It’s no surprise that the character of Aslan is a favorite literary character for many people. He’s one of my favorites of all time as well. It’s not only because I enjoy reading the stories about him, but out of any other fictional character I love to read about, his character has helped me learn the most about God’s character. Through each of the Narnia stories, Lewis shows the world one of the greatest Stories ever told, and all through a lion.
So today is part one of sharing bits I loved from each book about Aslan. My hope is that whether or not you’ve read the books, you’ll be encouraged in these and ultimately the Greater Story.
The Magician’s Nephew
Every time I finish a Narnian novel, I say, “This one is my favorite!” I love each one for different reasons and this one is so beautiful. This tells the story of Narnia’s creation. There’s the beauty of creation, the temptation of power, the lessons learned, all of it! Here’s one of my favorites quotes from the book as Aslan is singing Narnia into creation:
“Narnia, Narnia, Narnia, awake. Love. Think. Speak. Be walking trees. Be talking beasts. Be divine waters.”
One of the things I love about Lewis, is how he captures the feeling of being in Divine presence. While the creation of Narnia was stunning, breathtaking and beautiful, it paled in comparison to the creator. Take this scene:
“The earth was of many colors; they were fresh, hot and vivid. They made you feel excited; until you saw the Singer himself, and then you forgot everything else. It was a Lion. Huge, shaggy, and bright, it stood facing the risen sun. Its mouth was wide open in song and it was about three hundred yards away.”
Also, sidenote: Tolkien and Lewis both used music in the creation of their universes and it's one of my favorite things about them both. Music is powerful and only fitting they are used.
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Even with Aslan willingly gives his life in this one (which many saw as weak), I see his strength more than any of the other books. It makes sense, seeing that he represents Jesus. It’s such a beautiful loving strength. And why this quote is so fitting:
"He's wild, you know. Not like a tame lion."
Too many times we (me) like to put God in a box. But how beautiful is it that He does the unexpected? We often want what we know, what we are comfortable with, but that often isn’t what is best for us. And it’s scary, but this wisdom from the Beaver is always a needed reminder:
"Safe? Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you."
I truly appreciate how Lewis was able to tell the Gospel in such a beautiful way. I’ll leave with this favorite quote:
“…though the Witch knew the Deep Magic, there is a magic deeper still which she did not know…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 backwards.”
Sigh…
The Horse and His Boy
There are many people who say this is their least favorite of Chronicles or they don’t like it at all (or both). To which I say RUDE. Maybe it’s because this was the first Narnia book I read (a year after college - I was way late to the Narnia train), but it’s more than that. Through this story of two children and two horses, Lewis reminds us of the many ways God comforts and leads us.
Throughout the adventure Shasta is on, he encounters lions/felines in different environments. When he finally encounters THE Aslan, he learns things weren’t all they seemed.
“Don’t you think it was bad luck to meet so many lions?” said Shasta.
“There was only one lion,” said the Voice.
“What on earth do you mean? I’ve just told you there were at least two the first night, and -”
“There was only one: but he was swift on foot.”
“How do you know?”
“I was the lion.” And as Shasta gaped with an open mouth and said nothing, the Voice continued. “I was the lion who forced you to join Aravis. I was the cat who comforted you among the houses of the dead. I was the lion who drove the jackals from you while you slept. I was the lion who gave the horses the new strength of fear for the last mile so that you should reach King Lune in time. And I was the lion you do not remember who pushed the boat in which you lay, a child near death, so that it came to shore where a man sat, wakeful at midnight, to receive you.”
“Who are you?” asked Shasta.
“Myself,” said the Voice, very deep and low so that the earth shook: and again “Myself,” loud and clear and gay: and then the third time “Myself,” whispered so softly you could hardly hear it, and yet it seemed to come from all round you as if the leaves rustled with it.
Shasta was no longer afraid that the Voice belonged to something that could eat him, nor that it was the voice of a ghost. But a new and different sort of trembling came over him. And he felt glad too. I love the awe of it all.
And this is one of my favorites:
"[Aslan] seems to be at the back of all the stories."
Prince Caspian
This is one where Aslan is silent a majority of the book, but I would say that makes his arrival even more brilliant. I also loved how they didn't all see him at once. It was a faith thing. Lucy never stopped believing in Aslan and when she did encounter him, “She sat up, trembling with excitement but not with fear.” The siblings (and Trumpkin) took a bit longer (and at different times), but even Aslan in his love, encourages them.
After Peter apologized, Aslan calls him "My dear son." To Edmund (who was more willing to believe Lucy this time), he says "Well done." Then to Susan: "You have listened to your fears, child" said Aslan. "Come, let me breathe on you. Forget them. Are you brave again?"
There’s also a scene at the end that shows the freedom that comes with following Aslan (Jesus). Aslan, Lucy and Susan go through the town and bring life to people. It’s beautiful. One of my favorite parts is that Aslan calls them, like the school mistress, Dear heart.
There are times when it feels like God is silent (whether we’re talking the 400 years between the OT and NT, or our individual lives), but He never is and I’ve held on to that promise every day.
What’s one of you favorite Aslan scenes?
© 2023 Jamie Lapeyrolerie
First off—I can't believe people don't like The Horse and His Boy. It's my favourite! I love Shasta's and Aravis' encounters with Aslan there—how his questions led for deeper self-reflection among themselves.