Now that it’s official that Netflix’s Greta Gerwig’s Narnia reboot will need to bulk up Lewis’ original writings in order to make each installment hit its runtime, and readers have queries that will help the director do this.
There are problems with the Chronicles of Narnia, but these issues have the potential to be juicy subplots or simply interesting details in the movies. The series is one of the best fantasy book franchises ever, yet compared to the likes of The Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter, it is lacking in significant backstories and fates for its characters, as well as proper details explaining its magical structures. Hopefully, Gerwig’s reboot will provide readers and audiences alike with answers to these questions.
8 Who Is The Green Lady?
The Identity Of The Silver Chair's Antagonist & Her Connection To The White Witch Is Unknown
The Lady of the Green Kirtle makes her first and only appearance in The Silver Chair. The villainous Green Witch rules an area she creates herself underneath Narnia, and she also has the mystical ability to transform into a vicious green serpent. However, much like the other occult characters in the Chronicles of Narnia, little is known about the Green Witch. Lewis never really clarifies exactly who she is or where she has come from, although he does establish her as a part of the Northern Witches group alongside the White Witch.
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The Green Witch does claim that her species are from ancient times and are not familiar with aging, but this doesn’t provide any further context on her origins. The Green Witch is, at one point, an ally of the Gentle Giants, which suggests that her evilness isn’t a permanent character trait. It’s likely that she is always an antagonistic force, but her reasoning for being so is never explained in the Narnia books. The Lady of the Green Kirtle deserves justice in Narnia’s reboot, and hopefully, Gerwig can give the underrated villain a backstory.
7 What Is Narnia's Magic System?
C. S. Lewis Is Very Vague About How Magic Exactly Works In Narnia
There are undoubtedly gaps in the Chronicles of Narnia’s lore, but one of the most frustrating is the lack of explanation over the land’s magic system. While there is one, it’s very loosely defined and is often only half established.
For example, Narnia and Calormen have varying levels of magical strength, but it’s not very clear as to why that is. It is implied that Aslan controls the flow across the worlds, which makes sense considering he is the ultimate creator, but the character doesn’t explain his choices either.
6 Why Doesn't The Professor Want To Investigate The Wardrobe?
Digory Kirke Is The First To Visit Narnia
At multiple points in the series, the characters lose and regain their memories of Narnia, depending on where they are. Lewis explains that they view Narnia like a dream, in which their knowledge of it fades over time. However, this creates a slight plot hole with Digory Kirke. Digory is the first person to step into Narnia, in which Aslan sends him on a quest to retrieve fruit to heal his mother’s deadly illness.
Lewis explains that they view Narnia like a dream, in which their knowledge of it fades over time.
He later uses this fruit to grow the Tree of Protection, which eventually becomes the famous Wardrobe and portal to Narnia. However, when he is later known as Professor Kirke in The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, he has no interest in investigating the wardrobe.
Kirke believes Lucy’s story about discovering Narnia, which proves that he clearly re the place, yet he doesn’t push the topic any further or ask her to show him. Although it could be argued that the trauma of his childhood and the events of The Magician’s Nephew discouraged him from getting involved, it is still very strange that Digory doesn’t want to reunite with Aslan or thank the lion for his help.
5 Does Susan Ever Believe In Narnia Again?
Susan Loses Her Faith In The Magical Land As She Grows Up
Susan Pevensie’s divisive ending in The Last Battle continues to anger readers. Even though Lewis establishes that other children grow out of Narnia eventually and stop believing, it is still frustrating to see Susan give up on the magical world and be slowly phased out of the franchise. She is the only survivor of her siblings, and the end of her story is left rather vague.
The only thing that is ever confirmed about Susan, however, is that she still doesn’t believe in Narnia by The Last Battle’s climax, and so cannot enter the real Narnia with the others. Lewis also acknowledges this in his 1985 book Letters to Children. He states that “perhaps she will get to Aslan's country in the end,” which suggests that Susan eventually believes again, although there is no implication as to when this happens or why.
Lewis also adds in another letter that he couldn’t write a follow-up story about Susan reaching Aslan’s country himself, which provides Gerwig with a brilliant opportunity to delve into this. Her fate after the final book is left unclear, and hopefully, Gerwig’s Narnia reboot can bring justice to Susan and clarify if she ever believes again.
4 Who Is The Magical Mrs. Lefay?
Andrew Ketterley's Godmother Is Still A Mystery
One underrated Chronicles of Narnia character who doesn’t get the attention they deserve is Mrs. Lefay. She is Andrew’s godmother and is mentioned in The Magician’s Nephew, where it is established that the woman is of fairy descent. Mrs. Lefay’s story is only briefly touched upon, unfortunately, as she dies before the events of the book. However, Mrs. Lefay plays a crucial part in the beginnings of Narnia. It seems likely that her backstory isn’t expanded because the original opening of the novel, known as The Lefay Fragment, is cut from the widely published copies.
