Arvan
New member
Well I would cry at thirteen, fourteen; for emotional reasons, not usually physical pain. Why did Shasta cry? I can't remember.
You've got a point there...
The Horse and His Boy
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Aravis Kenobi
New member
Folks, just because a certain age is considered marriable (is that a word?) in our day and age doesn't make it right for a family film. 15 is the limit, 13 is the minimum. I don't think families will want to see a film that has a 12 year old girl betrothed to a 60 year old man. I just don't, because even though they don't technically get married, it's still creepy.
I was gone for a day, and this thread has grown a lot! 
I read over the posts, and agree that Aravis and Shasta were about twelve. I always imagined Aravis as a fifteen year-old, and Shasta as a little bit younger.
As for Shasta crying, I can hardly blame him. When you're in bad circumstances and lots of pain, it's not unnatural to cry.
I read over the posts, and agree that Aravis and Shasta were about twelve. I always imagined Aravis as a fifteen year-old, and Shasta as a little bit younger.As for Shasta crying, I can hardly blame him. When you're in bad circumstances and lots of pain, it's not unnatural to cry.
moonspinner
Member
He cries two times that I remember - when he is hit by a soldier/guard in Tashbaan who he talked back to, and then when he fills sorry for himself just before he meets Aslan.
I think it's disturbing whether she's 15 or 12. Even fact, I'd be disturbed if anyone thinks it's more 'OK' if a 15 year old girl gets married than if a 12 year old girl does. Besides, these films haven't shied away from showing child soldiers getting hurt and killing things in battle. Showing a young girl 'escaping' from becoming a child bride is mild compared to, for example, what Edmund goes through in the first movie. Also, I'm always worried when changes are suggested to the Narnia stories to fit what families would want to see. I was never traumatized by the realization that Aravis was almost a child bride when I read the books very young. Sometimes I think it's grown ups who have a problem with serious themes and not the children that they (the grown ups) believe they are trying to shield.
I think it's disturbing whether she's 15 or 12. Even fact, I'd be disturbed if anyone thinks it's more 'OK' if a 15 year old girl gets married than if a 12 year old girl does. Besides, these films haven't shied away from showing child soldiers getting hurt and killing things in battle. Showing a young girl 'escaping' from becoming a child bride is mild compared to, for example, what Edmund goes through in the first movie. Also, I'm always worried when changes are suggested to the Narnia stories to fit what families would want to see. I was never traumatized by the realization that Aravis was almost a child bride when I read the books very young. Sometimes I think it's grown ups who have a problem with serious themes and not the children that they (the grown ups) believe they are trying to shield.
Good point! I find myself often not wanting my little siblings to watch movies or read books because of things like that, and then I'm like, "What am I thinking?! That's ridiculous!" I never had a problem with that sort of thing when I was younger, why should they?
Yes, it's disturbing that a 12 year old should be engaged to an old man. But as long as it's shown to be WRONG, it shouldn't be an issue.
Few things about that: first, it's pivotal to the plot, since it's the reason for Aravis' flight, but it's also specifically commented on as being unusual, and explained as part of that culture. Second, in other times and places people getting married at 15 or 16 wasn't all that unusual. Even in colonial and pioneer America you see people doing it. Remember, for much of history the average age was about 45, so there wasn't that much time to waste. Thirdly, the story never has Aravis and Ahosta even meet, so it all stays in the realm of discussion. There's no reason anyone should be "creeped out" about it.
Good point!
The fact that it was commented on as being unusual does indeed help it to be less offensive, as does the fact that they never meet.When taking a history course several years ago, I was astonished to realize that people used to marry at such a young age. But because they had such a short life-span back then, it should not be surprising.
Aravis Kenobi
New member
Then I guess I'm just a weird, pyscho, abnormal person to be creeped out by even the thought of it.
Well, it IS creepy under today's standards.Then I guess I'm just a weird, pyscho, abnormal person to be creeped out by even the thought of it.
But it's not as bad as it seems, when you think about that culture. At least, that's how it is for me.But even if you are still creeped out, you're not at fault.
Arvan
New member
Well I'm pretty sure he doesn't cry when he's hit by the soldier, because he's "had knocks much harder than that."
That's right! I forgot about the self-pity part! And that whole thing of working himself into a crying fit by feeling sorry for himself is totally a thing that fits 12 or 13 years of age.
VERY true! I agree completely. And then there's the parents who don't shield their children from disturbing things that don't currently bother the parents, which leads to three-year-olds seeing Indiana Jones films, or worse, much worse, eight-year-olds seeing films NO ONE should see! And by the way, I can say that those are both true examples...
And then there's the people who think Narnia is "bad" because it has a "witch" in it's title.
moonspinner
Member
I know many people who can't read the Narnia books because they feel the stories glamorize child soldiers.Then I guess I'm just a weird, pyscho, abnormal person to be creeped out by even the thought of it.
Actually, the exact sentence is: Shasta cried only a very little; he was used to hard knocks.
Exactly. I grew up on Famous Five books: stories wherein children were constantly going off and having "adventures" (read: dangerous, scary experiences that more often than not involved being tied up, starved and knocked around by criminals). I loved them!
Like a wise man once said: fairy tales don't teach children that dragons (criminals, kidnappers, cultures that encourage child brides) exist: children already know that. What fairy tales teach children is that dragons (criminals, kidnappers, situations where you're forced to marry a far older man against your will) can be slayed.
That was G.K. Chesterton who said that. He was referring to the fairy tales of his growing up, which were much more savage than the "Disney versions" we get these days (have you ever read the original Grimm Brother's version of Cinderella?)
I think you areThen I guess I'm just a weird, pyscho, abnormal person to be creeped out by even the thought of it.
After all, it's not unusual in some cultures at this very moment to have girls as young as 8 in arranged marriages. It doesn't mean we, as western culture think it's right, but hey, that's their culture. Hopefully the culture will change as with the times.
No I haven't...
But that's a great point. Kids do know that things like that exist. I would be against something that described it graphically or made it otherwise inappropriate, but I wouldn't shun something just because it talked about an eight-year-old marrying someone who's 60.
Catch the end of this version of the tale. And this didn't even have the bit about the Prince making the stepmother and stepsisters dance in red-hot iron shoes at the wedding reception.No I haven't...
Yeah, Lewis is pretty tame...
That's dreadful! In many aspects, the story was better than some adaptations. For instance, I thought that the idea of the tree was nice. But... yuck! The end is morbid and dreadful!
MrBob
Well-known member
I see them as both about 12-14. The way Shasta finds Bree so big and Bree finds him so light, he cant be too old. Also, Shasta at first thought Aravis was a boy. Mind you, she was wearing mail, but still, she can't be too--ahem--mature.
The one issue that could come up in terms of the marriage is that Aravis does go to visit with Larsaleen, who is married to the Grand Vizier. They could make her slightly older than Aravis, but that is still young.
MrBob
The one issue that could come up in terms of the marriage is that Aravis does go to visit with Larsaleen, who is married to the Grand Vizier. They could make her slightly older than Aravis, but that is still young.
MrBob