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Aslan, a talking lion and guardian of Narnia, appears in all seven Chronicles of Narnia books and is a Christ figure, allowing himself to be killed and rising from the dead. Events in the books mirror those in Jesus’ life, and Aslan displays Christ-like characteristics.
Aslan is a character who appears in each of the seven Chronicles of Narnia books, including the first to be written, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Also known as ‘the great lion’ and ‘son of the emperor beyond the sea’, Aslan is a talking lion and the guardian of the mythical land of Narnia. The author of these books, CS Lewis, described Aslan as a Christ figure, showing the form that Christ might have taken if he had been sent to a world other than ours.
Throughout the seven books in the series, the Great Lion interacts with a variety of characters, both human and non-human. Many of these characters are after animals, while others are magical creatures or humans, mostly human children. In the first written book, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the inhabitants of the land of Narnia anticipate Aslan’s return to the midst of the tyrannical reign of the wicked White Witch. He returns and defeats the White Witch, but not in the way anyone expects.
Instead of forcibly taking control, Aslan allows himself to be captured and killed, then rises from the dead. This is a direct parallel to the Biblical account of Jesus’ death and resurrection. According to the two stories, both Jesus and his Narnian counterpart were expected to defeat the ruling powers by force, but both allowed themselves to be killed, discouraging their followers for a while. These deaths, however, fit various prophecies and statements previously made.
There are many other events in the various books of Narnia that are taken from the Bible’s accounts of Jesus’ life. Aslan is referred to as the Son of the Emperor-Over-the-Sea, a god-like figure. A version of the end of the world is shown in The Last Battle, heavily influenced by the descriptions of the New Jerusalem in the book of Revelations. In The Last Battle, it’s clear that characters die as the world is ending, only to be taken to a new world, where they can choose to go with Aslan or remain in the dark.
In addition to mirroring events in Jesus’ life, Aslan displays many characteristics and personality traits that Christians attribute to Christ. Characters either love or fear him, with those who fear him often attempting to kill or weaken him. His followers are able to talk to him and receive reassurance and peace, even in the midst of desperate situations. Aslan is also capable of bringing great joy to those who trust him, as evidenced at the end of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, when he has rid the land of the White Witch and rejoices with the Narnians.
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