Portrayed By
Elizabeth Hawthorne
Maureen Morris
Background
Mrs. Macready is the housekeeper at Professor Kirke’s estate, where the Pevensie children are sent to stay during the air raids of World War II in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. She is responsible for maintaining order in the large, mysterious house, ensuring that it remains well-kept and presentable, especially when she leads visitors on tours of the grand historical home.
Unlike Professor Kirke, who is warm and open-minded, Mrs. Macready is strict and rather cold, embodying a no-nonsense, practical attitude. She is a firm believer in rules and discipline, and she does not appear to have much patience for children. Her presence in the Professor’s house creates a stark contrast to the imaginative and adventurous spirit of the Pevensies, making her an unwitting obstacle to their early explorations.
Although she has no direct connection to Narnia itself, Mrs. Macready’s rigid, adult perspective represents a key theme in C.S. Lewis’s work: the contrast between childhood wonder and adult practicality.
Personality
Mrs. Macready is characterized by her stern demeanor, strict adherence to rules, and lack of tolerance for childish behavior. She is formal, rigid, and somewhat intimidating, and she seems to take great pride in her work as the housekeeper. When leading tours of the house, she emphasizes the grandeur and importance of the estate, often speaking in a rather authoritative and disapproving manner.
Her disdain for children is evident early in the story, as she explicitly instructs the Pevensies to stay out of the way when she is giving house tours. She sees children as disruptive and prefers a quiet, orderly environment—one where there is no room for games or exploration.
Mrs. Macready’s authoritative nature extends beyond the Pevensies, as even the other servants in the house seem to respect her as the one who maintains order. Despite her strictness, she is not portrayed as truly malicious; rather, she is simply a woman of duty who values control and tidiness over imagination and adventure.
Her personality contrasts sharply with that of Professor Kirke, who is much more willing to believe in extraordinary possibilities. This difference in attitude subtly highlights the novel’s larger themes of imagination vs. logic, faith vs. skepticism, and childhood vs. adulthood.
Role in the Story
Obstacle to the Pevensies
Mrs. Macready plays a minor but important role in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, primarily serving as an incidental obstacle that inadvertently pushes the Pevensie children toward their first entrance into Narnia.
Early in the story, she warns the children not to interrupt her tours of the house and demands that they stay out of the way whenever visitors arrive. This restriction limits their ability to explore freely, creating an immediate sense of confinement within the large estate.
Chasing the Pevensies into the Wardrobe
Mrs. Macready’s most pivotal moment comes when she is giving a tour of the house while the Pevensie children are trying to avoid her. In their efforts to stay out of sight, they rush into the spare room where the famous wardrobe stands—and it is in that very moment that Lucy, Peter, Susan, and Edmund all step into Narnia together for the first time.
This chase sequence is critical to the plot, as it marks the beginning of the full adventure in Narnia. If not for Mrs. Macready’s presence and her role as an authority figure whom the children wish to avoid, they might never have entered the wardrobe at the same time, delaying or even preventing the fulfillment of Aslan’s prophecy.
Contrast with Professor Kirke
While Mrs. Macready enforces rules and discipline, Professor Kirke is more open to wonder and possibility. This contrast subtly reinforces one of the book’s key messages: adults who are too rigid and practical may blind themselves to the wonders of the world. Mrs. Macready dismisses childish behavior and imagination, whereas the Professor later encourages Lucy by suggesting that her story about Narnia might be true.
Although Mrs. Macready never interacts with the Pevensies after they return from Narnia, she remains a symbolic presence—a representation of the world the children leave behind when they embrace the magic and adventure of Aslan’s kingdom.
Notable Quotes
While Mrs. Macready does not have many lines in the book, her most memorable statements highlight her strict personality and low tolerance for disruptions:
- “The tourists, sir, are here already. I have had to let seven of them go through this morning already.” (Speaking to Professor Kirke, showing her dedication to running the house efficiently.)
- “And remember, you are to keep out of the way whenever I bring the party round.” (Warning the Pevensies about her house tours, setting up the moment that drives them into the wardrobe.)
These quotes emphasize her disciplinarian role and her impatience with anything that disrupts order.
Analysis & Symbolism
The Adult Who Rejects Magic
Mrs. Macready represents a classic Narnian theme: the idea that some adults close themselves off to wonder, imagination, and the unknown. Unlike the Professor, who is willing to entertain the idea that magic may be real, Mrs. Macready’s rigid worldview leaves no room for such possibilities.
Her attitude reflects a common struggle between childhood and adulthood:
- Children embrace adventure, magic, and the unknown.
- Many adults, like Mrs. Macready, focus only on structure, logic, and control.
This aligns with Lewis’s belief that imagination and faith should not be lost with age. While Mrs. Macready is not a villain, she serves as a contrast to characters who are willing to believe in the extraordinary.
A Symbol of the Real World
In a broader sense, Mrs. Macready represents the rigid, rule-bound world that the Pevensies temporarily escape when they enter Narnia. The Professor’s house, with its historical artifacts and strict rules, mirrors the real-world constraints of wartime England. Mrs. Macready’s presence reinforces this oppressive atmosphere, making Narnia feel even more like a true escape.
A Catalyst for Discovery
Ironically, despite her skepticism and strictness, Mrs. Macready is directly responsible for the Pevensies entering Narnia together. Her pursuit of the children leads them into the wardrobe at the exact moment when the portal to Narnia is open to them.
This suggests a subtle lesson: even those who reject imagination and magic may, unintentionally, lead others toward it.
Legacy in Narnia
Although Mrs. Macready does not enter Narnia or play a major role beyond the beginning of the story, she remains a significant part of the Pevensies’ journey.
How She is Remembered:
- She is the last figure of authority the Pevensies encounter before stepping into Narnia, making her the final symbol of the “real world” they leave behind.
- She indirectly helps fulfill Aslan’s prophecy by pushing the Pevensies toward the wardrobe.
- She represents the adult mindset that rejects magic, reinforcing Lewis’s theme that wonder and faith should not be lost with age.
Although she never appears again in the series, her presence lingers as a reminder of the barriers between childhood imagination and adult practicality.
Conclusion
Mrs. Macready is a minor yet crucial character in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. As the strict and no-nonsense housekeeper of Professor Kirke’s estate, she serves as an early obstacle to the Pevensies’ curiosity, inadvertently driving them into the wardrobe and into the adventure that awaits them.
Symbolically, she represents the adult world’s skepticism and rigidity, contrasting with the magic and wonder of Narnia. Though she does not directly oppose the children, she serves as a foil to the themes of imagination, adventure, and belief in the extraordinary.
In the grander narrative of Narnia, Mrs. Macready’s role may be small, but it is essential, proving that even the most mundane figures can unknowingly set great events into motion.
Be the first to comment