Did anyone ever notice that I, Araved, am the only one that ever posts anymore??
Did anyone ever stop to ask why?
Perhaps I shall explain some day soon.
For now, you may read Imagine.
That might explain it to you, if you are wise and kind-hearted.
And if it does not make any sense, just hold on.
I'll explain later.
~Araved-the-Loner~ |
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I found this on a forum for one of my Narnia info sites.
The Keynes family had an interesting trip down to Beirut!!
~Araved~
CHANGE OF PLANS
In “The Chronicles of Narnia,” the four Pevensie children are evacuated from London during the Blitz and sent to stay with an elderly professor in a house in the countryside. Last Wednesday evening, in an old Ottoman villa in West Beirut, Skandar Keynes, the fourteen-year-old actor who played Edmund Pevensie in last year’s film of “Narnia,” his mother, Zelfa, and his grandfather, Cecil Hourani, were packing their things and getting ready to evacuate. Two days before the Israeli attacks on Hezbollah began, on July 12th, they had arrived from Britain for their annual summer holiday in Lebanon, and had found themselves stranded there along with thousands of other foreign tourists. They had, in fact, been about to leave Beirut for the Hourani ancestral home in the ancient town of Marjeyoun, near the frontier with Israel. Marjeyoun is very close to the current fighting, and before being taken over by Hezbollah it had been the longtime headquarters of the Christian militia. Except for 2004, when Skandar was filming “Narnia” and the family decamped with him to the set in New Zealand, he has spent every summer of his life there.
Outside the walls of the villa, closely packed modern tower blocks rose all around. It is a noisome neighborhood of narrow streets jammed with people, scooters, and men pushing carts. Quite a few women wear head scarves. On a building in the next block a large banner in support of Sheikh Nasrallah could be seen. A half an hour before they were due to leave Beirut, Zelfa packed the car with their belongings, and Cecil waited by the front door, clearly edgy about the night journey ahead. Skandar chatted in the living room, a place of high timbered ceilings and flaking plaster, adorned with bronze pots and Chinese painted-silk panels of peacocks.
Skandar, a slim, handsome boy with tousled dark hair, was wearing a “Scarface” T-shirt over baggy shorts and blue canvas Vans. He said he had been looking forward to Marjeyoun, where he planned to spend his days swimming and reading. He had brought along his guitar, and hoped to catch up on some movies. “I don’t turn fifteen until September, and back in England I can only go to under-fifteens, which is frustrating,” he said. “Here in Lebanon they don’t care about age limits, and I can see any movies I like.” The day after Beirut’s airport was bombed, he’d gone to the cinema in Beirut where the new “Pirates of the Caribbean” was supposed to première; the theatre owners had turned him away, explaining that they hadn’t been able to fly in the reel. He added that he was a big fan of Johnny Depp. “He’s the man,” he said.
Skandar’s grandfather, Cecil, is a well-known writer on the Middle East; Cecil’s late brother, Albert Hourani, was the noted Oxford scholar and author of “A History of the Arab Peoples.” (Both brothers were born in Britain to émigré parents, but never relinquished their links with their homeland.) Although he was educated in England, Cecil still regards himself as Lebanese: “Being born in England didn’t make you English, at least not in my generation,” he said. With a glance at his grandson, he added, “Perhaps that has changed now, I don’t know.” Zelfa, Cecil’s daughter, is married to the British writer Randal Keynes, a great-great-grandson of Charles Darwin and a great-nephew of John Maynard Keynes. Skandar, who attends the City of London School for Boys, is one of their two children.
“I’m very proud of being Lebanese, and its history and everything,” Skandar said. “And I love coming here every summer.” He doesn’t speak Arabic all that well, he confessed, despite attending weekend Arabic classes for several years.
When Skandar was out of earshot, Zelfa said that she wasn’t particularly frightened, although her face betrayed her nervousness; for several days, the noise from huge blasts had ricocheted through the city, rocking the walls of the villa; their neighborhood had been spared, but much of the city had been shut down. Speaking of Skandar, she said, “He’s just a boy, after all; there’s only so long we can stay here like this, with nothing for him to do.”
