The Age of the Pevensies in The Chronicles of Narnia: A Book vs Film Analysis

The Chronicles of Narnia is a beloved series of books, captivating readers of all ages with its fantastical world and deep characters. One question that often arises is the age of the four Pevensie siblings: Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy. While the book and film adaptations offer different timelines for these characters, it's fascinating to explore how their ages are represented in both mediums.

Book Ages

According to C.S. Lewis' original The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the Pevensies are a young family. Lucy is the youngest, at the tender age of 8. Her siblings Edmund and Susan follow, both being slightly older than Lucy, at 9 or 10 and 12, respectively. The eldest, Peter, is 13 at the beginning of the story. Their ages are as follows:

Peter: 13 Susan: 12 Edmund: 9 or 10 Lucy: 8

Film Ages

The film adaptations, on the other hand, portray the Pevensies as somewhat older. In the 2005 film, Peter is about 16 or 17, Susan about 15 or 16, and Edmund about 13. Lucy, interestingly enough, shows as younger, around 8 or 9 in the films. This change in age representation adds a different layer of maturity and experience to the characters, which can be insightful for analyzing their motivations and actions in the story.

Age Discrepancies and Their Context

It's important to note that the discrepancies in age between the books and films may have been intentional on the part of the filmmakers to better suit the needs of the visual medium. In the books, the Pevensies are younger, and their journey through Narnia gives them a sense of wide-eyed wonder and adventure that aligns with the theme of childhood and innocence.

In the films, the characters are portrayed as slightly older, which allows for more depth in their interactions and decision-making. Peter, for instance, as the eldest brother, may seem more mature and responsible, while Edmund's actions might appear more of a betrayal of trust. Susan's resentment towards Peter and Lucy might be more nuanced given her older perspective. Lucy's age in the film is kept close, allowing for her to retain the sense of wonder typical of her book persona.

The timeline in the film is expanded, with the next books (The Horse and His Boy, etc.) happening a year in the future, while the one after that is set 'another year or so' later. This progression allows for a richer exploration of the siblings' growth and experiences in a broader timeframe.

Conclusion

The age discrepancies between the books and films of The Chronicles of Narnia are an interesting point of discussion. C.S. Lewis initially wrote the Pevensies as young children to emphasize the innocence and wonder of their experiences in Narnia. However, the film adaptations chose to represent the siblings as slightly older, allowing for deeper character development and more complex storytelling. Both interpretations offer unique insights into the Pevensie family and their journey through Narnia.

Related Keywords

Pevensies Age, Chronicles of Narnia, Age Differences

References

This article draws from the following sources:

The Lions, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis (Book version) The Chronicles of Narnia: The Parts of the Original Series (Film versions)