The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe: Chapter 3

Scout · #1 Nov 14, '05, 12:51 pm

In Chapter 3, we meet the White Witch. Lewis describes her as very tall and "white-not merely pale, but white like snow or paper or icing sugar, except for her very red mouth."

As the White Witch is supposed to represent Satan, why do you think Lewis chose this description of the White Witch? What do you think her beauty and the fact that she is white with a red mouth means? How would you feel if you had met her, not knowing whether she was good or evil?

Scout

kage_ar · #2 Nov 14, '05, 1:26 pm

Brings to mind 2 Cor 11:14

"And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light. "

LuzEstrella · #3 Nov 14, '05, 1:27 pm

Maybe Lewis wanted to show how some of the most evil things we are presented with are at first attractive. They are things we are supposed to be curious about and even enticed with. At first they may appear harmless and we may choose to ignore the little things which warn us (such as the red mouth). Many of the most obvious evil and dangerous things in this world can be something which we are repelled by, but the more subtle type of evil is meant to draw us closer until we are caught up in its trap.
Looks like Edmund is in some way finding her a bit startling, but he seems curious.The surroundings in the book are very much staying with a Christmas theme....the snow, the trees, the white and red colors, the sledge covered with bells, the reindeer,even the dwarf resembles an elf in some way. So maybe Edmund finds this somewhat familiar and fascinating. I would probably feel the same and would want to ask many questions.

Barbara Ann · #4 Nov 14, '05, 4:47 pm

The colors white and red are Christmas colors. Reindeer and dwarfs are Christmas creatures but there is no Christmas here. Also a dead person is pale almost white.

I was also intrigued by the fact that the White Witch asked Edmund what he is (three times but the last time is in chapter IV) and Edmund always responds with who he is.

Elizabeth2 · #5 Nov 14, '05, 4:58 pm

I'm not sure why Lewis made her all white, except perhaps to fit in with the coldness she had created, and to represent the coldness and sterility of evil. The whiteness of her skin is unnatural and the contrast with the redness of her mouth must have exaggerated her strangeness. Lewis says that her face is "proud and cold and stern". This together with her size must have made her a very strange figure indeed, so I think I would have been afraid of her right from the start.

Jim95437 · #6 Nov 14, '05, 6:04 pm

Her beauty is very tempting, but Edmund doesn't like the way she looks at him. If I were confronted with the same situation, my first reaction would probably be like Edmonds, and I can only hope I would not succumb to anything she might offer.

La-Petite-Fleur · #7 Nov 14, '05, 9:57 pm

My impression was that the White Witch is a cold person (thus the description of the dramatic skin tone). ...Cold hearted (the red lips on white... I imagine such an image would reflect cruelty). The 'beauty' of the White Witch is alluring and dangerous... just enough to entice one to partake of her Turkish Delight.

netmilsmom · #8 Nov 15, '05, 4:41 am

In the movie "The Sixth Sense" everything of significance is colored red.
I remember seeing a bottle of Zoloft in the movie and after my years as an Office Manager for a Psychiatrist, thinking, "Zoloft isn't red." However, I didn't catch the significance of the color until watching the special features.

I wonder if they took a cue from Lewis.
Imagine how much the red of her lips stood out against the grey and white of winter.

Barbara Ann · #9 Nov 15, '05, 5:29 am

I really don't think that this occured to C. S. Lewis but it did strike me as strange that the description of the White Witch is the classic description of a vampire

grotto · #10 Nov 15, '05, 5:39 am

It occured to me right away that the Turkish Delight the Witch gave Edmund was opium causing an immediate addiction. Maybe everybody got that figured but thought I'd suggest how a person's own flaws are exaggerated through the use of drugs, especially selfishness and self pity.

Barbara Ann · #11 Nov 15, '05, 6:15 am

Oh please do not tell me that Turkish Delight is a drug. I remember having it at Christmas in the late forties and early fifties. But remember this is enchanted Turkish Delight a sort of "forbidden fruit". Also remember the story takes place during the war. Even here in the U.S. sugar was rationed think how much more it was rationed in England

grotto · #12 Nov 15, '05, 8:12 am

Fraid it was! Edmund was in deep trouble for the longest time afterward. Better say no more in case I get ahead of the story!

Lanasshoebox · #13 Nov 16, '05, 9:18 am

Well i am afraid that my first thought went to my sons passing, and the colour draining from him. It to me represents the stopping, or non existing movement of blood....or life, in her. She is the opposite of living, she is death, and the spokes-person...red lips...for the king of dead deeds. She speaks untruths, just as satan does, she also knew he was going to run because of fear. Rather than chase him...because Satan does not chase, he intices, addicts, coerces, holds you captive...etc, but all of your own submission. You have to have the knowlege of the truth, discern it, and stand steady in your decisions to thwart him off. That is the true freedom.

The Red lips have also been an zone he wanted the child to see first, discern, and choose his own path. It was also used in Shindlers List...the ussage of Red in a black and white film.

She is like a spider ensnaring her prey....innocence can be caught easily...no challenge though, as she should feel proud of catching an innocent...no...how about bigger fish? Anyhow, that is way off of the story line. His gut instincts should have been stead fast....trust them always, and watch the eyes...it is how i discern most things.

Lanasshoebox · #14 Nov 16, '05, 9:32 am

We see the ideal situation when we think of our own needs and pleasures before we think of our own safety, morals and manners. This coaxing with the Turkish Delights has gotten him so wrapped up in pleasure, that there seems to be no return. There is a gluttony, a knowlege of what lies beneath the gift is over-ridden by his own needs. Addictions, sin following the wrong group, feelings that will only get stronger and more out of controle without a sense of properness, rules, guidelines and self discipline.

God tells us to follow certain guidelines, rules so to speak...backs it all up with instructions...but the inquisitive minds we have should never be let out to play without guidlines. We play sports with rules for a reason and many other things. It is in accepting the rules that things go smoother...even in parenting! Much easier with a child who accepts the rules, uses them wisely rather than always wanting more, can do it themselves, and often finds sadness, anger at others etc...especially once they learn that these things happened because of the choices that they made on this path.

Lanasshoebox · #15 Nov 16, '05, 9:53 am

So few things really happened, but so many things to relate to.

First off we have a new believer in the World of Narnia. Finally he seen it for the first time ever, thinking it all to be stories. Often we see others not believe in so many things God shows us. We choose to rationalize it, question it, question the relevance of it and walk away passing off the information for fear of being made out to be foolish or not sane.

Once he has seen for his own eyes, he knew what he had to do...he was brought up well enough to know that he was going to be accountable for his teasing Lucy...no matter how hard..and he was going to be placed in her shoes, with others ridiculing him as well. He would land on the side of truth and back Lucy up...it was the right thing to do.

Second we have what lies in all of our own lives. Once we see something with our own eyes...well that is visual proof...yes! Then we have a different duty to our hearts and soul. We have to discern what path we are going to follow and believe. Here we have an innocent boy, with great truth sensibilities. Yet we see his gulibility in believing what he sees and hears. Even though he feels that it is not right, he still follows off of the garden path. We loose sense of our inner voice leading us. It is easy in real life, and even more so for a child. They are taught to trust and respect their elders. So he follows her guidence, even though his gut feeling is Fear!