Queen Lucy the Valiant

(Lucy's actually stuck in the background behind Queen Jill in this picture.)

Warning!  Here be Spoilers for the Chronicles of Narnia Series.

“But as for Lucy, she was always gay and golden-haired, and all princes in those parts desired her to be their Queen, and her own people called her Queen Lucy the Valiant.”

                I don’t think it’s a coincidence that C.S. Lewis chose this royal title for the heroine of The Chronicles of Narnia.  This character he created embodies so many virtues that make her valiant.  Throughout the series, we watch Lucy Pevensie grow up gracefully, but she keeps her child-like quality, which I think is one of the most beautiful aspects of her character, and what makes her so dear to Aslan.  In the same way that Joseph Pearce described G. K. Chesterton, Lucy can be called “child-like, without being childish.”  Her sense of wonder, her trusting nature, and her boundless affection are combined with bravery, selflessness, and sense of responsibility.

                Lucy’s mother, Mrs. Pevensie certainly did a good job of bringing up her children.  One thing that strikes me when re-reading The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is that Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy are all so polite!  They know how to behave respectfully around adults, have good manners, etc.  They also truly love each other, even if they do have “rows” from time to time.  Yes, there are a few issues, Edmund’s betrayal, Susan growing up and no longer believing in Narnia, but on the whole, they’re good kids who know right from wrong.  So, well done, Mrs. Pevensie!

                In her first adventure, we see Lucy’s affection for her family, her aptitude for and inclination to taking care of others, as well as her love for Aslan.  Even after Edmund has been mean to her, and later after he has betrayed them all, she forgives and forgets, because he’s her brother, and she loves him.  Father Christmas’s gift to Lucy is the healing cordial, which allows her to and obliges her to help those in need.  She uses it to heal Edmund after the great battle, but when she wants to wait and make sure that he recovers, Aslan makes her understand that she has responsibility to go and help the others who are also wounded.  When Aslan goes to the Stone Table to sacrifice himself, Lucy can sense that he is sad, and she and Susan go with him to comfort him.  (It’s interesting how Lewis contrasts this part with the Gospel- the Apostles couldn’t stay awake, and these two girls can’t sleep.) 

                As we see Lucy grow older in Prince Caspian, Aslan begins to ask more of her, and we see more of her courage and goodness.  Because her faith is the strongest, Lucy sees Aslan even when her siblings do not.  When they don’t believe her and Trumpkin the Dwarf asks if it may have been just any lion, she replies, “Do you think I don’t know Aslan when I see him?” which is reminiscent of the words of Christ as the Good Shepherd, “I know Mine and Mine know Me.”  Lucy knows, loves, and follows Aslan the way a good Christian knows, loves, and follows Christ.  Later, when she talks with Aslan, he tells her that he expects her to follow him, even if her brothers and sister do not.  She must choose either him or her family, if they refuse to follow.  Lucy is prepared to follow him alone, but she does convince the others to come with her the way that Aslan wants them to go, although with Susan it took quite a bit of convincing.  Lucy goes on, “biting her lip and trying not to say all the things she thought of saying to Susan.  But she forgot them when she fixed her eyes on Aslan.”  What a beautiful lesson on how we should deal with anger!  Keep our comments to ourselves, forget and forgive, and look at Christ.

(I know it's not Lucy- but I couldn't help it.  See what she had to put up with, though?)

                In Lucy’s last journey to Narnia, she displays her bravery and her good sense.  She must fight against her fears when she goes into the Magician’s house in order to help the Dufflepuds, and save her friends at the same time.  While on board the Dawn Treader, she displays her good sense by keeping out of the way when there’s work to be done, as she knows that “landsmen – and landswomen – are a nuisance to the crew.”  During the battle with the sea serpent, Lucy does not actively take part, as she knows that it is not her place to fight, but as soon as Caspian calls for an axe, “Lucy, who knew where everything was, heard him… In a few seconds she had been below, got the axe, and was rushing up the ladder.”  What excellent qualities for a helpmate!

                Finally, Lucy receives her reward for her faith, bravery, and selflessness.  At the end of The Last Battle, she goes to Aslan’s country with her family – all but Susan.  Poor Susan.  I know she’ll make it to Narnia somehow, but I don’t yet know quite how.  But as for Lucy, we can hope to imitate her cheerful, quiet helpfulness, her devotion to those she loves, and her common sense.  “Further up and further in!”

Bibliography:

Lewis, C.S. The Chronicles of Narnia, Harper Collins, 2001.