good and quiet and not cause any upset to the professor who was doing important work. It’s raining and the children don’t know what to do so they play hide and seek and Lucy hides in a wardrobe and unwittingly falls into a new world of Narnia. Well, some of it was new and some old. Typical good vs evil fight.
However, I was reminded of this young delight of mine when I was watching some kind of home renovation or escape home or what have you and in one of the rooms was a “secret door” and someone said excitedly “Oh! We’re going to Narnia!” and it took me right back to that Christmas with the book in my stocking….bizarre how some things can be so emotive. At least I think that’s the word - ok, emotive and memorable. Maybe we need two words and I think they suit this occasion.
Although the Lion is the first in the title, he is actually not revealed until quite a way into the book. The people of Narnia talk about him but they always remind the reader that he’s not tame and you can’t just demand his presence or send him away. He comes when he does and goes when he goes.
Aslan himself is seen as a noble, but wild lion. Kingly and strong and bringing restoration and peace to the country and the animals that live there. I particularly love the centaurs because to me they emphasise the relationship between human and horse when riding and they become as one.
The other thing I thought interesting was the White Witch/Queen/Jardis who ruled their world at the time. She was obviously the evil one and had a wolf that guarded but WASN’T a companion (he was the chief of the secret police). In fact, she trusted nobody and wasn’t trusted in return.
And Aslan himself and the idea and ideal of himself is not only throughout this book, but the whole series. And when you read, you realise the way he brings not only the animals and creatures, but the weather and land all show the relationship they have with good or evil.