| Narnia character | |
|---|---|
 Skandar Keynes as Edmund Pevensie in the 2008 film, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. |
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| Edmund Pevensie | |
| Race | Human |
| Nation | England |
| Gender | Male |
| Title | King Edmund the Just/King of Narnia, Duke of Lantern Waste, Count of the Western March, Knight of the Noble Order of the Table |
| Birthplace | England, Earth |
| Family | |
| Spouse | None |
| Parents | Mr & Mrs Pevensie |
| Children | None |
| Siblings | Peter, Susan and Lucy |
| Family | Eustace Scrubb (cousin) |
| Major character in | |
| The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Prince Caspian The Voyage of the Dawn Treader The Horse and His Boy |
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| Portrayals in adaptations | |
| 1988 BBC miniseries: Jonathan R. Scott (younger), Charles Ponting (older) | |
| 2005 Walden/Disney film: Skandar Keynes (younger), Mark Wells (older) | |
| 2008 Walden/Disney film: Skandar Keynes | |
| 2010 Walden/Fox film: Skandar Keynes | |
Edmund "Ed" Pevensie is a major fictional character in C. S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia. He is a principal character in three of the seven books (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader), and a lesser character in two others (The Horse and His Boy, and The Last Battle).
In Disney's live-action films, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and Prince Caspian, Edmund is portrayed by actor Skandar Keynes. Actor Mark Wells portrays an older Edmund at the end of the first film.
In the The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, he betrays his siblings to the White Witch while under her influence, but as the story goes on he accepts the error of his ways. He is redeemed with the intervention of Aslan and joins the fight against the witch. Fulfilling an ancient prophecy, he becomes King Edmund the Just, King of Narnia and, with sisters Susan and Lucy, co-ruler under High King Peter.
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Name
Edmund (from Anglo-Saxon, Eadmund, derived from words meaning "wealth" and "protection") is a male given name.
Pevensey, on the southeast coast of England, is the site of a medieval castle that figures importantly in British history at several points—primarily, indeed, as the site of Duke William of Normandy's decisive 1066 victory over Harold II Godwinson. In Rudyard Kipling's Puck of Pook's Hill (1907) at least one of the characters refers to Pevensey as "England's Gate", which the celebrated wardrobe in Lewis's books quite literally becomes. The surname "Pevensie" does not actually appear in the Chronicles until the third published book, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
Biography
Prior story
Edmund was born in 1930 in Finchley, England, (according to the movie series) and he is 10 years old when he appears in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. By The Last Battle he is 19 years old.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
In The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Edmund is one of the main characters, at the age of 10 years old, and the character who develops the most over the course of story.
It is implied in the book that Edmund started life as a likeable person, but then changed for the worse and began to act meanly after attending a new school. However, in the 2005 film adaptation of the book, it is implied that he is upset that their father was forced to serve in the war and that they are sent away from home as a result. In the 1988 BBC version, the reason for his change in behaviour is not mentioned.
Edmund is cruelly dismissive to Lucy when she first finds the entrance to Narnia through the wardrobe, and is the second of the Pevensie children to go to Narnia, after following Lucy to tease her. While there, he meets the White Witch (who introduces herself as the Queen of Narnia) and eats some enchanted Turkish Delight, which causes an addiction in the person who eats it. As a result, he promises the Witch that he will bring his siblings to her house, not knowing that she intends to kill them all to prevent the fulfillment of a Narnian prophecy. Lucy did mention the White Witch in a subsequent conversation and Edmund realised that the witch was none other than the "Queen of Narnia", but the magic of the Turkish Delight was so strong that he was determined to go back to her for more.
Upon returning, he denies having been in Narnia, not wishing to admit that Lucy's story had been true, but later accidentally lets slip in a remark to Peter that shows that he had in fact been in Narnia. All four of the Pevensie children later go through the wardrobe and are taken under protection of Mr and Mrs Beaver, but while the others are having an in-depth conversation about the arrival of Aslan, Edmund sneaks away to the White Witch's castle, where he expects to be made a prince and later a king. However, his opinion of the Witch changes dramatically when she berates him for coming alone, and even more so when on their journey to the Stone Table, they encounter a group of creatures enjoying a feast provided by Father Christmas. When the creatures continue to affirm that Father Christmas is their benefactor and has entered the land, a clear sign of her waning power, she turns them to stone over the protests of Edmund. (In the 2005 film after Maugrim catches the fox which helped the beavers and the other three Pevensies elude him, the witch turns the fox to stone and hits Edmund for withholding information about Aslan and his army. In the 1988 BBC version, the same scenario is shown as in the book.)
He now realizes to his horror the evil with which he has allied himself, and would give anything to be with the others. The sledge eventually stalls as the snow melts (another sign of the witch's crumbling power), so they have to continue their journey on foot. They eventually stop in a wooded valley, where the Witch prepares to put him to death as a traitor. She ties Edmund to a tree and draws her knife, but a rescue party sent by Aslan arrives, frees him and brings him to his siblings and the rest of Aslan's army. Edmund becomes fully reformed after a long conversation with Aslan who afterward commands the Pevensies to consider the matter of their brother's mideeds resolved. The next day, the Witch reiterates her claim to Edmund's life. She and Aslan work out an agreement that Aslan will die in Edmund's place (though the other Narnians do not know this), but unknown to her, the magical nature of this contract allows Aslan to be brought back to life. Susan and Lucy witnessed Aslan's sacrifice and resurrection.
