A Time Capsule of Political Belief

By: Benny Schorie

Illustrated by: Carla Cieza

On Jan. 24, guest lecturer Dr. Gary Gregg delivered his talk on C.S. Lewis’s political commentary, specifically in The Chronicles of Narnia, a wildly popular children’s book series.

In his lifetime, Lewis commonly disregarded the notion that these books served as his commentary of the current political world; he wanted the books to be just as they are: magical stories to bolster the imaginations of children. This goal was more than accomplished as the series went on to become a staple in the bookshelves of millions of American children.

However, much of Lewis’s work contains subliminal messages about tyranny, governmental bureaucracy, justice, and many other political topics. Despite his attempts to silence all political interpretations, it proved inevitable that Lewis’s political stance would be deciphered when he tells stories of children fighting off cruel rulers to establish justice, order, and liberty for all of Narnia.

This occurrence is not unique to C.S. Lewis but happens for all storytellers. Most quality stories expose the author’s worldview, whether it be with cultural, political, or social discourse communicated directly or indirectly through the action (or inaction) of characters, the structure of the society they exist in, or other factors.

Some authors share the sentiment of Lewis and want their writing to be cherished for what it is without its politics being interpreted. However, this leads one to ask whether the purpose of literature should be allowed to be this simple, or if it is important to share a larger message or commentary. While there is beauty in simple storytelling, it cannot be denied that rooting for a character requires a kind of injustice to be resisted, and a successful plot requires some kind of tension to be resolved. How the author chooses to handle these elements reveals their cultural view and political philosophy. According to Gregg’s lecture, Lewis’s belief that a good ruler does not want to rule is portrayed in The Magician’s Nephew when Aslan chooses an uneducated cabbie and his wife to be the king and queen of Narnia, characters who expressed worry about leading because of their backgrounds.

Literature as a political art form is important socially and culturally because readers desire to connect with the experiences of characters. Lewis claimed his work to be “stealing past a watchful dragon,” as it exposed children to a world different from their own while maintaining parent approval of the Narnia series. His work showed rulers who took advantage of their Narnian subjects and, through the actions of the main characters, explained to the reader that this political behavior was unacceptable and cruel. Using fantastical stories as a vehicle, Lewis was able to expose the concepts of tyranny and corruption to an entire generation.

Literature provides modern readers with access to worldviews they might not otherwise consider and future generations the ability to understand more about life in the current age. Though some may cringe at the proposal that all literature is political, it is an undeniably important aspect of culture.