In Prince Caspian, the latest screen adaptation in the
Chronicles of Narnia series, the imaginative world of fairy tale and mythical
allegory are used to convey some serious lessons about leadership and power that
are relevant to the challenges we face today.
In Narnia, there is a growing struggle to gain control of the throne to lead the
Telmarines, a race of people closely resembling humans. Miraz wishes to usurp
the throne from the heir Prince Caspian, his nephew by marriage, and will stop
at nothing, including outright lies, manipulation and murder to turn the
situation to his favour.
However, he is faced with the limits of his tyranny
when he tries to overcome Prince Caspian, the four siblings of the original
book, and all of the magical creatures of that world.
In key scenes, Prince Caspian and one of the siblings overcome the temptation to
take control of the situation (by killing King Miraz outright) and to succumb to
their thirst for power, realizing that they must behave honourably to avoid
becoming the kind of leader they fight against.
As the story progresses, it is clear that those who will be victorious in the
battle are those who recognize and work with the powers of the natural world
within themselves and around them.
With help from the Great Lion Aslan, guide to
the siblings and their allies, the natural world is awoken, and the forests and
great river join in the fight, sparing only those who humbly recognize their
place among the great forces at work around them.
At the end of the story, the two older siblings understand that they must leave
Narnia, never to return, as they have come of age. Although they have reached
adulthood, the lessons they have learned about leadership and power during their
adventures in Narnia will remain with them as they return to the “real world.”
Given the state of today’s world, wouldn’t we all do much better by taking these
same lessons of leadership and honour and applying them as practical truths in
our own “real world”?