While Aslan and Edmund's sisters race to free the cursed prisoners in the Witch's castle, Edmund consolidates his reformation by aligning himself with Peter's army in battle, where he plays a critical role in neutralizing the White Witch's most dangerous advantage, her wand, and is gravely wounded in the attempt. This sees the Witch's army vastly outnumbered very quickly, and she is soon killed by Aslan, while the remnants of the enemy either give themselves up or take to flight.
However, he is saved from death by the timely arrival of reinforcements led by Aslan, and by Lucy, who gives Edmund a dose of a magic cordial which can quickly heal any injury. Eventually Edmund Pevensie, completely reformed, is crowned to the Great Western Wood by Aslan as King Edmund the Just, co-ruler of Narnia with Queen Lucy, Queen Susan and High King Peter, and is knighted as Duke of Lantern Waste, Count of the Western March, and Knight of the Noble Order of the Table.
15 years later, he and his siblings return to England, where they all magically appear as children again.
Prince Caspian
Edmund and his siblings return to Narnia to aid Caspian, rightful King of Narnia, against King Miraz the Usurper. He convinces Trumpkin the dwarf that they are the Kings and Queens from the legend by defeating him in a sparring practice. He later helps Peter and Trumpkin defend Caspian against Nikabrik, the hag, and the were-wolf. Edmund is also there to witness Peter's duel against Miraz.
He has since become more caring and protective of Lucy, and is the first person to believe her when she sees Aslan, supporting her against the disbelief of Trumpkin and her other siblings. Edmund is shown in a more positive light in this book than in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. His demeanor is more cooperative and loyal, even under the guidance of Peter, who is unprepared for the new Narnia and its current status.
In the movie, Edmund proves to be much more mature than Peter and Caspian both, but he stays out of their arguments. Also in the movie, he is able to stop the White Witch from being brought back from the dead by forcing his sword into the ice wall she is stuck in, smashing it.
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Edmund, Lucy and their cousin Eustace enter the world of Narnia through a magic painting, and end up in the ocean. They are rescued and brought on board the Dawn Treader, where they are reunited with King Caspian, who is on a quest to search for the missing Lords that his uncle had sent to explore other lands some years before. This is Edmund and Lucy's last adventure in the world of Narnia since Aslan told them they were getting too old to come back. By this point Edmund's character has matured a great deal which can be seen in the way he deals with his cousin Eustace and in the power struggle with Caspian. By this time also, Edmund has completely refrained from mistreating and insulting Lucy. When Eustace changes his behavior after being changed back from a dragon, Edmund mentions his own betrayal and says that Eustace wasn't worse than he was.
The Horse and His Boy
King Edmund, Queen Susan and Tumnus the Faun are visitors in the country of Calormen, where Prince Rabadash wants to force Susan to marry him. Mistaking Shasta for the missing Prince Corin of Archenland, Narnia's ally, Edmund scolds the young boy for running off and making everyone worry. The Narnians manage to escape thanks to Mr. Tumnus' clever plan, which leads Rabadash to convince his father that they should take Narnia by invading Archenland.
Shasta meets King Edmund once again in Anvard. Edmund gently reminds Shasta that he should not eavesdrop, but is clear that all is well. Edmund and King Lune of Archenland lead the fight against the Calormene army and defeat them.
The Last Battle
After seeing a vision of King Tirian of Narnia pleading for their help in England, Peter and Edmund go to the Ketterleys' old home in London to dig up the magic rings that Professor Kirke buried in the yard as a boy in The Magician's Nephew to be used by Eustace and Jill to reach Narnia. They are waiting for the others at the train platform when the accident happens.
When King Tirian sees the Seven Friends of Narnia in his dream/vision, he thinks that, as with Peter, that Edmund 'had already the face of a King and a warrior'.
Edmund accompanies everyone, except Susan, into Aslan's country. Like his brother and younger sister, he is killed in the train crash and is transferred to Aslan's country, where they all live forever.
Christian elements
In a Christian sense, Edmund's actions are a reflection upon the sinful nature of man as redeemed by the vicarious atonement of Christ. His sins were forgiven as he humbled himself to the will of Aslan, just as Christians believe their sins will be forgiven once they accept Christ as their saviour. He also realises that his brother and sisters are true friends and he ends his conflict with them, which is symbolic of man's ability to forgive.
Portrayals
- Jonathan R. Scott played Edmund in the 1988 BBC production. As an adult, he is played by Charles Ponting.
- In the 2005 film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, young Edmund is portrayed by Skandar Keynes while Mark Wells plays Edmund as an adult. Keynes returned for the sequel, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, released in 2008. He is also slated to return for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
- In the spoof Epic Movie, Edmund is played by Kal Penn.
External links
References
- Ford, Paul (2005), Edmund Pevensie (in The Companion to Narnia: A Complete Guide to the Magical World of C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia), HarperSanFrancisco, ISBN 0-06-079127-6
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