Inklings Week 2025: The White Witch and the Nature of Evil
But we have Aslan on our side
It’s that time of year, where we celebrate all things Inklings for the annual Inklings Week and International Inklings Day on May 11th! This year marks the 10th year of Inklings Week (I don’t know how that is even possible, because WHAT?!) and is the 99th anniversary of when Tolkien and Lewis met. We have a great set of posts this year and even a giveaway, so be sure to subscribe and not miss a post. You can find all the posts here. And don’t forget to enter this year’s giveaway!
What makes the White Witch of Narnia such a great villain? Why does she stand out among the memorable wicked names of literature? She’s memorable, always dressed in wintery white, pale skin, and her own made crown. And if you know her from The Magician’s Nephew as Jadis, you know she has a long history of evil doing.
What makes her such a great villain is how well she encapsulates the nature of evil today. That our battles aren’t just against each other, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12). We see that everyday with those who crave power at any expense and peace is seen as a weakness.
In each book, we see the effects of a never ending lust for power. The White Witch is never satisfied, especially as the prophecy of man hangs over her. Absolute control is the only way she’ll be satisfied. She’s selfish, not even caring for those on her side, and as we see in each of her actions, has no empathy. When you give someone who doesn’t value empathy power, we see cruelty reign supreme. Someone like that will do anything, including hurting innocent people (and in the witch’s case, children), to maintain and get more power and control.
The White Witch is also known for her manipulation, deception, and thrives off of intimidating those she seeks to rule. Her punishments are cruel and unjust (as her statue garden shows). She also preys on the insecurities, weaknesses, and vulnerabilities of those she encounters (as we see best with Edmund). She gives them just enough for them to believe her and gain the little power she is offering (even though we know that too is a lie).
But these stories also remind us that we are not left to fight against evil all on our own.
There are two wonderful scenes that come to mind that encourage me.
First, is when Aslan, when he comes back in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, explains the magic the White Witch feel short of:
“But what does it all mean?” asked Susan when they were somewhat calmer.
“It means,” said Aslan, “that though the Witch knew the Deep Magic, there is a magic deeper still which she did not know. Her knowledge goes back only to the dawn of time. But if she could have looked a little further back, into the stillness and the darkness before Time dawned, she would have read there a different incantation. She would have known that when a willing victim who had committed no treachery was killed in a traitor’s stead, the Table would crack and Death itself would start working backward.”
What we see in the world is not it. What hope that brings. Jesus is alive and evil has already been defeated, even as it runs rampant today.
Second, in The Magician’s Nephew, Digory desperately wants to bring back the apple of youth, not for himself, but for his dying Mom. But while Jadis turns up her cunning manipulation, we see another kind of love that helped Digory break the spell. And this is a reminder my heart needs in these trying times. “After multiple attempts (full of twisted lies of the apple’s power) by the Witch, we see that the love from a friendship is just as powerful:
“You needn’t take the little girl back with you, you know.” That was where the Witch made her fatal mistake. Of course Digory knew that Polly could get away by her own ring as easily as he could get away by his. But apparently the Witch didn’t know this. And the meanness of the suggestion that he should leave Polly behind suddenly made all the other things the Witch had been saying to him sound false and hollow. And even in the midst of all his misery, his head suddenly cleared, and he said (in a different and much louder voice): “Look here; where do you come into all this? Why are you so precious fond of my Mother all of a sudden? What’s it got to do with you? What’s your game?”
“Good for you, Digs,” whispered Polly in his ear. “Quick! Get away now.” She hadn’t dared to say anything all through the argument because, you see, it wasn’t her Mother who was dying.
Even though Digory knew he made the right choice, that didn’t mean there still wasn’t grief or sadness. As they are flying back on Fledge, we read that “Digory never spoke on the way back, and the others were shy of speaking to him. He was very sad and he wasn’t even sure all the time that he had done the right thing; but whenever he remembered the shining tears in Aslan’s eyes he became sure.” 1
May you be reminded of Aslan’s hope today.
© 2025 Jamie Lapeyrolerie