The Choice of Children

[rains1313]

I have just finished reading "The Last Battle" and one thing really stood out to me. At the end Peter mentions that Aslan told "us older ones" that we could not return to Narnia.

So my question or need for understanding is this: Do you think that Aslan chose children to come to Narnia to help because children are the ones who are the most willing to believe?

[Ephinie]

I think there wasn't any question of whether or not the children would believe by the time they were old enough to not be allowed to return to Narnia. And remember that all four Pevensies had already grown up fully in Narnia already, so the state of becoming an adult in and of itself probably was not the real concern either.

I think it is exactly as Aslan said: They needed to learn how to grow close to their own world. He also said in VotD that they had been brought into Narnia to know him there so that they could know him in their own world. If they just kept coming back to Narnia again and again all through adulthood, then they would have a much harder time of knowing Aslan as he is in our world and of adjusting to life here. The conflict that you saw in Susan and Peter in the the movie version of PC - that of being traumatized by being jerked back and forth between worlds - would be more severe the older they got. Children accept and adjust to changes more easily.

[Copperfox]

The original question is why children were chosen by Jesus/Aslan TO enter Narnia in the first place. I would say it's partly because of their capacity to believe, and partly because that capacity would be nourished by living for a time in an environment of supernatural things made real.

[inkspot]

I'll agree with CF. Jesus said something about how things hidden from the wise and prudent were revealed to children (Matthew 11:25). I think Lewis felt rather the same way: children were the ones willing to be "taken in" by an alternate universe whereas adults would be too keen on showing that they couldn't be fooled.

[Ephinie]

whereas adults would be too keen on showing that they couldn't be fooled.
Haha... like Uncle Andrew!

[tolkienlewisfan]

I have just finished reading "The Last Battle" and on thing really stood out to me. At the end Peter mentions that Aslan told "us older ones" that we could not return to Narnia.

So my question or need for understanding is this: Do you think that Aslan chose children to come to Narnia to help because children are the ones who are the most willing to believe?

I think that may be true because Susan didn't come back partially because she was too busy trying to act older than she was. If memory serves.

[MrBob]

He chose children because they would be the most accepted, at least at first. Imagine the meeting between Tumnus and a twenty-year-old Lucy. Not quite as magical. Tumnus would have had a harder time convincing the older Lucy to come into his house than he did with young Lucy. He also would have not befriended her as readily and may have even turned her in.

Upon meeting a 21-year-old Edmund, the Jadis would have quickly turned him to stone, no questions asked.

Children could more easily be taken in by the majestic quality of the experience. They would be less skeptical of the realities. As for more willing to believe, it would more likely be the idea of believing the right characters such as the Robin, Tumnus, and the Beavers. Upon seeing Aslan, you have no choice but to believe.

Remember, there was one English adult who did believe what he was seeing and enjoyed all of it--Frank, the cabbie. Aslan was not averse to bringing adults into his domain. Helen also came in abruptly for her and had no problem adjusting to her newfound title of queen.

One last reason for the use of children. Lewis wrote a book for kids. Of course it was going to have children as main characters!

MrBob

[office]

He chose children because they would be the most accepted, at least at first. Imagine the meeting between Tumnus and a twenty-year-old Lucy. Not quite as magical. Tumnus would have had a harder time convincing the older Lucy to come into his house than he did with young Lucy. He also would have not befriended her as readily and may have even turned her in.

Upon meeting a 21-year-old Edmund, the Jadis would have quickly turned him to stone, no questions asked.

Children could more easily be taken in by the majestic quality of the experience. They would be less skeptical of the realities. As for more willing to believe, it would more likely be the idea of believing the right characters such as the Robin, Tumnus, and the Beavers. Upon seeing Aslan, you have no choice but to believe.

Remember, there was one English adult who did believe what he was seeing and enjoyed all of it--Frank, the cabbie. Aslan was not averse to bringing adults into his domain. Helen also came in abruptly for her and had no problem adjusting to her newfound title of queen.

