In the seminal interaction between the faun and Lucy as we are first introduced into the world of Narnia, Lucy forgives Tumnus, and forgives him for a great betrayal. It is interesting to consider the fruit of Lucy’s forgiveness: The repentant faun becomes her protector, leads her safely home, and becomes her close friend. Between Peter and Edmund there is enmity: Before Aslan, Peter repents of driving Edmund to the witch, saying, “That was partly my fault, Aslan. I was angry with [Edmund] and I think that helped him to go wrong” (67), and Edmund consoles himself while betraying the beavers and his siblings to the witch by thinking up, “schemes for keeping Peter in his place” (49). The lack of forgiveness between the two brothers leads into Edmund’s betrayal.
Aslan forgives Edmund, but here we see the great weight of forgiveness. Aslan’s forgiveness is not merely sweeping the whole issue under the rug. There are consequences to Edmunds actions, and a debt must be paid. Aslan, in forgiving Edmund, sacrifices himself. Aslan, who was perfectly in the right, loves, and consequently forgives, Edmund, who was a betrayer; Aslan lays down his life to save Edmund’s. The illogic of this trade is staggering: Without Aslan, how will the good people of Narnia defeat the witch?
The parallels between Aslan and Christ are readily apparent. Edmund, in siding with the witch, sided against Aslan, and just as the deep magic condemned Edmund, so humanity finds itself hopelessly in the power of sin and death. It is only through Jesus’ sacrifice that we can become right with God.
In the same way, the deep magic is broken and the captives are set free in Aslan’s sacrifice. What was illogical becomes the very logic of the story, the core of the tale itself. It is precisely in forgiveness—real forgiveness, the kind that is like dying—that the cords of despair can be broken, that all can become free.
Tale Told 