The Chronicles of Narnia/Fridge: Difference between revisions

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* While I'm still not that much of a fan of the series, I thought it was kind of interesting to learn from [[The Other Wiki]] that in the ''[[Narnia]]'' books, the god Tash of Calormene was based upon Medieval demonizations of Islam. I think this definitely shows Lewis' intellect and suggests that rather than necessarily believing that Muslims are devil-worshippers ([[Jack Chick]] is hopefully one of the few people who think this way), he was using the medieval idea to add to Narnia's overall "storybook" quality.-- [[Jordan]]

** According to be book collecting Lewis' correspondence with fans in my possession, Tash was inspired by some of the animal-headed deities of ancient times and certain deities mentioned in the Old Testament. He never mentioned (or gave indication of) Tash being inspired by Islam, though he did state that Calormene was inspired by ''[[Arabian Nights]]''. As far as the books go, Aravis, Emeth, and the inhabitants of the entire city of Tashbaan seen in Aslan's Country show that he didn't consider the Calormene to be innately evil. Rather, we unfortunately only got to know a few of the better ones in any meaningful way. Aslan's interview with Emeth in ''The Last Battle'' makes clear there are many people worshipping him who are actually worshipping Tash, and that there are people who worship Tash but are counted as loving Aslan. Intent seems to be more important than lip service.

*** Patronizing? What did you expect? Everyone holds hands together and sings Kumbaya?

*** You do realize that anyone who has a real opinion about anything, especially religion, thinks like that. Of course Lewis thinks what he believes is right. Why else would he hold those beliefs?

** The hypnosis scene from ''The Silver Chair'' is on the [[Narm/Literature]] page, because the Lady's manner of disproving the existence of the surface "involves her asking for every magnificent surface concept, "Please, what is this [insert concept here]?"" This is [[Fridge Horror|quite the opposite for me]]; if she was able to do so with nothing but the powder in the fire, the harp, and asking a few rhetorical questions, think what she would've done if Puddleglum ''hadn't'' been there and she'd really been able to get her teeth in. It also makes it amazing that Rilian managed to resist her for ''ten years''.

 

* The statues in the White Witch's fortress.

** Practically most of the fates of the Seven Lords in ''Dawn Treader''.

* The genocide of the Old Narnians by the Telmarines. The Telmarines conquer Narnia and instantly start wiping out Talking Animals and supernatural beings, driving survivors into hiding for hundreds of years. And yet Aslan not only doesn't strengthen or comfort his people while they're being exterminated OR prevent the extermination in the first place, he's physically absent from Narnia during this time, to the point where many Old Narnians regard him as a myth. In other words, the god of this world vanishes when his people have the greatest need of him.

** Not only that, but this isn't the first time Aslan disappears. We're told that the White Witch ruled for a hundred years. And during that period of time, the divine being that sang Narnia into existence is nowhere to be seen; her magic keeps spring, Father Christmas and the aforementioned deity out of Narnia. This means that either the White Witch is, at least for a time, more powerful than a god, at least in terms of the rules that she is forcing Aslan to obey...or that Aslan could have re-entered Narnia at any time and just--didn't. He has to be prevented from doing too much for the sake of the story, but since Aslan is Lion Jesus, and therefore presumably omnipotent and omniscient, his inaction does not make him look good.

 

 

* This is only in [[The Film of the Book]], but watch ''[[The Chronicles of Narnia|The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian]]'', and the romance between Susan and Caspian. [[Romantic Plot Tumor]]? I don't think so anymore. Look at it this way: Susan had grown up and become a Queen during '''The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe'''. During that time she probably had suitors- and it's made explicit in '''A Horse and Her Boy''' that she does. Then she goes back home, and she's a girl again. One year later ''maybe'' she's readjusted to her "before" life, and she get's dragged back to [[Narnia]] where she ends up falling in love. Of course, as soon as ''that'' happens, she's sent back home ''again'', and told she will never return. With that context, the last book (where she no longer believes in Narnia) makes a lot more sense- she probably stopped believing so that the "hurt" could go away. (Well, it makes a lot more sense to ''me'' at least- [[Your Mileage May Vary]]).

** Susan's main problem throughout the books has always been her attraction to materialism and worldliness getting in the way of her life's mission. In the book, Aslan's personal message for her is that she has "listened to fears" that she needs to forget. In three subsequent books, she is described as having become rather shallow, interested more in parties and flirting than anything else, even during her queenly years in Narnia. Given that personality profile, it makes total sense to me that she had an attraction to Caspian, but was able to set it aside fairly readily with a flippant remark about their ages. She was more in love with romance than with Caspian.

 

* In the third movie, they've "defeated" the green mist thingy, and now you have at lease a ''dozen'' boatloads of people in the middle of the sea, stranded hundreds, if not ''thousands'' of miles from their homes. Just what happened to those people?

** Not ''that'' serious an example: they're close enough to Ramandu's island to land there, recouperate, and eventually build ships for the return voyage.

[[Category:The Chronicles of Narnia]]

[[Category:Fridge]]