What ever happened to Susan?
By Inkspot!
**Spoilers – The Last Battle**
At the end of the final installment of the Chronicles of Narnia, Susan is the only one of the Pevensies not present in the “true” Narnia – even the Pevensie parents, who have had no role whatever in the adventures, are there, just across the way, apparently in the “true England.” The catch, of course, is that all have apparently perished in a railway accident in our world; making this Lewis’ presentation of heaven: new and perfect lands where old things we treasured and lost are once again waiting for us.
That’s not a bad idea at all. The only discordant note in this scene: Queen Susan of Narnia is not present. She is still adrift in the shadow-lands, apparently very “grown-up” for her age and completely uninterested in Narnia.
Throughout the Chronicles, Susan has been the one character among the humans most likely to advise turning back or to wish she had not come at all. Her first response to Narnia, when the children find Mr. Tumnus’ cave abandoned and ransacked:
“I wonder if there’s any point in going on,” said Susan. “I mean it doesn’t seem particularly safe here, and it looks as if it won’t be much fun either … What about just going home?”
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Into the Forest
The other children convince her to stay, she meets Aslan and reigns for years as Queen Susan with her brothers and sisters in Narnia – yet even when she has come into her own, this attitude of hesitancy still plagues her.
When the monarchs are chasing the White Stag at the end of the book, and it disappears into the woods, her advice is, “Wherefore by my counsel we shall lightly return to our horses and follow this White Stag no further” (LWW, The Hunting of the White Stag).
She was reluctant to leave our world, and then is reluctant to return, because Susan fears the unknown and desires to control her own destiny. She does not want the adventure she is sent, she does not want any adventure. It might be dangerous, it might be uncomfortable, she might not be able to control it. When things begin to happen that do not fit with her idea of what should happen, she wants to withdraw from them.
It’s not only Susan who feels that way. How many times have you thought, or said, to yourself, “If only …”
If only I looked like that …
If only I could sing like that …
If only I had a car like that …
If only I weren’t so short …
If only I had more money …
In our world, our Lady and Mother Eve fell victim to “if only,” too. If only she could eat that fruit, she would know the difference between good and evil, and be like God. Her husband, our King and Father Adam, too, desired something more, something different than what God had given him. He stood with Eve while she conversed with the serpent and ate the fruit Eve gave him.
This is how we learned to draw back from what God offers us. Our First parents did it.
Susan was no better and no worse than Eve, or than you or me – she wished for something different than what God had in mind for her. She didn’t want to plunge into the adventure at hand because she feared it. At its root, this attitude reflects a lack of faith in God to provide for us. When we feel this way, we are saying that we cannot trust in God to take care of us.
At the end of The Last Battle, Lewis tells us Susan is no longer a friend of Narnia, so she does not arrive in Aslan’s country with the others. But does that mean she never gets there? I don’t think so.
In the other books, whenever Susan was doubtful and hesitant, her companions gave her strength, and her own integrity stood firm, despite her doubts. In the beginning of the stories, she wanted to go home because Mr. Tumnus’ cave had been vandalized, and Tumnus himself taken away by the police – but then Lucy said he must have been arrested for helping her, and they ought to try to rescue him. Reluctantly, Susan chose to do the right thing, despite her fears:
“I’ve a horrid feeling that Lu is right,” said Susan. “I don’t want to go a step further and I wish we’d never come. But I think we must try to do something for Mr. Whatever-his-name-is – I mean the faun.”
LWW, Into the Forest
If she remained true to her character even after the series ending, I think Susan may yet have chosen to take the adventure as it came, rediscover her love for Aslan – in our world – and find her way into his country at last.
I don’t believe you hit the nail on the head. I’ve read all of the Chronicles of Narnia and I really believe that with the death of her family Susan will search for Aslan again. She is so much like everyone on earth that believe in the Bibles’ teaching. She will find what her heart desires “Aslan”.
This is totally true. I love Susan and I know that she will one day find her way back to Narnia and join the others.
