Divine Judgment In C. S. Lewis The Last Battle

Concluding with Narnia’s rebirth into new and fuller life, The Last Battle necessarily engages with themes of judgement, salvation, and eternity. C. S. Lewis closes his chronicle with Narnia perfectly realized in eternity, where all of its heroes rejoice in Aslan’s presence. Delving deep into theology, Lewis undergirds his events and imagery with powerfully coherent message about salvation. Lewis’s vision of the final judgement reflects a distinctly Catholic theology through its communication of God’s saving power, human will, Divine judgement. Lewis communicates the saving power of God through his inclusion in the new Narnia of those who did not know Aslan before their judgement. The most notable of these is the calormene, Emeth, who embodies those of pagan faith. The Catholic Church teaches that there is no salvation outside of it, but …show more content…
In contrast to the one traitorous dwarf who enters the new Narnia, most of them refuse to be “taken in” (). The dwarfs’ inability to see the new Narnia and their stubborn rejection of reality affirms the Catholic understanding of free will and repudiates the idea of irresistible grace. The dwarfs imprison themselves in their own pride, from which Aslan himself cannot free them (). In addition to the dwarfs, Susan Pevensie is notably absent. Peter refers to Susan as “no longer a friend of Narnia” (). The absence of one of the greatest heroes of Narnia affirms that the Catholic understanding of salvation as a process. Despite Susan’s presence and participation in the greatest events of Narnia, she, at least at the time of the other Pevensies’ deaths, has rejected her role. Her previous virtue does not guarantee her salvation, but rather the ongoing devotion of the other children does. Through these events, Lewis characterizes man’s role in salvation as reliant on God, but requiring a recognition and participation in his