The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Character List

Peter

Peter, the eldest of the children, is at first skeptical about his sister Lucy's declaration that the wardrobe is a doorway into Narnia. He is highly critical of Edmund, who is consistently mean to Lucy and lies about having been to Narnia. Father Christmas gives Peter a sword and a shield as gifts.

When the children join Aslan in the struggle to rescue Narnia from the White Witch, Peter transforms into a brave fighter. Aslan shows him, the first-born, the castle where he will be King, and makes him a Knight after he bravely slays a wolf. After Narnia is freed from its spell and the Witch is slain, Peter assumes the throne as King and becomes known as "Peter the Magnificent".

Susan

Susan is the second eldest of the children, and, like Peter, is skeptical about Lucy's story about the wardrobe and Narnia. She strikes the reader as practical and cautious, advising the others to wear the fur coats that they find in the wardrobe, since it is winter in Narnia. Father Christmas presents Susan with a horn to blow in times of need, as well as a bow and a quiver of arrows. When she is made Queen, Susan is lauded for her long black hair and gracious manner. Many kings seek her hand in marriage, and she becomes known as "Susan the Gentle".

Edmund

Edmund is the second youngest of the children, and is cruel to his younger sister, Lucy, making fun of her story about the wardrobe and Narnia. Peter and Susan both feel that Edmund is becoming a "bad sort".

Edmund is the second of the children to reach Narnia, and while traveling alone meets the White Witch, who brings him under her spell using enchanted Turkish Delight. His extraordinary craving ultimately leads Edmund to betray his brother and sisters to the White Witch. He informs the witch about the whereabouts of his siblings, and tells her about Aslan's arrival and the meeting at the Stone Table. He is consistently characterized as a skeptic, asking how the others can be certain that the faun is good, that the robin is benevolent, and that the beavers are their friends. In the end, however, Edmund realizes the extent to which he has misjudged the White Witch, and rejoins his brother and sisters. He apologizes and receives their forgiveness, but since he has betrayed the promise that he made to the White Witch, she has the right to kill him. Aslan promises the White Witch that he will die in Edmund's place; in the end, it is unclear whether or not Edmund ever knows the full extent of Aslan's loyalty. Edmund proves his valor by destroying the witch's wand. He is injured in the fray, but when he recovers Aslan makes him a Knight.

When Edmund becomes King, he is lauded for his counsel and judgment, and is known as "Edmund the Just."

Lucy

Lucy is the youngest of the children, and the first to discover Narnia. In spite of the fantastic nature of her story, she is a truthful girl and takes her experience, as well as her friendship with Mr. Tumnus, very seriously. She demonstrates her loyalty to him when she insists that her siblings find a way to help him, since he saved her from the White Witch, thereby sacrificing himself. From Father Christmas, Lucy receives a dagger and a special bottle of the juice of the fire-flowers that grow on the sun, which she later uses to heal Edmund.

Lucy's observations throughout the story are striking because although she is the youngest of the children, she is also the most observant and prescient. She notices the beauty and patience in Aslan's face in the moment before his death, and tells Susan that Edmund must know what Aslan has done for him.

When Lucy assumes the throne, she becomes known for her golden hair and charm. The people call her "Lucy the Valiant".

The Professor

The Professor opens his home to the children during the London air raids. Lewis does not tell readers what subject the Professor teaches, but this is unsurprising, as he lives in a mysterious old house filled with secrets. He strikes the reader as a generous man, and is willing to open his home to anyone requesting a tour of the place.

The Professor teaches Peter and Susan the importance of logic, but surprises them by not rejecting the seemingly "logical" assumption that Lucy's story about Narnia is untrue. Instead, he considers the reasonable possibility that alternate worlds might, in fact, exist. In the end, he comes to thoroughly believe the children's story about their journey through Narnia and all that happened there, but advises them to keep the story close to their hearts and not to talk about it too openly.

Mrs. Macready

Mrs. Macready is the Professor's housekeeper, and does not especially like children. She is the one who leads the tour groups through the house, and she gives the children strict instructions not to get in the way when she brings visitors through.

