Profound Simplicity
C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is an exceptional portrayal of topics like sin and guilt in a simple, yet profound and thoughtful way. Lewis’s story is not muddled with the grays of daily life. He writes a narrative of good versus evil, the good lion Aslan versus the evil White Witch, which is far simpler than the real world often seems. Yet, this portrayal is not an inaccurate view of the world. Rather, it displays the underlying moral conflict between good and evil in the real world. Lewis writes about the sin in a way that is more digestible than more complicated explanations because he uses a story in which good and evil are clearly defined.
One of the most insightful ways that Lewis does this is by exploring sin through his character Edmund. In the story, Edmund meets the evil White Witch alone while wandering through the mystical world of Narnia, and she offers him Turkish Delight, which he accepts: a small act which signifies his allegiance to her. He makes a decision that is not complicated, and on the surface does not seem terrible; the decision to eat is not framed by an elaborate explanation of sin. Rather, Lewis chooses to comment that Edmund was uncomfortable with the Witch, but that he asked no questions (Lewis 36-38). When he eats the treats, there is barely a decision at all. Through this event, Edmund went from an unassuming young boy to a character in the clutches of evil. Lewis portrays Edmund’s betrayal to the group as a simple act, with no grandiose pomp and circumstance - yet this act displays the terrible betrayal of sin, which necessitates the later sacrifice of Aslan, the king of Narnia. Because of something as simple as Edmund eating Turkish Delight, Aslan has to die.
This image is important because it is an accurate portrayal of sin in everyday life. Not only does Edmund have to choose either good or evil, but he also does so without much thought. The portrayal is particularly impactful when considering what it means for sins that seem insignificant. Despite seeming trivial in the moment, every decision has eternal consequences. Because Edmund represents the common man, the implications of his decision are devastating. Ultimately, it shows that man cannot save himself, as each day is filled with overwhelming potential for sin.
Lewis develops his exploration of the exponential nature of sin by writing about Edmund’s later choices. After he meets with his sister, she tells him that the Witch is evil. He is embarrassed and angered by this, and he “decided all at once to do the meanest and most spiteful thing he could think of. He decided to let Lucy down” (Lewis 48). Edmund lied to his siblings and said that the world was make-believe. Through Edmund’s actions, Lewis shows guilt, shame, and anger. Rather than writing about the feeling of guilt, however, Lewis shows how Edmund’s reaction to his sin pushed him into further sinning. Lewis displays the path to future sin in a simple way by writing about the initial event, the Turkish Delight, and then following Edmund’s later decisions as impacted by that first decision. Edmund’s experience of guilt shows that a person’s reaction to sinning often is to continue to fall down the same path.
Through Edmund’s initial act of eating Turkish Delight and his later choices, C.S. Lewis portrays the devastating nature of sin and its eternal implications. He creates a narrative that displays representations of sin and guilt in a digestible way, while preserving the essential qualities of these topics.
C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. HarperTrophy, 1950.