I totally love Susan and itkilled me when i found out she won’t return to Narnia, i hope some writes a story abot her coming back and abouther becoming the powerful queen we a want to see. Please Susan come back!!!!
I agree with you. Im so glad I read this because I was kinda sad at the tought tht she would be all alone.
I have been reading these books since I first learned to read, some 32 years ago. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe was the first big book I read. I have read them probably all fifty plus times each and it always saddens me that Susan is no longer a friend of Narnia because of her love for being soooo grown up. I think there is more to her story and I hope that it leads her back to Aslan and Narnia. Her way to Aslans Country will be by a different road. If i had the talent for writing I would definately write Susan’s story because her’s will be a great adventure.
Well, C.S.Lewis have his way of presenting the real situation of Susan because she kind of turn away from Aslan and was doubtful about Narnia. In the end, she might not go there because she turn away from Aslan. 4 children represent the kind of people that believe about GOD.
Well, I dont think there are going to be any sequels in which Susan comes back, but I hope they change the story a little bit in the movie so that it shows Susan eventually coming to Narnia.
Aslan tells her and Peter that “they learned all they could from this world..now they will have to go back their own world ….” so she will have the opportunity to look for her way back then…probably through her salvation and finding Jesus….then she will find her true Narnia….Long Live Aslan. !!!
When I first read the books, I felt sad that Susan didn’t believe in Narnia- but then, why would she forget and move on? I think that was completely silly of her. Her actions teach us to never be an age that we are not at yet. Try not to be another age, like Susan did. I’ve already learned that because my mom and dad always tell me that, even today.
I suspect Lewis saw a lot of Susan in himself. Lewis was raised Christian but rejected his religious as a fairly young teenager only to return as an adult after struggling with his faith for many years. What I get from his writings is that Lewis always wanted to believe on some level, but he wouldn’t allow himself. This is how I see Susan. Apart from the fact that Lewis himself believes Susan ultimately makes it to Narnia (and I consider him to be the controlling authority on what happens in the universe he created), I would be very shocked if Lewis of all people gave up on someone who lost their faith as a teenager. I think Susan returns to the fold in much the same way Lewis himself did, but that’s not a child’s story so I can see why he didn’t write it.
I am a die hard susan fan and if she is not in an of the movies any more i will not watch the movies.
I think Susan will come back to Narnia…I mean after all her family dies she may think that they are in Narnia or start remembering about how they just to talk about Narnia and she will search that world again. It may be possible that Edmund or Lucy
will call her and they’ll help her to return to Narnia (because they are her younger brothers and I think that she’ll do anything for them).
P.S. I’m not so good at english so forgive me for the mistakes.
P.S.2. I’m also a Susan Fan..But more an Edmund-fan
This is a great essay, Inkspot. I definitely agree that Susan has a chance to return to Narnia. She’s still alive, and if she turns her life over to Aslan/God, she will be saved. Go Susan!
Susan did not come to Narnia. That never meant she WOULD not ever come to Narnia. C.S. Lewis himself, in a letter to someone worrying about this same question, said himself that Susan’s separation wasn’t necessarilly permanent. Susan didn’t die, and even though she wasn’t a friend of Narnia when her family died, does not mean she won’t ever be one again.
Honestly, Susan is not supposed to appear in any more books, so I hope she doesn’t appear in any more movies, but just coz she’s never shown doesn’t mean she’s eternally banished from Narnia.
For my opinion on the matter, look at my comments on “Fan Essay About Susan” by Lia. BTW–good essay, Inkspot.
Also, I agree with elleldee–I would be disappointed to see Susan in the movies, simply because she is not in the books. This, however, doesn’t mean that she never “comes back” to Narnia, nor does it mean that I want her to.
At the last all the children are together, and we have this oath from Asland. (once a king or queen of Narnia, always a King or queen of Narnia) Susan had to come another way. It’s not that easy to get away from the Lion.
I think the real reason CSLewis didn’t right that susan comes back is so that he can make way for another book with her coming to Narnia
LONG LIVE THE QUEEN !!!!!
C.S. Lewis died in 1963, so I don’t think he’ll be writing a sequel anytime soon…