C. S. Lewis: From Lamb To Lion
From Lamb to Lion
A chrysalis into a butterfly, water into wine, a lamb into a lion. These are all examples of transformation. A tool that not only C.S. Lewis used but even biblical authors did as well in their own writings. The importance of transformation is very prevalent in a Christian’s life because it not only shows a change in a form or a figure but the meaning behind the transformation is just as important. External transformation is a powerful visual device that can really emphasize the internal change that has happened in the heart of the character in narratives. Now transformation of some sorts happens in every Christian’s life. Many Christian’s believe that they come to Christ they have been reborn or revived, and in a sense that is exactly what transformation is. In Ezekiel 36:26 it says, “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” That powerful image Ezekiel writes is exactly the imagery that C.S. Lewis conveys in his own writings with most notably the transformation from …show more content…
Eustace into the dragon in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. The changing of Eustace is symbolically showing that he has turned into the monster that he was in story before that. Lewis says “He had turned into a dragon while he was asleep. Sleeping on a dragon’s hoard with greedy, dragonish thoughts in his heart, he had become a dragon himself.” The physical change symbolizes a lot more than just Eustace’s newfound talons though. The physical change is such a dramatic change it really hits home to the personal changes that are either occurring, have already occurred, or maybe issues that need changing in the reader’s life, in particular Christians pick up more of the sentiment because of the constant reading of the bible and the use of transformation appears many times and know what the deeper meaning to the transformation.
The use of symbolism along with transformation is also really key into why it is such a powerful tool and C.S. Lewis takes full advantage of using the symbolism in his ways to really get the full effect of the symbolism. Having Eustace turn into a dragon, with him being greedy in Narnia and in his life in general has more effect than him turning into a mouse or some other creature. The particular transformation works because of the nature of the creature that he turns into, a dragon, where they are known for their greediness and their gluttony, like Smaug the Terrible in The Hobbit where the beast is living in a mountain of stolen gold from the dwarves of Erebor. C.S.
Lewis uses very blatant Christian symbols in his Chronicles of Narnia where Aslan turns himself into numerous symbols. One of the most notable symbols is when the lamb, which then turns into Aslan, is feeding Edward, Lucy, and Eustace. The significance of the lamb to the Christian is undeniably in scripture. In the Great Divorce the lizard which is an obviously symbol of the Devil, Lewis here isn’t trying to hide this symbol and the change from this ugly lizard to this majestic flawless stallion is a clear symbol of Death changing to life through Christ, especially with the Stallion being so close to Heaven and an angel killing the lizard in the first place. Lewis uses this example purely as a form of external transformation to show the power of Christ but to also strike the emotion in the Narrator when he sees that scene, in which produce emotions in the
reader.
Lewis continues to uses the transformation of Aslan to parallel the transformation process of Jesus. Along with the lion transforming from a Lamb, Aslan also made the transformation of turning from a lion into a albatross to help lead the Dawn Treader out of the dark light. Another symbol of having the Jesus help guide everybody from the Christians life. Even at one point Lucy even swears that she saw a cross in the sky, which in fact was the albatross, or at least Aslan changing again. You can tell that it is Aslan as Lucy hears the strong voice saying, “Courage, dear heart.” This is also after Lucy basically prays for help from Aslan to get out of the deep shadow. C.S. Lewis would have gotten that Christian symbol from the epic The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge where he says, “Instead the cross, the albatross about my neck hung.” Having Aslan be this all encompassing being in the ability to transform into more shapes and is a really powerful image of showing how God is always in your life even when he isn’t recognizably visible in the Christians life he is always there.
