Symbolism In The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe

How does an Atheist write a Christian novel? “One of the greatest Christian authors of the twientieth century” (“Faith”). Clive Staples Lewis relates The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe almost exactly to the Bible. Lewis compares characters in his story that originate from the Bible. In his novel The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Lewis uses the achetype of the Stone Table and the symbol of the hero to convey Christianity. The Stone Table, in Lewis’ novel represents the Cross in the Crucifixion. “So is Edmund killed? No, instead Aslan offers himself as a sacifice to the White Witch. He is tied up on the Stone Table, tortured then stabbed with a knife” (Hurley E23). In the story, the Stone Table is a well known physical location just as the Cross is in the Bible. Aslan’s dying for Edmund’s sin compares to Jesus dying on the Cross for all of our sins. Lewis uses this allegory to portray to his readers Christianity. “There, shining in the sunrise, larger than they had seen then before, shaking his mane (for it had apparently grown again)
stood Aslan himself” (Lewis 233). This illustrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Later in the story, the characters Lucy and Susan relate to Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Jesus in the Bible. When Aslan resurected, Lucy and Susan were there to take care of Aslan just as Mary and Mary were there to take care of Jesus at the Cross and at His tomb. In The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, the hero represents Aslan.
“She has renounced the claim on your brother’s blood” (Lewis 207). Lewis compares Aslan to Jesus which makes him the hero in the story. The hero Aslan, saves Edmund’s life by dying for his sin. In the beginning, Eddmund fell for the White Witch’s trick by eating some of her Turkish Delight which made hi side with her. “The hero of the series, Aslan the lion, is often viewed as a Christlike figure: Aslan dies at the hand of his wicked enemies, is miraculously resurected, and saves those who believe in him” (Griffin 1). After he resurrected, he went to the White Witch’s castle where she turned the good into stone. Aslan simply breathed on the dead animals and brought them back to life. He saved all the dead creatures that believed in him. In the Bible, is states that when Jesus comes back to Earth he will also save those that believe in
him. As one can see, Lewis uses the archetype of the Stone Table and the symbol of the hero to portray Christianity. His use of the Stone Table reminds readers of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. His use of the hero calls to mind the sacrifice Jesus made on the Cross. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (New International Version, John 3.16). Both Aslan and Jesus died for the sins of others because of the everlasting love for them.