The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe | Chapter 11: Aslan is Nearer

Chapter Summary:

This chapter returns to Edmund and the Witch. After the Witch summons her sleigh, Edmund asks for Turkish Delight, and receives only stale bread and water. The White Witch orders Maugrim to go to the Beaver's house and kill anything he finds there.

The White Witch, her slave dwarf, and Edmund drive off in her sleigh. Edmund quickly realizes that he had been wrong about the Witch and which side he should be on. During their journey, they come across some animals who are enjoying food and drink given to them by Father Christmas. The White Witch is enraged when she hears that Father Christmas has come, and turns all of them into stone. Edmund feels sorry for someone other than himself for the first time in this story.

They continue on, but the snow is starting to melt off the ground and trees. Eventually the sleigh cannot go on, so the Witch tells her drawf to tie Edmund's hands, and they will continue their journey by walking. Very soon, there is more green than white; flowers emerge and birds sing. The dwarf points out that this is no thaw, it is Spring, and it is Aslan's doing. The Witch says that the next person to mention Aslan will be killed.

Reflection:

Edmund learns a good number of lessons during the course of this chapter--some of them pretty clear, and others perhaps a bit more debatable. But from my perspective, he learns these lessons:

(1) First--Edmund learns that actions have consequences. Finally, what's done cannot be undone, and Edmund sees the direct results of what he has done. He witnesses the Witch tell Maugrim to kill anything he finds at the Beaver house--so as far as Edmund knows, Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, along with his three siblings, may as well be dead. He also witnesses the Witch turn innocent animals into stone before his eyes--and he thinks of how they will sit there for ages and ages, despite having done nothing wrong. The scary part is that Edmund is only just now seeing the true weight of his betrayal--but it is weight enough.

(2) Second--Edmund learns empathy. For pretty much the entire novel, Edmund has been the image of narcissism--he is looking out for the best interest of himself and no one else. This is why he eats the Turkish Delight, lies about his visit to Narnia, and betrays his siblings (because the Witch had promised to make him the King of Narnia). But it is only when Edmund sees the Witch turn the innocent animals into stone does he learn to feel sorry for someone else (this is not implied but directly stated by the text). What's more surprising is that two events actually happen back-to-back before Edmund feels empathy for the animals. First--the Witch turns the animals into stone, and then she gives "Edmund a stunning blow on the face as she remounted the sledge" (p. 111). In other words, Edmund's empathy is strong enough to overcome the physical pain of being struck in the face. His lesson in empathy was sharp and painful indeed.

(3) Edmund learns to admit to himself that he was wrong. This is a huge step for Edmund. As the Witch is driving them away from her palace, Edmund finally sees his rationalizations about the Witch as exactly what they are--rationalizations and lies to himself. As the narrator has been telling us all along, deep down, Edmund knew that the Witch was evil and capable of cruelty--but hindsight is 20/20.

(4) Edmund learns to value his siblings. This is another important step for Edmund. During the long sleigh ride, Edmund thinks to himself that he "would have given anything to meet the others at this moment--even Peter!" (p. 110). Edmund has learned that this siblings were not the enemy. This will undoubtedly be important in his redemption later in the novel.

All things told, Edmund has paid dearly for his betrayal (and will pay even more dearly yet)--but his growth as a result has also been immense. Edmund at the conclusion of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe will be an entirely different character from the Edmund that we have come to know thus far.