The Evolution of C.S. Lewis's Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

For many years, scholars and fans of C.S. Lewis's Narnia series have debated the timing and order of the stories. Was the plot for The Magician’s Nephew already in C.S. Lewis's mind when he wrote The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, or did he create it later?

The Genesis of Narnia

According to Lewis, the first story he wrote was The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (LWW), which he completed in 1950. However, in his letters and interviews, he mentioned that after writing LWW, he realized there was still more to tell about Narnia. In fact, he stated, ldquo;I had realised that there was more Narnia stuff to write.rdquo; This suggests that the idea for The Magician’s Nephew (Nephew) was not formed until after LWW was complete.

Emergence of the Plot

John Waine, a friend of Lewis, wrote in an article that an impromptu story about a young boy and girl finding a lamppost in the middle of a forest caught Lewis's attention. Lewis then began to explore the idea that the characters could enter this mysterious world called Narnia. The placement of the lamppost became a crucial element of the plot. Lewis thought it was a strange and interesting detail that didn't need an explanation at the time. It was only later that he realized the significance of the lamppost as a portal to Narnia.

Timeline and Creative Process

C.S. Lewis's creative process was complex and unique. He claimed that ideas for stories came to him in the form of mental pictures. Once he had these mental images, the story would naturally follow. Lewis's ideas were also influenced by his members of his writers' group, the Inklings. Through collaborative discussions, Lewis was able to refine and develop his stories further.

Other authors have similar techniques. For example, Enid Blyton, a renowned children's author, also relied on mental pictures to inspire her stories. Similarly, storyteller Leo Sofer tells his stories to an audience based on the mental images he sees. These creative processes suggest that while Lewis might not have had a conscious plan at the beginning, his subconscious mind was already at work, preparing and shaping the story.

Symbolism and Connection to Religious Myths

The creation of Narnia in The Magician’s Nephew is not arbitrarily done. The story aligns well with the broader narrative of the Narnia series. Lewis was deeply fascinated by religious myths and had a profound understanding of creation stories and their symbolism. The fall of man in Narnia is directly connected to the fall of Adam and Eve in the biblical narrative. The characters in Narnia are aware of Adam and Eve, indicating that the creation of Narnia is part of a larger, interconnected story. The entrance of evil into Narnia is implicitly tied to the same event that introduced evil into the world in the biblical account.

Conclusion

While C.S. Lewis may not have consciously had the plot for The Magician’s Nephew in his head when he wrote The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the groundwork for Narnia had already been laid. The questions and unanswered elements in LWW created a rich tapestry of possibilities for subsequent stories. Through inspiration from mental pictures, collaboration, and an understanding of religious symbolism, Lewis was able to craft a cohesive and complex world that captivated readers for generations.

References

For more insights into C.S. Lewis's creative process, you may find the following articles and essays helpful:

" target"_blank">John Waine's Article on C.S. Lewis

" target"_blank">Essay on Imagination and Mental Pictures by C.S. Lewis