The transformation that resonates with a lot of Christians within the Word is the water turning into wine and in Exodus 7:12 where Aaron’s staff turns into a snake which is a powerful way of showing God’s power and all of his might. The physical, bodily change of state is so eye opening to the reader that it is more effective than conversion because you get that massive physical change. Christ’s own transformation is a very powerful image, changing from Flesh to Spirit then back to Flesh again after his Crucifixion has no more powerful image in the Christian faith. Christ’s own transformation is when Jesus took Peter, James and John led them up to a high mountain and changed before their eyes. In Mark 9:3-4 it says that he “transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.” Not only did he transform to show his might but also the transformation of Moses and Elijah from Spirit to bodily form is also a big
The external transformation gives the Christian a very vivid and usually very imaginative visual spectacle but with Christians it’s what happens at the heart of whatever or whoever is being transformed, most notably the internal transformation of Saul to Paul. Saul does go through the physical transformation of losing his eyesight but his heart does a complete turnaround. Saul goes from persecuting God and cursing at His disciples to obeying God’s name and even becoming one of the men he was spitting curses at before. This transformation resonates with so many people because it not only means that anybody could be a follower of Christ but that a change if heart is all that you need.
Earlier in this paper the transformation for Eustace into the Dragon was an important aspect of the symbolism to that actual external transformation, now we are going to see that it was his internal transformation that got him out of that hideous state. Eustace was absolutely dreadful with his current state, so much so that he is even weeping on the beachhead. It’s not until the realization that he has been a nuisance for not just the crew, but also everybody around him his entire life. Eustace uses his new body to help be useful instead of being worthless and in the meantime of getting use to his new body transform himself into someone who is tolerable. This specific example of external transformation helps drive the purpose of the internal transformation of the character and Lewis uses this to really show the reader about becoming that better person.
Usually when we think of an internal transformation Christians usually see somebody changing for the better. Most people would agree that when you do transform you do it to become a better person, but Lewis also uses transformation in the negative context as well. Susan Penvensie, is mainly missing in the Last Battle and it insinuates that she is no longer a friend of Narnia meaning that she transformed her life away from Aslan and coincidentally from Christ and is no longer saved. Lewis uses that type of transformation as a powerful reminder to what happens when they do transform their heart on something that isn’t as powerful as the word of God.
Transformation, both internal and external are both powerful mediums that Christians that are very prevalent in a Christian’s life not just because it is around us but because it has been instilled into our lives through stories in the Bible and even in the fairy-stories like Narnia. This spectacle is important to the Christian faith because it not only shows the awe inspiring power of God, but it resonates within every single Christian because we have also in some way felt that same type of transformation.
A chrysalis into a butterfly, water into wine, a lamb into a lion. These are all examples of transformation. A tool that not only C.S. Lewis used but even biblical authors did as well in their own writings. The importance of transformation is very prevalent in a Christian’s life because it not only shows a change in a form or a figure but the meaning behind the transformation is just as important. External transformation is a powerful visual device that can really emphasize the internal change that has happened in the heart of the character in narratives. Now transformation of some sorts happens in every Christian’s life. Many Christian’s believe that they come to Christ they have been reborn or revived, and in a sense that is exactly what transformation is. In Ezekiel 36:26 it says, “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” That powerful image Ezekiel writes is exactly the imagery that C.S. Lewis conveys in his own writings with most notably the transformation from …show more content…
Eustace into the dragon in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. The changing of Eustace is symbolically showing that he has turned into the monster that he was in story before that. Lewis says “He had turned into a dragon while he was asleep. Sleeping on a dragon’s hoard with greedy, dragonish thoughts in his heart, he had become a dragon himself.” The physical change symbolizes a lot more than just Eustace’s newfound talons though. The physical change is such a dramatic change it really hits home to the personal changes that are either occurring, have already occurred, or maybe issues that need changing in the reader’s life, in particular Christians pick up more of the sentiment because of the constant reading of the bible and the use of transformation appears many times and know what the deeper meaning to the transformation.
The use of symbolism along with transformation is also really key into why it is such a powerful tool and C.S. Lewis takes full advantage of using the symbolism in his ways to really get the full effect of the symbolism. Having Eustace turn into a dragon, with him being greedy in Narnia and in his life in general has more effect than him turning into a mouse or some other creature. The particular transformation works because of the nature of the creature that he turns into, a dragon, where they are known for their greediness and their gluttony, like Smaug the Terrible in The Hobbit where the beast is living in a mountain of stolen gold from the dwarves of Erebor. C.S.