Neither Zelfa nor her father was eager to join the mass evacuation of Beirut’s foreigners by ship, which had begun a couple of days earlier. They were also worried about travelling overland, as some people were doing, to Syria and Jordan, because they had heard that the roads were being bombed, and there were said to be long queues at the Syrian border. But on Wednesday some friends had found a driver who could take them out by night. They had been told they could get to Amman in six or seven hours.
Skandar had not thought much about the parallels between the role he played in “Narnia” and his own situation in Beirut. “Maybe it’s because one was acting and this is real,” he said. When the bombing had begun, he had been scared, like everyone, but his grandfather had done a good job of reassuring him. “Now I can say I have been in a real war zone,” he said, and gave a mock swagger.
Skandar’s grandfather came over and said in a low, tight voice that some men, possibly Hezbollah followers, had just come to the door to ask who his visitors were and, incidentally, who he was. Until now, he said, the family had mostly avoided attention in the neighborhood. It was time to go.
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Jul. 26, 2006 Walden Media News
This is an interesting article!!
Walden Media and American Girl Team Up
Two leadings brands in the world of children’s entertainment, Walden Media and American Girl, are teaming up in a venture that will bring the well-loved American Girl® characters to theaters for the first time, it was announced today. The first film of the partnership, based on the popular character Kit Kittredge, will be produced by Goldsmith- Thomas Productions in association with Red Om Films, the same team that produced the previous made-for-television movies for American Girl.
Walden Media and American Girl Team Up
LOS ANGELES, July 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Two leadings brands in the world of children's entertainment, Walden Media and American Girl, are teaming up in a venture that will bring the well-loved American Girl® characters to theaters for the first time, it was announced today. The first film of the partnership, based on the popular character Kit Kittredge, will be produced by Goldsmith- Thomas Productions in association with Red Om Films, the same team that produced the previous made-for-television movies for American Girl.
For 20 years, American Girl books and characters have inspired an entire generation of girls with timeless stories of friendship, courage, and hope, bringing history alive for children. With more than 12 million dolls and 111 million books sold, American Girl is one of the nation's most popular doll brands and top children's publishers.
Walden Media is coming off its most successful year to date, with the first film of the Chronicles of Narnia franchise, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (produced with Walt Disney Pictures), enjoying enormous theatrical and home-video success. Grossing more than $700 million in international box office, the film is currently the best- selling DVD title of 2006.
"American Girl represents the ideal partner for us, as we both seek to inspire young minds and excite children about learning through entertainment," said Walden Media CEO Cary Granat. "We are thrilled to be working with a company that is as committed to fostering extensive outreach programs as we are, and we look forward to what will be a wonderful collaborative partnership. We are tremendously grateful to Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas for bringing us this project, and for the amazing opportunity to work with a business leader such as Ellen Brothers."
Ellen L. Brothers, president of American Girl, added, "We found a terrific partner to bring Kit's stories to life. Walden Media's passion for creating innovative and educational family films that feature affirming messages perfectly complements our mission at American Girl. We're delighted to work with them and our friends at Goldsmith-Thomas Productions and Red Om Films in providing our fans with a fabulous new way to experience a character they know and love."
Following a successful run of made-for-television films, the first American Girl character to arrive on the big screen will be Kit Kittredge, the clever and resourceful girl growing up during America's Great Depression. Introduced in 2000 as the seventh historical character, Kit experiences the Great Depression first-hand after her father loses his car dealership. Through courage and determination, Kit finds a way to make a difference in her community and, along the way, learns valuable lessons about responsibility and compassion.
"When Julia Roberts, Lisa Gillan, and I pursued the rights to the American Girl franchise six years ago, we knew that the American Girls characters and their compelling stories would translate beautifully to film," said Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas of Goldsmith-Thomas Productions. "We're thrilled to be working with Walden Media, a visionary company whose people are as enthusiastic as we are in bringing these rich characters to life through live- action feature films."
