We have not gone to see The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe yet, but we did finally manage to finish reading it as a family. Our boys loved it after we got over the formal, 1940’s British language of Lewis. Benjamin had read it earlier this year, so he suffered through a repeat reading; it was my third or fourth reading but I still loved it.
In this reading, Edmund stood out to me the most. Edmund, as most of you know, makes a deal with the White Witch to turn in his family, his brothers and sisters, for some Turkish Delight. During the visit, she lets him eat Turkish Delight until he has nearly had his fill. Then she sends him back to bring his family to her, with promises that he will get all the Turkish Delight he can eat.
After returning with his siblings, Edmund slips away to the White Witch’s castle. On the way, he justifies his betrayal by reminding himself how unfairly they treated him at times. He had been bickering with them and thought a lesson from the White Witch might do them good. More than anything he just wanted that Turkish Delight and was determined to get it.
When at the White Witch’s castle, he tells her his siblings are in Narnia at the beavers’ home. He asks for his pay—some Turkish Delight. The Witch calls for a dwarf who brings him stale bread on a tin plate instead. Edward turns up his nose at first, but the rage of the Witch causes him to sit and nibble on the horrible bread.
We don’t need our Christian parable glasses to see how Edmund’s short-sighted actions resemble things we do. He trades family for a few sweets . . . only to see he has actually bargained for something horrible. We can think of similar trades we have made over the years. Maybe for some it is a dramatic sin . . . but maybe for others it is the sweets of working too much, or playing too much golf, or sending e-mails instead of wrestling with our kids.
What is fantastic about the story, though, is Aslan’s reaction to Edmund when he meets him. He goes for a walk with him, and they talk quietly. Then Edmund comes back to the group, the family he has hurt, and says to Peter, “We talked. What’s done is done. The past is gone and should not be brought up again.”
Amazing to think that all of us who have made such horrible arrangements over the years with the Witch can speak with Aslan and be granted such peace.
In this reading, Edmund stood out to me the most. Edmund, as most of you know, makes a deal with the White Witch to turn in his family, his brothers and sisters, for some Turkish Delight. During the visit, she lets him eat Turkish Delight until he has nearly had his fill. Then she sends him back to bring his family to her, with promises that he will get all the Turkish Delight he can eat.
After returning with his siblings, Edmund slips away to the White Witch’s castle. On the way, he justifies his betrayal by reminding himself how unfairly they treated him at times. He had been bickering with them and thought a lesson from the White Witch might do them good. More than anything he just wanted that Turkish Delight and was determined to get it.
When at the White Witch’s castle, he tells her his siblings are in Narnia at the beavers’ home. He asks for his pay—some Turkish Delight. The Witch calls for a dwarf who brings him stale bread on a tin plate instead. Edward turns up his nose at first, but the rage of the Witch causes him to sit and nibble on the horrible bread.
We don’t need our Christian parable glasses to see how Edmund’s short-sighted actions resemble things we do. He trades family for a few sweets . . . only to see he has actually bargained for something horrible. We can think of similar trades we have made over the years. Maybe for some it is a dramatic sin . . . but maybe for others it is the sweets of working too much, or playing too much golf, or sending e-mails instead of wrestling with our kids.
What is fantastic about the story, though, is Aslan’s reaction to Edmund when he meets him. He goes for a walk with him, and they talk quietly. Then Edmund comes back to the group, the family he has hurt, and says to Peter, “We talked. What’s done is done. The past is gone and should not be brought up again.”
Amazing to think that all of us who have made such horrible arrangements over the years with the Witch can speak with Aslan and be granted such peace.
Mark
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