Hero`s journey - The Chronicles of Narnia

Film Review - the hero`s journey 

This review will apply Joseph Campbell’s theory of the hero’s journey to the film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) by Andrew Adamson. Key sources will be D. Bronzite’s article The Hero's Journey - Mythic Structure of Joseph Campbell's Monomyth and L. Chapin`s presentation The Chronicles of Narnia - A Hero’s Journey.

The film takes place in 1950’s England during World War II and tells the story of the four siblings Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy (Fig.1). Their father is fighting in the war so they are sent of to the countryside where they would be safe, but instead it leads them to an adventure of their lifetime.   

The first act of the film shows the children in their Ordinary World, which is the era in which their country is at war. They then begin their journey to safety, which ultimately shows the world that they leave behind. 

Fig.1: The four siblings - Edmund, Peter, Lucy, Susan

One rainy day the siblings play hide and seek and Lucy (the youngest sibling) hides in an old wardrobe that she find in a spare room. This can be seen as the Call To Adventure since through the back of the wardrobe she enters the mysterious world of Narnia. She meets a fawn name Mr. Tumnus which tells her all about Narnia, the White Witch and Aslan.  (Fig. 2)

Fig. 2: Lucy meets Mr. Tumnus

However when Lucy returns to her siblings and tells them about Narnia, they don’t believe her. Even though they would love to escape their boring and ordinary daily routines, they prefer to hide in that big house and therefore Refuse The Call.

When Meeting Their Mentor, which is the old professor they live with, only then they do believe Lucy because he tells them to trust each other and support each other.

By entering the wardrobe together they Crossed The Threshold and entered Narnia. Which is the end of the first act and their beginning of an great adventure.

The second act introduces us to their Tests, Allies and Enemies. Obstacles are thrown across their path and they need to find out who can be trusted and who can’t. Peter, Susan and Lucy meet Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, which become their new found allies. Edmund however meets the evil White Witch and trusts her. Therefor their own brother becomes their enemy. (Fig. 3)

Fig. 3: Edmund trusts the White Witch

The Approach To The Inmost Cave represents danger or an inner conflict to the children. Edmund betrayed his siblings and is now captured by the White Witch. Meanwhile this siblings began to train as soldiers for the army of Aslan to take their place as Kind and Queens of Narnia. Yet his siblings have a duty to trust and support one another, which is why they rescue Edmund. However it is Edmund’s inner conflict with what is right and wrong and proving to Aslan and Narnia that he is no traitor anymore. 

The Ordeal represents a dangerous physical test and is also described as death and rebirth. (Fig. 4) To save Edmund from the White Witch Aslan is sacrificing himself instead. The rebirth within the hero’s journey is seen here with Aslan returns from the death which allows the siblings to fight alongside him in the battle for Narnia. 

Fig. 4: Aslan's sacrifice and rebirth

Defeating the White Witch and therefore freeing Narnia is the Reward (Seizing The Sword) for the siblings. Though Edmund was mortally wounded during the final battle. It is up to Lucy to save his brother and she is able to heal him. But Lucy isn`t the only hero since Edmund redeemed himself and through his brave actions he is no longer seen as a traitor to Narnia. Therefore the final battle can be seen as the Resurrection and the beginning of the third act. 

After they saved the Kingdom of Narnia the siblings rightfully came the throne to be Kings and Queens of Narnia. (Fig. 5) This recognition of their heroism and a happy end represents The Road Back which is reverse echo of the Call to Adventure in which the Hero had to cross the first threshold, which means they have to return home.

Fig. 5: The siblings become Kings and Queens of Narnia

This is followed by the Return With The Elixir which is the final stage of the Hero's journey.  The siblings accidentally return home to their Ordinary World but are changed now. (Fig. 6) They have grown as a person, learned many things, faced many terrible dangers, even death. But now they are looking forward to the start of a new life and fresh hope. The elixir they bring back with them is the confidence and knowledge and they must now become heroes of their own world. 

Fig. 6: The siblings accidentally return home through the wardrobe (image)

Summing up it can be said, that Campbell structure of the hero’s journey is clearly showcased throughout Adamson`s story of Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) and it helps the audience to different parts of their journey which makes the film easier to follow and understand.  

Bibliography 

Bronzite, D. (2019). The Hero's Journey - Mythic Structure of Joseph Campbell's Monomyth. [online] Movieoutline.com. Available at: http://www.movieoutline.com/articles/the-hero-journey-mythic-structure-of-joseph-campbell-monomyth.html [Accessed 17 Oct. 2019].

Chapin, L. (2019). [online] Available at: https://de.scribd.com/document/408362029/The-Chronicles-of-Narnia-A-Hero-s-Journey [Accessed 17 Oct. 2019].

Martinez, A. (2019). The Hero's Journey:The Lion,The Witch,and The Wardrobe. [online] Adobe Spark. Available at: https://spark.adobe.com/page/PK56F/ [Accessed 17 Oct. 2019].

Illustration list

Fig.1: The four siblings - Edmund, Peter, Lucy, Susan (image) - https://aminoapps.com/c/school/page/blog/book-club-medieval-activity/ZYWj_KKcBue4j2mLz0Wwjp3KEr12zM3nzo

Fig. 2: Lucy meets Mr. Tumnus (image) - https://www.centreculturelirlandais.com/en/agenda/the-chronicles-of-narnia-the-lion-the-witch-and-the-wardrobe 

Fig. 3: Edmund trusts the White Witch (image) - https://aminoapps.com/c/school/page/blog/book-club-medieval-activity/ZYWj_KKcBue4j2mLz0Wwjp3KEr12zM3nzo

Fig. 4: Aslan's sacrifice and rebirth (image) - https://aminoapps.com/c/school/page/blog/book-club-medieval-activity/ZYWj_KKcBue4j2mLz0Wwjp3KEr12zM3nzo

Fig. 5: The siblings become Kings and Queens of Narnia (image) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bqu1vZvdbFI

Fig. 6: The siblings accidentally return home through the wardrobe (image) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9vqEkyP4VU