The White Witch

The White Witch
By Duncan Rize

The White Witch is the clear embodiment of evil in the story of Narnia. She is pale, lifeless and cruel. She detests merriment and has placed a spell on Narnia to keep the land eternally frozen in winter without it ever being Christmas. She has thus robbed the world of the hope of spring and the hope of Christmas. Her spells have accomplished the complete banishment of religion from Narnia. The White Witch had even forbidden the creatures of Narnia from using Aslan’s name. The parallel for the Witch in Christian theology is the devil. Like the devil the Witch uses temptation and dark arts to bring innocent people over to the side of evil. In this way she lures the Faun Tumnus and Edmund into sinning.

The White Witch rides around Narnia on a white sleigh, driven by an unpleasant dwarf, and uses her magic wand to turn her enemies into stone. Her followers are comprised of the most evil and unnatural creatures in Narnia.

There is a prophecy in Narnia that when two Sons of Adam and two Daughters of Eve sit on the thrones of Cair Paravel her reign, and her life, will end. The Witch, therefore, lives in eternal fear of humans. When she meets Edmund and discovers he has three siblings she uses magical food (Turkish Delight) to entice Edmund to her side. The Witch has named herself the Queen of Narnia and she rules through terror and magic.

Although the Witch looks human she is actually the descendant of a giant and a jinn. According to Mr. Beaver, creatures that look human and aren’t, are wholly evil.

Once Edmund betrays his siblings to the White Witch she sets off after them in her sledge. The Witch’s magic weakens as the night progresses and when the morning comes the sledge can no longer run because spring has arrived. The Witch then prepares to kill Edmund, but he is saved just in time. The Witch escapes by using her magic to turn herself into a rock. The Witch then demands Edmund’s life, as is her ancient right, because he is a traitor. When Aslan offers to take his place the Witch agrees and kills Aslan instead. The Witch uses the tools of trickery and illusion to fool the good creatures of Narnia.

The Witch stands over the bound Aslan and crows that he has doomed all his people by being a fool. In the great battle the Witch turns many people to stone before Edmund finally fights his way to her and breaks her wand. Peter fights the Witch but all he can do is hold her off until Aslan arrives and kills her. The Witch’s death frees the creatures of Narnia from their long oppression and symbolizes the inevitable triumph of good over evil. The prophecy of the Witch’s downfall is fulfilled. The devil of Narnia is defeated.

Duncan Rize loves the writings of C.S. Lewis and works with the marketing group at www.LearningByGrace.org. Learning by Grace manages of a number of internationally known online K-12 academies including www.TheGraceAcademy.org, www.TheJubileeAcademy.org, www.TheMorningStarAcademy.org and www.TheNarniaAcademy.org . This article is © 2005 ELRN, Inc. and may be quoted in whole or part as long as the author (Duncan Rize) and source (www.TheNarniaAcademy.org) are credited.

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