The Chronicles of Narnia is a popular series of novels (and movies) in which the Bible is used as a strong motivation for the symbolic characteristics of the plot. It is a well-known fact the C.S. Lewis was heavily influenced by religion in his writing, leading to several prominent biblical parallels. Originally the Narnia books weren’t intended to have religious connotations, but they unintentionally worked their way in. The most iconic work in the series (and the one I will be referencing) is the second, titled The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, in which the Christian story of Jesus’ death and resurrection (along with other allusions) can be seen. The use of the Bible in this story is mainly to demonstrate the power of redemption and the triumph of good over evil.

The story of Original Sin, in which Adam and Eve eat from the Tree of Knowledge releasing sin into the world, is recreated through the plot arch of Edmund. Edmund eats a Turkish Delight, a “forbidden fruit”, from the White Witch, the “snake”. This then symbolizes Edmund’s loss of innocence and betrayal of all that is good in that world.

Edmund is again used for religious parallelism as a Judas Iscariot character. The Pevensie siblings unite with the Beaver family for a meal, representing the Apostles of Jesus during the last supper. (This can also be seen as a act of Communion in which the characters all get to know each other.) During this meal, Edmund (Judas) can think of nothing more than escaping the meal in order to betray the Jesus figures.

The most apparent connection to religion is seen in Aslan, the godlike or Jesus character. Firstly, Jesus was known often as the “Lion of Judah”, making it fitting that Aslan takes a symbolic form of a lion. He leads the children as his Apostles, teaching them the ways of the “good”. Aslan also chooses be a martyr to save the traitor, Edmund, effectively pardoning him for his sins. He is beaten and ridiculed before his ultimate “crucifixion” on the Stone Table.  Just as with Jesus, Aslan is absent from his place of death and is found later to be resurrected (“[…] when a willing victim who had committed no treachery was killed in a traitor’s stead […] Death itself would start working backwards.”). They are both equal symbols of peace and prosperity.