When the queens and kings of Narnia
receive their crowns, they are also given a title to describe their
character. The titles for the others –
King Peter the Magnificent, Queen Lucy the Valiant, Queen Susan the Gentle –
seem apt when you consider the rest of the story of The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe. King Edmund, however, receives a name that
does not always fit. He is King Edmund
the Just. This is an odd title. The story begins with him belittling his
younger sister Lucy, it progresses to him aligning himself with the Witch, and
moves toward him betraying his brother and sisters. These are hardly the actions of a person we
would describe as just. His title
implies a change, which is a change we see in The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe. A key lesson from Edmund’s story is that
repentance not only turns away from the
wrong but also turns into the right. This essay is best read after reading the novel and will reveal significant plot points.
