children's books, editorial illustration
Fruit
of Narnia
monotype print
C. S. Lewis described one of the most fantastic worlds in literature
in his book The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Through his series
The Chronicles of Narnia, one can experience many adventures including
the very beginning and very end of Narnia, a world where animals talk
and mere children can become kings and queens. In The Magician's Nephew,
we see the creation of Narnia by the great lion Aslan, and this includes
Lewis's own version of the Biblical forbidden fruit: He knew which was
the right tree at once, partly because it stood in the very center and
partly beause the great silver apples with which it was loaded shone
so and cast a light of their own down on the shadowy places where the
sunlight did not reach. He walked straight across to it, picked an apple,
and put it in the breast pocket of his Norfolk jacket. But he couldn't
help looking at it and smelling it before he put it away... Digory was
just turning to go back to the gates when he stopped to have one last
look round. He got a terrible shock. He was not alone. There, only a
few yards away from him stood the Witch. She was just throwing away
the core of an apple which she had eaten. The juice was darker than
you would expect an had made a horrid stain round her mouth. Digory
guessed at once that she must have climbed over the wall. And he began
to see that there might be some sense in that last line [on the gate]
about getting your heart's desire and getting despair along with it.
For the Witch looked stronger and prouder than ever, and even in a way,
triumphant: but her face was deadly white, white as salt....
"So we thought, Aslan," Polly said, "that there must be some mistake,
and she can't really mind the smell of those apples...she ate one."
"Child," he replied, "that is why all the rest are now a horror to her.
That is what happens to those who pluck and eat fruits at the wrong
time and in the wrong way. The fruit is good, but they loathe it ever
after." "Oh I see," said Polly, "And I suppose because she took it in
the wrong way it won't work with her. I mean it wont make her always
young and all that?" "Alas," said Aslan, shaking his head, "It will.
Things always work according to their nature. She has won her hearts
desire; she has unwearying strength and endless days like a goddess.
But length of days with an evil heart is only length of misery and already
she begins to know it. All get what they want: they do not always like
it... "And the Witch tempted you to do another thing, my son, did she
not?" "Yes, Aslan. She wanted me to take an apple home to my Mother."
"Understand, then, that it would have healed her; but not to your joy
or hers. The day would have come when both you and she would have looked
back and said it would have been better to die in that illness." And
Digory could say nothing, for tears choked him and he gave up all hopes
of saving his Mother's life; but at the same time he knew that the Lion
knew what would have happened, and that there might be things more terrible
even than losing someone you love by death. But now Aslan was speaking
again: "That is what would have happened, child, with a stolen apple.
It is not what will happen now. What I give you now will bring joy.
It will not, in your world, give endless life, but it will heal. Go.
Pluck her an apple from the Tree."
Lewis, C. S. The Magician's Nephew. Macmillan, New York, 1955. pp. 158-164, 173-176
864-580-8191 email saint_moonsign at yahoo.com