Samantha: An American Girl Holiday, which starred Mia Farrow and AnnaSophia Robb (also starring in Walden Media's Because of Winn-Dixie and the upcoming Bridge to Terabithia), premiered on The WB television network in November 2004 to solid ratings. It was followed up the next year by Felicity: An American Girl Adventure, which starred Shailene Woodley and Academy Award® winner Marcia Gay Harden. This year's American Girl made-for- television film, Molly: An American Girl on the Home Front, will air on Disney Channel this fall.
The Kit feature film will be produced by Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, Marisa Yeres, and Stephanie Langhoff through Goldsmith-Thomas Productions in association with Red Om Films' Julia Roberts and Lisa Gillan. Overseeing the project on behalf of Walden Media are executive vice president Alex Schwartz and creative executive Jared Mass. |
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Jul. 25, 2006 Check it out!!
Narnia Brand Attracts Audiences
The Daily Record notes that big actor names are no longer a guaranteed draw at the cinema. The success of the Narnia, Harry Potter and Star Wars movies show a unknown cast can still clean up at the the box office. The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe, Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire and Revenge Of The Sith all made more money last year than any star-led movie. Record film writer Alan Morrison said the trend for films based on already popular books or comics eliminated the need for a star cast. He explained: "The brands of Harry Potter, Lord Of The Rings and Narnia are bigger than the name of any star that could be in the films."
The Screwtape Letters
The Belfast Telegraph reports that the C.S. Lewis book The Screwtape Letters is in talks to be made into a film, possibly funded by Walden Media. "The Screwtape Letters, which portrays hell as the province of bureaucratic demons called Tempters, is in stark contrast to the child-friendly world of Narnia, with its giants and talking animals. Ralph Winter, who produced X-Men and Planet of the Apes, has already confirmed that he is trying to develop a movie based on the novel - a series of letters written by mid-level demon Screwtape to his nephew Wormwood."
Limited Edition DVD Details
The official Narnia site has released details and images of the 4-disc limited edition DVD, which will become available on December 12th for only seven weeks. Although many of the special features are the same as the ones that appear in the 2-disc special edition, there are several new featurettes on discs 3 and 4. The new cut of the film contains 10 extra minutes of footage.
UPDATE: According to ComingSoon.net, Disney presented a very brief extended edition scene of the final battle at Comic-Con which featured "new bat gargoyle-like creatures attacking."
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BURBANK, Calif., July 22, 2006 – For a very limited time, Walt Disney Home Entertainment presents the ultimate "Narnia" DVD collection: Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media present C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe Four-Disc EXTENDED EDITION available on DVD December 12. This extraordinary 4-disc DVD edition, a wondrous celebration of C.S. Lewis’ beloved fantasy world, will only be available for seven weeks over the holidays, making it an excellent holiday gift.
The EXTENDED EDITION features a new, extended version of the film with enhanced special effects and anextended, climactic battle scene. Viewers will venture even deeper into the beloved fantasy world of ’Narnia’ with "C.S. Lewis – The Dreamer Of Narnia," an all-new feature-length film about the creative genius behind the ’Narnia’ mythos. "Visualizing the Lion, the Witch and The Wardrobe: The Complete Production Experience" is an in-depth look at the process and technology of adapting the book into the stunning motion picture.
For the ultimate collector, there is The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe Four Disc GIFT SET. This limited-edition offering features the 4 disc DVD plus a pair of heirloom-quality bookends from the master creative artists at WETA Ltd., the innovators who designed the breathtaking creatures for the film.
The Extended Edition: (U.S. $42.99 SRP, Canada $59.99 SRP) and the Gift Set: (U.S. $79.99 SRP, Canada $119.99 SRP), each a treasure for collectors, will go back to the Disney vault after the holidays. There are very limited quantities available for each title.
DVD BONUS FEATURES
DISC ONE: NEW EXTENDED VERSION
• FEATURE FILM: EXTENDED MOTION PICTURE
New Extended Version Of The Film With Enhanced Special Effects And Extended Battle Scene.
