I thought it would be a good idea, that after having finished this great journey of the Chronicles of Narnia, to write one last entry as a closing. This journey through seven books in which the reader has an incredible opportunity to get to know its characters in depth didn’t leave me untouched, and I want to share those comments and ideas (and maybe feelings, why not?) with you.
First, you will find below a list of all the entries that have to do with the seven books of Narnia published on this blog, in case you want to read a little more in depth about each book. You are not going to find a great depth of analysis because I do not want to tell you the whole story, (no spoilers!) but to encourage you to read the Narnia series as well.
- The Magician’s Nephew
- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
- The Horse and His Boy
- Prince Caspian
- The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
- The Silver Chair
- The Last Battle
The series is somewhat controversial for its comparisons to Christianity and other religions, and for the tone it uses when speaking of women in some cases and people from other countries in others. I must admit that I was surprised several times while reading the books. However, CS Lewis wrote his work almost 70 years ago, and the world was different at that time. I am not supporting his view of the world, just saying that, that world is not the same where we currently live. I think it is normal to analyse a book with a current lens, more than anything because we cannot avoid it. However, we should also have a certain critical attitude and try to understand beyond our current beliefs, understand that the world has changed a lot, and that what we understand as normal today, perhaps was not 20, 30, 100 or 300 years ago. We may not agree with it, and that is fine. You never thought you would read this kind of comment about a children’s book, right? This is how the Narnia series makes you feel…
Just focusing on the literature aspect, and the feelings I had when reading the books, I think that the Narnia Chronicles is a great series of books, and that the fantastic tone they have, whose stories, book by book, intertwine, has a very positive effect in the readers. I think CS Lewis was very imaginative in dealing with so many different themes and shaping them. My favourite story will continue to be that of the second book, when the fight against the White Witch breaks out. Maybe you have another favourite story, happy to discuss about that in the comments.
Even after having read all the books, there are many, many topics that have no closure during the series, and that is something that always leaves me with an internal emptiness. I am like Sheldon, I need closure on things. What happened to this character? How did your days end? Why don’t we know anything more about them, later on? This is something that happens continuously between books, since, as the time in Narnia is different from the time in «our world», characters are completely different. Aslan’s father, who is he? What does he do? Is he also a lion? Who is his mother? Why do we never hear about her? Does he have any brothers? Ancient magic, what is it? The white witch herself, what happened in her world? Among another million questions…
Final comment: as a classic of the fantastic genre, it is mandatory, for those who consider themselves lovers of this genre (like myself), to read it. The Narnia Chronicles have a controversial ending, and several points that open endless discussions, but for me, that is the goal of literature. Arouse emotions, force us to think, and enable us to have our own opinions. With the Narnia series, that goal is accomplished.
Quote that defines, in my opinion, the series in the best way: “Aslan is a lion- the Lion, the great Lion.» «Ooh» said Susan. «I’d thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion»…»Safe?» said Mr Beaver …»Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”
Keep on reading,
Questions to answer in the comments:
Have you read the Chronicles of Narnia? All the books or some of them? Did you like them? Do you agree with my final comments? Have you read any similar books you would recommend, for someone who would like to read more of the same genre? Please answer all these questions in the comments!
GG KLIMT 