Anti Heroism in The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe Essay

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

by Clive Staples Lewis

Heroes have many qualities. They are often ordinary people who do heroic things. Often the author of a narrative contrasts this hero with an Anit-Hero. When does the character of your chosen novel reveal himself or herself as an anti-hero? What evidence does the book provide to support this?

The childrens fantasy novel, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, by Clive Staples Lewis is about the path Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter follow. The four children enter a magical world, full of mythical creatures in order to release Narnia from the hold of the wicked White Witch. In Websters New Dictionary and Thesaurus the definition of heroic or heroism is described with words like bold, brave and courageous and these are the qualities that make up a hero. However, an anti-hero is the antagonist of a novel that does not do what is expected of the traditional hero. In this case Edmund was mean and spiteful and his greed deemed him to be a traitor. Some critics believe that each of the seven books of Narnia addresses one of the seven deadly sins, and for The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe this would be Edmunds gluttony in accordance to Adam and Eves sin of consumption. Although Edmund behaved as an anti-hero at the start of the novel, his character is transformed towards the end of the narrative and he atoned for his sins.

The first time Edmund shows the qualities an anti-hero is when he acts selfishly and disappoints Lucy. In chapter five, Edmund chooses looking superior to Lucy in front of his older siblings over helping his younger sister gain gratification for the truth she told. And now we come to one of the nastiest things in this story. When Peter asked Edmund the question he decided all at once to do the meanest and most spiteful thing he could think of. He decided to let Lucy down. (p.45) This is just one occasion that demonstrates how Edmund does not appreciate doing nice things for nice people therefore demonstrating one of the of an anti-hero.

Edmund is obviously an anti-hero because he first convinced his siblings to entered Narnia to get out of doing a task for the considerate maid of the estate they have so kindly been allowed to occupy. The maid, Mrs. Macready, enjoyed explaining to others her knowledge of the estate she kept clean. But, to avoid assisting her show people around the house the children hide in the wardrobe, Just as if any of us want to waste half the morning showing strange grown-ups around. Edmund said (p.52) and it is this rudeness and inconsideration of Edmund that is continued and shown repeatedly throughout the novel that proves his character is constructed as an anti-hero.

A common definition of an anti-hero is someone that looks at the boundaries holding them back on how to defeat something instead of the fight directly ahead. The common anti-hero would use knowledge and put great thought in to what they do rather than to charge at what they see.

Wed have been beaten if it hadnt been for Edmund. The Witch was turning out troops into stone right and left. But nothing would stop him. He though his way through three ogres to where she was turning one if your leopards into a statue. And when he reached her he had sense to bring his sword smashing down on her wand instead of trying to go for her directly and simply getting made into a statue himself for his pains. That was the mistake the rest were making. (p.178 and 179)

Peter explains the situation to Aslan after the climax showing that although Edmund began the journey spiteful and mean to others, his character is developed though the criteria of an anti-hero and the story ends as Edmund becomes the true accomplice

An anti-hero is generally the main character of a novel that does not initially show the ordinary traits of a heroic character such as bravery and courage. As proven throughout the novel, the character, Edmund, does not possess these qualities and does not do heroic deeds in the beginning but by the end is about as much a traditional hero as his older brother Peter.

He is though, an anti-hero and is recognised by his ability to think unlike other protagonists and antagonists.