• NARNIA FUN FACTS
With this feature engaged, viewers can access optional pop-up facts about C.S. Lewis, the creatures and lands of Narnia, and more. Plus, there is an introduction by author C.S. Lewis’s step-son Douglas Gresham.
• BLOOPERS OF NARNIA
The cast and crew are caught in hilarious moments and outtakes as they miss lines and make other miscues.
• KIDS AND DIRECTOR COMMENTARY
The delightful child stars Georgie Henley (Lucy), Skandar Keynes (Edmund), Anna Popplewell (Susan) and William Moseley (Peter) had just screened the film for the first time when they recorded this audio commentary. The result is a fresh, witty and lively commentary track, joined by director Andrew Adamson.
• FILMMAKER’S COMMENTARY
This audio commentary features Director Andrew Adamson, Production Designer Roger Ford, and Producer Mark Johnson.
DISC 2: TWO WORLDS OF NARNIA
CREATING NARNIA
• CHRONICLE OF A DIRECTOR
This personal diary takes viewers on a tour of the film from director Andrew Adamson’s point of view. Viewers can sit in the director’s chair with the director as he brings his skill, artistry and unique imagination to the film.
• THE CHILDREN’S MAGICAL JOURNEY
Viewers will be delighted with this "behind-the-scenes" tour, led by the film’s charming child stars Georgie, Skandar, William and Anna. Here is a fresh and fun look at making the film, with wonderful moments including the children’s surprise first look at the amazing ’Narnia’ sets.
EVOLUTION OF AN EPIC
• ANATOMY OF THE SCENE: THE MELTING RIVER
This featurette goes in-depth to explore the making of the exciting and pivotal ’waterfall’ scene. Viewers are taken to the set of a remarkable in-door river, where the children and crew make this complicated scene work. Viewers will learn how effects and shots from different countries are put together to get the final scene just right.
• CINEMATIC STORYTELLERS
Eight different film diaries, from eight different members of the film team, give viewers a personal and heartfelt look at every step of the film’s production. Recorded as the film was being made, the personal film diaries of ’Cinematic Storytellers’ are fresh, candid and unique perspectives on an epic film. Producer Mark Johnson, Production Designer Roger Ford, Costume Designer Isis Mussenden, Editor Sim Evan-Jones, Composer Harry Gregson-Williams, KNB Effects Group co-founder and Makeup Effects wizard Howard Berger, Weta Workshop Visualist and Creative Supervisor Richard Taylor, and Director of Photography Donald M. McAlpine each contribute their insights about the production.
• C.S. LEWIS: FROM ONE MAN’S MIND
This featurette is a fond look at C.S. Lewis, the creative dreamer and best-selling author who wrote The Chronicles of Narnia and created the world of Narnia.
• CREATING CREATURES
THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE won the Academy Award® for Best Makeup (2005) and was Oscar®-nominated for Best Visual Effects (2005). Now, viewers can learn the movie effects secrets behind eleven creatures from the film, including Jadis the White Witch and Aslan. From initial creative sketches to sculpting, molding, rendering, and final realization, each creature is showcased in an easy-access menu. Featured are: The White Witch, Aslan, Ginarrbrik, Mr. Tumnus, Wolves, Minotaurs, Goblins, Beavers, Satyrs, Ankle Slicers and Centaurs. This feature offers a special wardrobe icon which when accessed takes viewers to the real-life biographies of the creatures in the ’Creatures of the World’ portion of the DVD.
CREATURES, LANDS & LEGENDS
• CREATURES OF THE WORLD
This is the companion feature to the "Creating Creatures" feature. Here viewers will discover fantastic biographies on The White Witch, Aslan, Ginarrbrik, Mr. Tumnus, Wolves, Minotaurs, Goblins, Beavers, Satyrs, Ankle Slicers and Centaurs.
• EXPLORE NARNIA (3D MAP)
Viewers can explore Narnia’s magical realms with this unique interactive map.