One last reason for the use of children. Lewis wrote a book for kids. Of course it was going to have children as main characters!

MrBob

Exactly, most kids don`t want to read about adults going on a magical adventure. It just wouldn`t be as good if it was about adults.

[rains1313]

Wow! Thank you so much for the great answers.

I think it is exactly as Aslan said: They needed to learn how to grow close to their own world. He also said in VotD that they had been brought into Narnia to know him there so that they could know him in their own world. If they just kept coming back to Narnia again and again all through adulthood, then they would have a much harder time of knowing Aslan as he is in our world and of adjusting to life here. The conflict that you saw in Susan and Peter in the the movie version of PC - that of being traumatized by being jerked back and forth between worlds - would be more severe the older they got. Children accept and adjust to changes more easily.

Ephinie, I completely agree here. I do believe that children accept the changes and such much easier than adults do. I also agree that it would make it harder to "live" in our world if they kept going back. However, I believe they kept a part of Narnia in their hearts especially Lucy. Susan was too busy being "grown" from the beginning.

Cooperfox and Inspot, you opened my eyes to another thing that I had not thought of...with children readily accepting the supernatural parts of Narnia. I know it is not in the book but in the movie of LWW when Lucy tells Susan as they enter Aslan's camp "Well maybe they think you look funny." That is the truth....children are so accepting of things that adults are not.

He chose children because they would be the most accepted, at least at first. Imagine the meeting between Tumnus and a twenty-year-old Lucy. Not quite as magical. Tumnus would have had a harder time convincing the older Lucy to come into his house than he did with young Lucy. He also would have not befriended her as readily and may have even turned her in.

Upon meeting a 21-year-old Edmund, the Jadis would have quickly turned him to stone, no questions asked.

Children could more easily be taken in by the majestic quality of the experience. They would be less skeptical of the realities. As for more willing to believe, it would more likely be the idea of believing the right characters such as the Robin, Tumnus, and the Beavers. Upon seeing Aslan, you have no choice but to believe.

Remember, there was one English adult who did believe what he was seeing and enjoyed all of it--Frank, the cabbie. Aslan was not averse to bringing adults into his domain. Helen also came in abruptly for her and had no problem adjusting to her newfound title of queen.

One last reason for the use of children. Lewis wrote a book for kids. Of course it was going to have children as main characters!

MrBob

Mr. Bob you are wise man. I competely agree children are more easily accepted by the Narnians and the children easily accept Narnia. I love the use of Frank and Helen...they were believers from the start to. I did not think of the use of children for the simple reason....cuz it is a children's series of books. Being an adult I am so drawn into Narnia that the aspect of it being for children left me....I guess with it being about children it made me feel like a child at heart again. That ultimate discovery of somewhere new and the meeting of someone as wonderful as Aslan.

Christ said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14

I believe that is Aslan's philosophy to...Narnia is the kingdom and it belongs to them and they are the ones who see it for what it truly is and they see Aslan for how truly wonderful he is. And then they bring it back to our world in their minds, souls, and hearts and it brings comfort.

[MrBob]

This question reminded me of "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" when, at the end, Wilie Wonka was explaining why he had this contest, A grown up would want to do everything his own way, not mine. That's why I decided a long time ago that I had to find a child, a very honest, loving child, to whom I could tell all my most precious candy making secrets.

Kind of like what Aslan did, at least in LWW. Even in MN, he left the first mission to the children--mind you, they created the problem, but Frank and Helen were acceptable, but then they did meet with Aslan while Narnia was in its infancy.

As for the Pevensies, well, Lucy fits the description of a "very honest, loving child" who would live as Aslan wanted her to live and accept his rules without question. You look at the two times when Narnia was not ruled by Aslan-coronated people. Jadis turned Narnia into a despotic permanently dead-winter place. The Telmarines invaded Narnia and pushed the Narnia creatures into hiding, turning it into another despotic land.

A young Caspian came along and learned the secret of his land. His curious joy of that knowledge led him to fight for the past. That same youth ultimately was crowned by Aslan, changing the dynamics of the country.