Lewis uses very blatant Christian symbols in his Chronicles of Narnia where Aslan turns himself into numerous symbols. One of the most notable symbols is when the lamb, which then turns into Aslan, is feeding Edward, Lucy, and Eustace. The significance of the lamb to the Christian is undeniably in scripture. In the Great Divorce the lizard which is an obviously symbol of the Devil, Lewis here isn’t trying to hide this symbol and the change from this ugly lizard to this majestic flawless stallion is a clear symbol of Death changing to life through Christ, especially with the Stallion being so close to Heaven and an angel killing the lizard in the first place. Lewis uses this example purely as a form of external transformation to show the power of Christ but to also strike the emotion in the Narrator when he sees that scene, in which produce emotions in the
reader.
Lewis continues to uses the transformation of Aslan to parallel the transformation process of Jesus. Along with the lion transforming from a Lamb, Aslan also made the transformation of turning from a lion into a albatross to help lead the Dawn Treader out of the dark light. Another symbol of having the Jesus help guide everybody from the Christians life. Even at one point Lucy even swears that she saw a cross in the sky, which in fact was the albatross, or at least Aslan changing again. You can tell that it is Aslan as Lucy hears the strong voice saying, “Courage, dear heart.” This is also after Lucy basically prays for help from Aslan to get out of the deep shadow. C.S. Lewis would have gotten that Christian symbol from the epic The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge where he says, “Instead the cross, the albatross about my neck hung.” Having Aslan be this all encompassing being in the ability to transform into more shapes and is a really powerful image of showing how God is always in your life even when he isn’t recognizably visible in the Christians life he is always there.
The transformation that resonates with a lot of Christians within the Word is the water turning into wine and in Exodus 7:12 where Aaron’s staff turns into a snake which is a powerful way of showing God’s power and all of his might. The physical, bodily change of state is so eye opening to the reader that it is more effective than conversion because you get that massive physical change. Christ’s own transformation is a very powerful image, changing from Flesh to Spirit then back to Flesh again after his Crucifixion has no more powerful image in the Christian faith. Christ’s own transformation is when Jesus took Peter, James and John led them up to a high mountain and changed before their eyes. In Mark 9:3-4 it says that he “transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.” Not only did he transform to show his might but also the transformation of Moses and Elijah from Spirit to bodily form is also a big
The external transformation gives the Christian a very vivid and usually very imaginative visual spectacle but with Christians it’s what happens at the heart of whatever or whoever is being transformed, most notably the internal transformation of Saul to Paul. Saul does go through the physical transformation of losing his eyesight but his heart does a complete turnaround. Saul goes from persecuting God and cursing at His disciples to obeying God’s name and even becoming one of the men he was spitting curses at before. This transformation resonates with so many people because it not only means that anybody could be a follower of Christ but that a change if heart is all that you need.
Earlier in this paper the transformation for Eustace into the Dragon was an important aspect of the symbolism to that actual external transformation, now we are going to see that it was his internal transformation that got him out of that hideous state. Eustace was absolutely dreadful with his current state, so much so that he is even weeping on the beachhead. It’s not until the realization that he has been a nuisance for not just the crew, but also everybody around him his entire life. Eustace uses his new body to help be useful instead of being worthless and in the meantime of getting use to his new body transform himself into someone who is tolerable. This specific example of external transformation helps drive the purpose of the internal transformation of the character and Lewis uses this to really show the reader about becoming that better person.
Usually when we think of an internal transformation Christians usually see somebody changing for the better. Most people would agree that when you do transform you do it to become a better person, but Lewis also uses transformation in the negative context as well. Susan Penvensie, is mainly missing in the Last Battle and it insinuates that she is no longer a friend of Narnia meaning that she transformed her life away from Aslan and coincidentally from Christ and is no longer saved. Lewis uses that type of transformation as a powerful reminder to what happens when they do transform their heart on something that isn’t as powerful as the word of God.
Transformation, both internal and external are both powerful mediums that Christians that are very prevalent in a Christian’s life not just because it is around us but because it has been instilled into our lives through stories in the Bible and even in the fairy-stories like Narnia. This spectacle is important to the Christian faith because it not only shows the awe inspiring power of God, but it resonates within every single Christian because we have also in some way felt that same type of transformation.