Mr. Tumnus

Mr. Tumnus is a faun, and the first creature Lucy meets in Narnia. He leads her to his house in the woods, and gives her tea and cake, tells her stories about the forest, and plays music for her. He seems to be an intellectual character, given the books that Lucy notices in his cave. He cries out of guilt, because he is in the service of the White Witch, but decides to let Lucy go and shows her the way back to the lamp-post. Later, Mr. Tumnus is arrested by the Secret Police for high treason, and is turned into a statue in the home of the White Witch. Lucy is intent on saving him.

Fenris Ulf

Fenris Ulf is, according to the notice nailed into the carpet of Mr. Tumnus's cave, the Chief of the Secret Police and an employee of the White Witch. He is an evil grey wolf, and is killed when Peter strikes him in the heart with a sword.

The White Witch

The White Witch has cast a spell over Narnia, making it forever winter, yet never Christmas. She has crowned herself Queen of Narnia, but is frightened by the prophecy that her reign, as well as her life, will end when two Sons of Adam and two Daughters of Eve assume the four thrones at Cair Paravel. The White Witch is descended from Lilith, the original companion created for Adam, before Eve and the Giants. She is a tall, slender woman who wears white fur and a gold crown, and carries a wand that she uses to turn creatures into stone and conjure enchanted food. She convinces Edmund that she will make him a Prince and feeds him enchanted Turkish Delight, which infuses him with an intense desire for more. The White Witch represents greed, as well as the power of evil.

It is important to note that the White Witch was previously the Emperor's hangman, and that it is her right, in accordance to with the deep magic stemming from the dawn of time, to kill traitors.

At the climax of the story, the White Witch battles Aslan, his army, and the children, supported by the evil creatures of the forest. She is killed by Aslan himself.

Father Christmas

Father Christmas has been kept out of Narnia for a long time, ever since the White Witch cast her spell to keep it always winter and never Christmas. Father Christmas's arrival signifies that the witch's spell is weakening. He presents Peter, Susan, and Lucy with special gifts. He wears a bright-red robe, has a white beard, and drives a sledge with jingling bells and brown reindeer, and is even famous on the other side of the wardrobe.

Mr. Beaver

A robin in the forest leads the children to Mr. Beaver, who shows them the handkerchief that Lucy gave to Mr. Tumnus as a sign of friendship. He tells the children to be quiet, and leads them to his home. While they share a meal, Mr. Beaver explains to the children that they are about to meet Aslan. He also provides them with information about Aslan and the White Witch. Without Mr. Beaver's help, the children would never have reached the Stone Table and met Aslan.

Aslan

Aslan is a lion, King of the Beasts, and the son of the Emperor-Beyond-the-Sea. He rules over many countries, including Narnia, and the White Witch is frightened of his power. The animals of the forest all know who he is, though not all of them know him personally. Aslan is good, just, and forgiving, as is shown by his actions following Edmund's betrayal. Aslan is also a teacher: he engages Edmund in a conversation (presumably about morality) that Edmund is never able to forget, teaches Peter military strategies, and helps Lucy and Susan to learn from his actions when he dies in Edmund's place. He provides the children with an alternative to the education that they receive in their schools.

It is important to note that Aslan is fashioned as a Christ-like figure: he dies in Edmund's place, with the faith that he will come back to life. He knows that he will return to life because of the deep magic from before the dawn of time, but nevertheless fears the physical pain that he must endure. In the end, Aslan triumphs over the White Witch.

Giant Rumblebuffin

Giant Rumblebuffin is a friendly giant who has been turned into stone by the White Witch. Aslan breathes life back into him, and he returns the favor by beating down the gates of the White Witch's home. There is a humorous scene where the Giant mistakes Lucy for the handkerchief Lucy has offered him.

Mrs. Beaver

Mrs. Beaver is the wife of Mr. Beaver, and together they provide the children with a hot dinner. She prepares food for their journey to the Stone Table, and appears to be fussy, yet caring. Father Christmas tells Mrs. Beaver that he is giving her a new sewing machine for Christmas.

The Dwarf

The dwarf is the White Witch's henchman, and the driver of her sledge.