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However, she is referenced later on in The Magician’s Nephew, so the character is still canon. There are few details about Mrs. Lefay in the novel, but plenty of questions. It’s unclear who she is before becoming Andrew’s godmother, if she’s even from Earth because of her fairy heritage, or how her “unwise things” got her sent to prison. Mrs. Lefay’s story in The Magician’s Nephew could make her a fantastic focus for a subplot in Netflix’s Narnia movies, especially as she is the reason Andrew encounters magic in the first place.
3 What Is Happening In Narnia When The Pevensies Aren't There?
Narnia's Time Jumps Are Left To The Imagination
The Chronicles of Narnia timeline is vastly complicated for several reasons. The books have an unusual reading order, and the way time es on Earth compared to Narnia is very different. For example, only one year es for the Pevensies between the events of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe and Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia, but in the titular land, 1300 years have gone by.
This continues with each installment, and every time readers revisit Narnia, it is decades or centuries ahead of its human characters. This issue raises questions about what is happening in Narnia during the absence of the siblings. While some details are revealed, such as Miraz seizing the throne and the banishment of the seven lords, there are plenty of other gaps in the narrative.
One of the harsh realities of the Narnia books is that the Pevensies only seem to go there when there is danger. It’d be interesting to find out what else is going on when they’re gone, other than crucial plot details, especially as the Narnia universe is so complex and is made up of multiple lands.
2 How Did The Pevensies Adapt To Being Children Again After Book 1?
The Siblings Return To Their Younger Years At The End Of The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe
The shocking ending of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe sees the Pevensies defeat the White Witch and rule over Narnia well into their adult years. That is until they stumble across the lamppost that brings them to Narnia in the first place, fall back out of the wardrobe, and find themselves as children once again.
While some of their memories probably fade over time, it’s hard for an entire lifetime to just vanish from their minds.
Netflix’s Narnia adaptation needs to explore the Pevensies becoming kids again, specifically the fallout of their sudden return to their youths. Peter, Susan, Lucy, and Edmund all grew up and became monarchs, so this is likely a jarring experience. While some of their memories probably fade over time, it’s hard for an entire lifetime to just vanish from their minds.
It’s also strange that Lucy and Edmund aren’t adults again when they return in Prince Caspian, although this is probably because Aslan’s magic pulls them in intentionally. Gerwig has the opportunity to create additional moments in her Narnia reboot that delve further into this and look at how each of the siblings adapt to their abrupt physical changes. As the youngest, Lucy’s reaction to this is a particularly interesting one for the director to look at.
1 Why Isn't Susan At The Train Station In The Last Battle?
Lewis Doesn't Give A Reason As To Why Susan Avoids The Same Awful Fate As Her Family
While there initially seems to be an explanation as to why Susan doesn’t die in The Last Battle, upon a closer glance, Lewis’ answer doesn’t really make sense. The book establishes that Susan isn’t at the train station with her family and friends because she isn’t a true “friend of Narnia,” and she no longer believes in it.
However, this doesn’t explain why the Pevensies' parents die in the same wreck, seeing as they have no connection to Narnia. Susan does leave with them to go to America in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, but they seemingly return. Helen and Christopher are present because they are all going to visit family, supposedly.
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Although Susan has apparently moved on to other things and has different priorities, it seems odd that she isn’t at the station with her siblings and parents. Lewis never explains why Susan isn’t there, which is rather strange, considering she is the sole survivor of the Pevensie family. Even if she doesn’t believe in Narnia anymore, there must be a reason why she doesn’t them on their journey, and hopefully, the new Chronicles of Narnia movies will explain this.
- Created by
- C.S. Lewis
- First Film
- The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
- Latest Film
- The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
- First TV Show
- The Chronicles of Narnia
- First Episode Air Date
- November 13, 1988
- Cast
- Georgie Henley, William Moseley, Skandar Keynes, Anna Popplewell, Ben Barnes, Liam Neeson, Tilda Swinton, James McAvoy, Will Poulter, Simon Pegg
The Chronicles of Narnia is a fantasy franchise based on the seven-book series written by C.S. Lewis between 1950 and 1956. The series is set in the magical world of Narnia, where children from our world are transported to fulfill prophecies, battle evil forces, and restore peace under the guidance of Aslan, a mystical lion. The franchise has seen multiple adaptations, including a BBC television series in the late 1980s, three major Hollywood films between 2005 and 2010, and an reboot by Netflix, which has generated significant anticipation. The franchise is beloved for its rich allegorical storytelling, blending Christian themes with epic fantasy elements.