• LEGENDS IN TIME
This special timeline acts as a portal to take viewers through Narnia.
DISC 3: ALL-NEW FEATURE-LENGTH FILM
• C.S. LEWIS – THE DREAMER OF NARNIA
Here is the never-before-seen feature-length film about C.S. Lewis, the man who created the land of wonder and enchantment called Narnia. For fans of C.S. Lewis and for those who are experiencing his wondrous works for the first time, this comprehensive feature shines a brilliant spotlight on this creative genius.
DISC 4: ALL-NEW IN-DEPTH EXPLORATION OF NARNIA
• VISUALIZING THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE: THE COMPLETE PRODUCTION EXPERIENCE
Fans will rejoice at this unique, exclusive tour of the film. Here is the ’movie magic’ that results in the lavish final film. Adapting the book into the motion picture is a daunting task, and this featurette show show it was done.
• ANATOMY OF A SCENE: BEHIND THE BATTLE
Viewers will be thrilled with this fascinating new look at a crucial battle scene. From pre-visualization computer images to storyboards, here is the exciting process of creating one of the key scenes in the film.
• ART OF NARNIA GALLERY
’Narnia’ features stunning imagery, and here is a special museum full of superb images from the film. This new gallery is open for business, and fans will want to visit it again and again.
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STREET DATE: DECEMBER 12, 2006
Direct prebook: October 17
Distributor prebook: October 31
EXTENDED EDITION :
Suggested retail price: U.S. $42.99 |
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Jul. 23, 2006 MORE Narnia Contests!!
Found this at my Narnia Info site. Enjoy!! (And someone with Flash please tell me what the Official Site says!!!)
~Araved~
Narnia Ultimate Fan Contest
Narnia.com is running a competition allowing one fan to visit the set of Prince Caspian and have their experience recorded as a video blog on the official site. Visit the site for more information.
Enter "The Chronicles of Narnia Ultimate Fan Contest" and win a trip to the set of the next Narnia adventure - Prince Caspian. Your experience will appear as a video blog entry on the official site.
Each month a finalist will be selected and featured on the site as the "King or Queen of Narnia". Seven finalists will be selected. The winner will be determined by you.
One Grand Prize Winner will be chosen by Narnia.com guests, from 7 finalists selected by the Contest Sponsor, to visit the set of upcoming motion picture "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" (the "Picture") to cover the events of the day for the Narnia.com Production Blog.
How to participate:
1. To enter, just record a video (the "Video Submission") of yourself explaining why you are the number one fan of the Chronicles of Narnia stories and why you deserve a trip to the set of the Picture.
2. Fill out the online Entry Form and submit your Video Submission. By uploading the Video, you agree to be bound by the Official Rules.
3. Hurry! Contest ends January 2007. |
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Jul. 22, 2006 Tagged...Sort of!!
Hey yo 'sup folks it's Araved rambling along!!! (yay!!!)
My sister & I started a blog together, called SugarBabies
we just changed the format, and my little sis is sooooo excited!! Please be sure to drop by and leave a comment for her!!
(I won't be around there too much, savvy? She'll do most of the posting, but whatever you see on the template and sidebar will be the handiwork of yours truly!!)
Anyways, "Sparrow" wanted to tag us, considering we're big on Narnia here!!
She asked me to post these for the 3 PevensieGirls to answer.
1. Where would you live in Narnia?
2. Which item would you like, A healing cordial, A bow arrow's and horn, or sword and shield?
3. Who would you want as your brother or sister, Lucy, Edmund, Susan, or Peter?
4. If you were King or Queen of Narnia what would you name be ( example- King Edmund the just)?
5. What is your Favorite Narnia creature?
6. Who is your favorite Narnia hero?
7. What is your favorite Narnia scene?
8. Having fun?
9. What is your favorite Narnia book?
10. Who are you going to tag?
I'll go ahead and fill mine out; Mrs. Beaver & Philip-the-Girl will fill it in later!!
1. Where would you live in Narnia?
Cair Paravel!!