MrBob

[Lady of the Lion's Mane]

Also, CS Lewis said that "someday you will be old enough to read fairytales again." or something. :D
And in one of the books (was it MN?) about the fact that the most childish children act the most grownup and the most grown-up grown ups act the most childish. Or did I completely botch that up? :eek: Anyone else know of what I speak? :p :eek:

[inkspot]

That sounds familiar ... but I cannot think where it come from or how exactly it was phrased ...

The children who try to act the most grown up turn out to be the most childish? Nah ...

Anyone?

[Lady of the Lion's Mane]

Found it! It's in SC! :D


"Even in this world, of course, it is the stupidest children who are the most childish and the stupidest grownups who are the most grown-up."

[inkspot]

Found it! It's in SC! :D


"Even in this world, of course, it is the stupidest children who are the most childish and the stupidest grownups who are the most grown-up."
Oh, lovely! Thanks for looking it up. Yes, so really Lewis is saying there is a way to have a child-like sense of wonder and yet not be "childish," and that is the best way for children and adults to be.

[Copperfox]

Anyone who met my Janalee saw this illustrated. She was child-LIKE in every good and blessed sense, while NOT child-ISH as she carried adult responsibility.

[Lady of the Lion's Mane]

Indeed!

There is a difference between being childlike and childish. One is good, one is ... bad, I guess you could say. :D

I pray God grants me the grace to be always child-like. To always have "young eyes," to see everything with awe and wonder, to seek always the beauty and truth that is in all Creation. (on my list of before-I-die, I put "To always seek Beauty and Truth in all things, all places, and all faces.")

That even through all the pain and darkness I do know, and will no doubt know in the future, that it will only make the joy sweeter, give it depth and substance. Meaning. That never, ever, do I become cynical or bitter, cold-hearted, etc. :eek:

:D

[inkspot]

That's a good commitment to make. Sadly, it seems in the west that we don't even allow children to remain "childlike" for very long. But to be able to see the world with wonder is a great gift.

[rains1313]

Indeed!

There is a difference between being childlike and childish. One is good, one is ... bad, I guess you could say. :D

I pray God grants me the grace to be always child-like. To always have "young eyes," to see everything with awe and wonder, to seek always the beauty and truth that is in all Creation. (on my list of before-I-die, I put "To always seek Beauty and Truth in all things, all places, and all places.")

That even through all the pain and darkness I do know, and will no doubt know in the future, that it will only make the joy sweeter, give it depth and substance. Meaning. That never, ever, do I become cynical or bitter, cold-hearted, etc. :eek:

:D

Wow! That is a beautiful and wonderful pray. May I borrow it and share it with others. That encompasses exactly how I feel.

[Elentari]

Along this same line, it says in the Bible (though I am paraphrasing) that "unless you come AS LITTLE CHILDREN you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven". Child-like faith, as demonstrated most vividly in Lucy, is essential to true and complete belief (whether in God, Aslan, or Narnia--or as I believe, in all THREE!)

[inkspot]

Welcome, Elentari ... I don't remember seeing you post before. I love your siggie with your eyeballs!!!

And that is a good point you made in your post.

[Lady of the Lion's Mane]

Wow! That is a beautiful and wonderful pray. May I borrow it and share it with others. That encompasses exactly how I feel.

You may indeed! :D

glad to share.

Elentari: I love your name, avi, and siggy! that quote = ♥♥

:D

[queenaravis707]

I think he chose children to experience Narnia because they are the ones more willing to believe. I mean, if a 20-something year old went to Narnia and comes out and only 5 seconds have passed, they would come up with some long explanation about how what happened must have been a hallucination or something and dismiss the whole thing altogether. However, since children grow up thinking everything is possible, it's easier for them to accept what's going on as reality and keep on thinking that way. Children are so simple, and when their brains become all adult-like, it sucks all the magic out of the adventure and there is no imagination left for magic to act upon. Just my thought on the topic. :)
Also, in the Bible, God says that we must be like children to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, having child-like faith... just a little paralllel.