If you’ve made it to the final chapter of C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia, The Last Battle offers a thought-provoking and unforgettable conclusion. This seventh installment stands out for its darker tone, complex spiritual themes, and surprising narrative structure.
Unlike previous adventures, the English children arrive in Narnia only midway through the story, as chaos unfolds. At the heart of the conflict is the scheming ape Shift and his tragic pawn, Puzzle the donkey, who masquerades as Aslan. Their deception triggers a crisis for Narnia, as the last king, Tirian, battles to uphold truth and honor in the face of betrayal and despair.
Guiding us through these challenging themes is Dr. Scott Masson, who delves into the theology and allegorical depth of The Last Battle. His insights bring to light the hiddenness of Aslan, the concept of Deus Absconditus (the hidden God), and the ultimate hope of redemption.
This is the first in a two-part series exploring this remarkable conclusion to Narnia’s story. You can watch Dr. Masson’s detailed analysis here:
Stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll uncover even more about Lewis’s intentions and the profound legacy of The Last Battle.
My 1st grade teacher read “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe” to us – evidently her husband was assigned it at the Yale Divinity School – and as each subsequent book was written, I got each one. I read each one 30 times, except for “The Last Battle.” I could only read that one once.