2. Which item would you like, A healing cordial, A bow arrow's and horn, or sword and shield?
Sword and Shield, definitely. I'd be a pro, too!!
3. Who would you want as your brother or sister, Lucy, Edmund, Susan, or Peter?
Peter. I adore him. I love him like a brother. He would be amazing. always there to stand up for me and protect me. I'd be so selfish, though, I would never let him get married.....
4. If you were King or Queen of Narnia what would you name be ( example- King Edmund the just)?
Queen Araved the Musical
5. What is your Favorite Narnia creature?
Unicorn, Aslan, White Stag, Centaur, whats-it-called...oh! Faun, Dryads
6. Who is your favorite Narnia hero?
King Tirian and Peter
7. What is your favorite Narnia scene?
I've got thousands....
8. Having fun?
HECK YEAH!!
9. What is your favorite Narnia book?
The Last Battle
10. Who are you going to tag?
ummmmmmmm...................I guess Mrs. Beaver & Philip the Girl, sort of, even though we share this blog (haha)
Enjoy this little random Narnian-insight into my life!!
Arrivederci!!
~Araved~
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Jul. 17, 2006 Featured Article: Susan Pevensie
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If you compare Narnia and the Chronicles to the life & faith of everyday people, there is a lot of revelation and similarity.
Peter is a brave lad who honors Aslan and fights for what is right. He is rewarded greatly. He holds to his faith, and to the memory of Narnia, even after the events in Prince Caspian. This is rather like Christians who hold to Christ even through the hardest parts of life.
Lucy is a faithful follower; in Prince Caspian, even when she alone can see Aslan leading the way, she is willing to abandon all else to follow him. This trait of never-ending faith & trust is a rare jewel in Christians today.
Edmund, the traitor, experiences the grace and forgiveness of both Aslan and all the creatures of Narnia. Through this event, Edmund comes to believe. This is a common and wonderful story among Christians today.
Susan, the gentle queen, enters Narnia with doubts in her mind. She begins to believem and reigns as queen for many years. But in Prince Caspian, once again she disbelieves in Aslan and in Lucy's simple faith. And in the end, she loses her faith, like so many half-hearted "believers" who claim Christ.
Susan Pevensie is one of the major characters from The Chronicles of Narnia .
Susan is the elder sister and the second Pevensie by birth-order. She appears in three of the seven books — as a child in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Prince Caspian, and as an adult in The Horse and His Boy. She is mentioned in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and The Last Battle.
During her reign at the Narnia capital of Cair Paravel, she is known as Queen Susan the Gentle. Susan is known for her great beauty and archery skills and was sought after by Prince Rabadash of Calormen in "The Horse and His Boy."
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
In The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Susan is given a bow and arrows by Father Christmas, together with a magical horn to blow in difficult times to bring aid. Susan shows her excellence at archery, but is advised to stay out of the battle unless absolutely necessary. Together with her sister Lucy, she witnesses Aslan's death and resurrection on the Stone Table. After the battle, she is crowned by Aslan as Queen Susan and shares the monarchy with her brothers High King Peter and King Edmund and her sister Lucy. The period of their reign is considered the Golden Age of Narnia. Throughout the book Susan is the voice of caution and common sense. Even at the end after a number of years in Narnia she counsels against pursuing the White Stag, fearing the upset to the established order she and her siblings all sense the pursuit might bring.
The Horse and His Boy
In The Horse and His Boy, Susan plays a minor part. She was described as a gentle lady with black hair falling to her feet. Shasta finds her to be the most beautiful woman he has ever seen. As Queen Susan, she is asked to marry the Calormene Prince Rabadash. Her rejection of him provides the Tisroc with an excuse to wage war against Narnia.
