Post Colonialism In The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe

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Recommended: Features of postcolonial literature in contrast to colonial literature

Another important aspect of Post Colonial theory is to bring marginalized characters into focus and detract from the blatant “othering” found in their Eurocentric culture. Many Narnians are forced to undergo service for the White Witch in order to survive the long winters, and some even relish in the privileges they receive from the Queen. Thus, imperialism is as much a militarily enforced occupation as much as it is a controlled social and cultural occupation (Said, 1113). Those under the control of the Witch are described as predatory creatures like wolves, malicious dwarves, “Ogres with monstrous teeth, and wolves, and bull-headed men; spirits of evil trees and poisonous plants” (Lewis, 88). As those who enjoy being under the Queen are described …show more content…

The story, characters, and locations are part of an intricate system that produces hidden insights regarding colonialism. The White Witch’s reign almost directly parallels that of a “outsider, white, European” colonizer who oppresses the natives (Narnians) and greedily obtains their land and wealth. Her magic was used to create an eternal winter, sets the atmosphere of pessimism for the oppressed Narnians. Meanwhile, the Pevensie children’s journey and Aslan leadership give them hope and strength to defeat the evil White Witch. The manner in which the author treats the hierarchy of othering within Narnia is also interesting as it disrupts the actual Narnian hierarchy set by the White Witch. Those who she favors are depicted as monsters by the author, and those not under her control are depicted as sensible and friendly. Additionally, looking at the spatial locations throughout the novel have proven correlations with the functionality of space within European and Non-European relations. Colonialism, after all, deals with the greed of land and resources which has to displace and de-privilege natives in order for the European outsiders to gain. Even domestic and international conflicts coincide and interlace, albeit cleanly in this particular novel, without it being obvious. Therefore, C.S. Lewis creates a striking way to view colonialism and tyranny without it being too obvious and while still functioning primarily within the fantasy genre. As Venturino notes, one must try to look at the hidden margins within a text to find the post colonialist view (280). This creates a number of questions, discourses, and a new way of understanding the story in whole regardless of

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