The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

“He had eaten his share of the dinner, but he hadn't really enjoyed it because he was thinking all the time about Turkish Delight—and there's nothing that spoils the taste of good ordinary food half so much as the memory of bad magic food.” (95)

Choosing this book to start with was easy because to be completely honest as a child I was always opening my wardrobe and wishing I would find Narnia at the back. Unfortunately it never appeared but there is still hope, never give up on your dreams as the saying goes. 

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe has an interesting focus on food as a temptation. In the story Edmund is tempted by the White Witch through the use of Hot Chocolate and Turkish Delight. In a way Edmund picks his own poison and the White Witch exploits that to get what she wants, she asks him questions and he answers without thought, his love of the food driving his desire to please her in order to get more.  

“At first Edmund tried to remember that it is rude to eat with one’s mouth full, but soon he forgot about this and thought only of trying to shovel down as much Turkish Delight as he could, and the more he ate the more he wanted to eat, and he never asked himself why the Queen should be so inquisitive.” (44)

When reading The Chronicles of Narnia as a child I never noticed the religious connotations running throughout every story but looking back as an adult I see the Witches temptation as one of the key moments in the tale where we see this most. The scene could be seen to play on the original sin of Adam and Eve. Edmund’s fixation on the Turkish Delight is similar to Eve’s on the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge. The witch leading Edmund to betrayal parallel to the way in which the snake leads Eve. The imagery of consumption through temptation and the consequences Edmund faces make it very difficult to not think of the fall of man.  

At last the Turkish Delight was all finished and Edmund was looking very hard at the empty box and wishing that she would ask him whether he would like some more. Probably the Queen knew quite well what he was thinking, for she knew, though Edmund did not, that this was enchanted Turkish Delight and that anyone who had once tasted it would want more and more of it, and would even, if they were allowed, go on eating it till they killed themselves. But she did not offer him any more.” (45) 

Greed is another issue I think C. S. Lewis explores in his portrayal of Edmund and his reaction to the foods the White Witch offers. I feel it is very significant that both items he consumes are sweet. Sweets are a weak spot for children and something that is demanded and consumed by children more than any other type of food. Edmund is obsessed with the idea of getting more sweets and the White Witch uses that to manipulate him with magic. I feel it may be a message from the author, as if to say, “Look what can happen when you get too greedy.” 

There are probably many other ways of looking into the presentation of the foods in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and when analysing its placing and purpose we see that its presence is less than welcome in this case, instead it is a warning. 

Even with the warnings and the potential of being bewitched I’m still going to brave making Hot Chocolate and Turkish Delight in a White Witch style this week. 

I’ll be back with my recipes and pictures. 

Sammy xx