Prince Caspian
In Prince Caspian, Susan's legendary magical horn plays an important part. By the time of this sequel, her horn is a thousand-year old relic given to the future King Caspian X by his tutor, the half-dwarf magician Doctor Cornelius. When the Prince's life is threatened by King Miraz the Usurper, Caspian blows the horn and the Pevensies are magically transferred to Narnia from a railway station. Susan is again shown to be a superb archer. Using the bow and arrows she has retrieved from the ruin of Cair Paravel, Susan easily beats the excellent archer Trumpkin the dwarf in a friendly competition. During the course of the story, she pretends to believe Aslan has not come back, even though she later admits to having known it was true all along. Soon after she also admits she is grateful for the presence of Aslan during the wild bacchanal in his honor. Aslan discerns that Susan had "listened to fears" but his breath soon restores her faith and she immerses herself in their adventures as deeply as in the first book. However, at the conclusion of Prince Caspian, Aslan says that she and Peter will never enter Narnia again because they had grown too old.
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
In The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Susan accompanies her parents on a trip to America, while Peter is being tutored by Professor Digory Kirke, and Edmund and Lucy have to stay with their relatives, the Scrubbs. By this time it is being remarked by some adults that Susan is "the pretty one of the family" which causes some insecurity in Lucy. Only the intervention of Aslan makes Lucy resist the temptation of invoking a spell of beauty "beyond the lot of mortals" from Coriakin's Magic Book.
The Last Battle
In The Last Battle, Susan is conspicuous by her absence. Peter says that she is "no longer a friend of Narnia", and (in Jill Pole's words) "she's interested in nothing now-a-days except nylons and lipstick and invitations". Similarly, Eustace Scrubb reports that say, "What wonderful memories you have! Fancy you're still thinking about all those funny games we used to play when we were children." Thus, Susan does not enter the real Narnia at the end of the series. There is some controversy, however, as to whether or not Susan's absence is permanent, especially since Lewis (in a letter written to a young fan) stated that Susan's story was not finished.
Christian significance?
The Christian significance of Susan's character has been much discussed. Aside from her role together with Lucy paralleling the women in the gospel who first find the risen King, Lewis may have intended Susan to represent the good seeds which are "choked by thorns" in the parable of the sower from the Gospel of Matthew.
Lady Polly claims that Susan's "whole idea is to race on to the silliest time of one's life as quick as she can and then stop there as long as she can." That is, according to the book, Susan's failure is due to vanity and an adolescent sense of "maturity". Susan provides a striking contrast to her sister Lucy, who is a shining example of the Biblical "faith as a little child." Even her chronologically older brother Peter begins to see Aslan before Susan does in Prince Caspian.
It has been argued that Susan's maternal nature cultivates a sense of self-reliance that prevents her from sufficiently following Aslan. In this interpretation, Lewis intended Susan to represent those who in the confusion of their fallen state find a spiritual call to faith drowned out not by malice on their part but simply by the mundane distractions of everyday life.
What Happens to Susan?
Lewis's supporters point out that the other Pevensies enter into the "new" Narnia (representative of Heaven) because they have died in a train accident, while Susan remains alive on our world, so that there is no proof that she has been permanently "excluded". The first footnote under Susan’s entry in Companion of Narnia by Paul F. Ford is very helpful in understanding the meaning behind Susan’s absence at the end of The Last Battle. And perhaps most importantly, Aslan’s last words at the coronation in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe of the four Pevensies to the throne offer the best justification for believing Susan will eventually join the others when the time comes in Aslan’s Country: "Once a King or Queen in Narnia Always a King or Queen in Narnia..."
Fantasy author Neil Gaiman explored this issue in his 2004 short story "The Problem of Susan", in which an elder woman named Susan is depicted dealing with the grief and trauma of her entire family dying at once; the story explicitly refers to Lewis' Susan and presents, in fictional form, a critique of Lewis' portrayal.
Susan is portrayed as attending college in 2005 New York in the comic The Oz/Wonderland Chronicles, alongside Alice Liddell from Alice In Wonderland, Dorothy Gale from The Wizard Of Oz and Wendy Darling from Peter Pan.
Thinking deep thoughts (as usual!)
~Araved~
Tomorrow's Featured Article: Peter Pevensie |
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