Edmund Pevensie of The Chronicles of Narnia is one of my favorite characters in literature. Jack Lewis sometimes writes small phrases about Edmund that have made me think far beyond the Narnia cannon.
***SPOILER ALERT*** If you have been living under a rock and have not read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, then please stop reading this blog, get yourself to Barnes & Noble, and purchase and read the book already!!!
I am fascinated by Edmund’s transformation.
I love when (in Horse and His Boy), Edmund argues against killing Rabadash, saying, “Even a traitor may mend. I have known one who did.” In Dawn Treader, Edmund admits to Eustace, “You were only an ass, but I was a traitor.” It has been so interesting to me that he became known as King Edmund the Just. For years, I believed that his experiences ought to have led him to be called King Edmund the Merciful. After all, justice had once demanded his own death, although Aslan took his place. But then I realized that Aslan’s substitutionary death was also just– that is, it satisfied the debt and kept Narnia from perishing in fire and water.
I always wonder what it was like when Edmund first returned to England after growing up and becoming a king in Narnia. In fact, I wrote a poem about it.
EDMUND
The wardrobe door was its own sort of holy baptism—
to push past fur coats with a spiteful heart of stone
then to reemerge moments—or years—later
with one of bold flesh that brimmed with nobility.
I like to think of you returned to boarding school,
a ten-year-old king and warrior, able and just,
your thoughts far from arithmetics as you plumb
the treasures in your core and find there grace—
grace overflowing, for you know as well as anyone
that even a traitor may mend.
I think this song by Kutless is actually about Edmund, and it asks some of my same questions.
What do you think: am I waaaaay too into Narnia? What are your thoughts on Edmund Pevensie?
JACKIE LEA SOMMERS 
1. No one can ever be too into Narnia. You are just fine! 🙂
2. I honestly overlooked Edmund as a character for quite some time. When my uncle read me “LWW” as a child, I remember identifying most with Susan–cautious, a rule-follower, worried about her siblings. (But then I grew up and realized Susan is a ninny.) Having taken writing classes here at college, I’m appreciating more and more the depth to characters like Edmund–and identifying with him more. The longer I live, the more I see how easily I fall back into sin, yet I experience God’s mercy and justice more each day. Edmund is perhaps the most honest and beautiful reflection of us all.
3. I love this post! Your poem is amazing 🙂
Such a great post, Jack. I love that poem. And yea.. you’re kind of nerdy, but it’s OK.
Okay, so I’m rereading the series. (Just started!) And, on page 3 of LWW it foreshadows Edmund’s betrayal (for those of us who look way into things and understand that C.S.Lewis didn’t put in a period or an article of speech without taking great care): ” ‘Badgers!’ said Lucy. ‘Snakes!’ said Edmund. ‘Foxes!’ said Susan. ”
And, no, no one can be too much into Narnia. It’s like saying you’re too much into Jesus’ parables. It is a tool God has given us to better understand Himself, ourselves, and our world.
Love this observation!!!! Never noticed that before!
I’m re-reading it right now too, and I discovered that in my version, Edmund says, “Foxes!” I know there are various copies floating around out there– I think I read once that Lewis would revise every time he re-read something he wrote. I know that the scene surrounding the Island Where Dreams Come True (in Voyage) has several versions …
Oh, interesting! What does Susan say in your version?
“Badgers!” said Lucy.
“Foxes!” said Edmund.
“Rabbits!” said Susan.
Interesting how he still has Edmund saying an animal which can be seen as a betrayer and switched Susan’s to a different one…
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Years after your post, I am reading this poem for the first time. Excellent! But Puddleglum will always be my hero!
Awww!! I have a Puddleglum poem too! https://jackieleasommers.com/2013/06/08/foot-in-the-fire/