Susan Pevensie and the Question of Growing Up

[NarniaFans]

Revisiting Anna Popplewell’s portrayal and what Lewis actually wrote about Susan’s journey. Years ago, during a lively discussion among Narnia fans, I remember hearing someone raise an unusual concern about the films. The topic had [...]

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Link: https://narniafans.com/2026/03/susan-pevensie-and-the-question-of-growing-up/

 

[EveningStar]

People don't appreciate Lewis' subtle approach. For instance the name "Israel" was given to Jacob by God because he "struggles with God". The entirity of Scripture seems to value an open, honest dialog, sometimes angry, with God by people who are genuinely interested in the great questions of life and death rather than trying to defend their pat answers to the hilt. As someone who has read a lot of Lewis, it wouldn't surprise me if he deliberately left Susan's fate vague in an attempt to get the reader to think deeply about what the text says...and doesn't say...and how they feel about salvation. Only this approach really hurt a few young fans who wrote him, and his responses basically reflected his view that "Aslan isn't through with her yet." Something which could be said of all of us.

 

[Copperfox]

Leave it to that jerk Pullman to claim that Susan was "cruelly turned away from the Stable." Pullman desperately _wanted_ Narnia to be toxic. But Susan simply wasn't >in< the Narnian world >to< have been present to be admitted or _not_ admitted through the Stable at the end of "Last Battle."

"Saving Susan" is a made-up issue. There >is< no language in which "She is no longer a Queen of Narnia" means "She is eternally lost without hope of grace."

 

[EveningStar]

I'm not a Queen of Narnia either and I fully expect to be in Heaven stripes and all. ;-)