In the fantasy novel "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" by C.S. Lewis, the character of the Sorceress plays a significant role in the storyline. The Sorceress, also known as the White Witch, holds dominion over the enchanted land of Narnia and has plunged it into a never-ending winter. The main idea behind the character of the Sorceress is her embodiment of evil and the concept of temptation. She is a powerful and cunning sorceress who uses her magic to manipulate and control those around her, including the creatures of Narnia.
Artesia must bind them, but she only knows how to do minor charms or make war spirits her servant. The ghost of Lysia says there are other ways, and she will show her. Artesia strips her armor and draws sigils on her skin. She performs the ritual and binds them to her body, makes them part of her.
Artesia instructs Hueylin and a group of men to stay behind to speak for her army--and make sure the food, supplies, and coin keep flowing to keep them in the field, whether King Bran joins them or not. After the Witch s brief, ill-fated attempt to overtake London, she is transported to Narnia along with Digory and Polly, where she finds Aslan and his songs utterly repellent.
She is a powerful and cunning sorceress who uses her magic to manipulate and control those around her, including the creatures of Narnia. Her primary goal is to maintain her control over the land and its inhabitants, even if it means ruling with an iron fist. One of the most memorable moments involving the Sorceress is her encounter with the four Pevensie children, who stumble upon Narnia through a magical wardrobe.
Sorceress from the lion witch and wardrobe
Artesia #5 (May 1999) Story & Art by Mark Smylie
Synopsis: Artesia is weary. Her army has been pushing forward without rest. Her crow (really the war-spirit Demidice) returns to show her visions of what transpires in the wider world: She sees the Thessid forces breaching falls and destroying the watchtowers. The Empire's armies are triumphant thanks a a traitor.
Then she sees what will transpire in the future:
She "dreams of the death of the world" and her "heart sings with joy."
She awakens, unsure of what she has seen, though her lieutenant Ferris recognizes the mark of the lionheaded goddess Hathnalla upon her. Coincidentally (or not) her bannerman Hueylin has returned from treatment by the surgeon's of Hathnalla's cult. Artesia instructs Hueylin and a group of men to stay behind to speak for her army--and make sure the food, supplies, and coin keep flowing to keep them in the field, whether King Bran joins them or not.
Two captains approach with word from Pavel, the emissary. Bran will not parley. The citadel is sealed and none enter or leave. Artesia had a bad feeling. She sends the two captains to watch Dara Dess and she rides out to a shrine to Djara.
She's joined at the shrine by a pale woman, Urgrayne, Witch-Queen of the Harath-Eduins. She knew Artesia's mother and what she could have been--what she could have made Artesia, instead of the soldier she has become. Now she goes to fight for the Middle Kingdom that turned her king against her--and killed her loved ones:
They were all murdered because they laughed at the Agallite's defeat at Artesia's hands. The Agallites had killed Lysia the night before, even though Bran wished her spared as his seer. The priests cursed them as they died so the death guides couldn't find them. At the urging of Lysia's spirit, Urgrayne searched and found these others as the Wild Hunt rode the night. Some were lost though.
Artesia thanks Urgrayne for saving them, but she has not:
Artesia must bind them, but she only knows how to do minor charms or make war spirits her servant. The ghost of Lysia says there are other ways, and she will show her. Artesia strips her armor and draws sigils on her skin. She performs the ritual and binds them to her body, makes them part of her.
- We see the goddess Hathnalla for the first time
- And the Isklids--more on them in later issues.
Hathnalla, Ferris's leoncephalic goddess, was likely inspired by Sekhmet and equally leonine Egyptian goddess whose purview was also war and healing. Her name suggests both Anath (a Semitic war goddess) and Valhalla (the Hall of the Slain in Norse myth).
Djara as a goddess of crossroads, resembles the Greek goddess Hecate. Her idol is depicted as three faced, just like Hecate's. Urgrayne, who is (perhaps poetically, perhaps not) is a variant on Ygraine or Igraine, ultimately derived to Eigyr, the mother of King Arthur.
Djara as a goddess of crossroads, resembles the Greek goddess Hecate. Her idol is depicted as three faced, just like Hecate's. Urgrayne, who is (perhaps poetically, perhaps not) is a variant on Ygraine or Igraine, ultimately derived to Eigyr, the mother of King Arthur.
She immediately sees them as a threat to her rule and takes drastic actions to eliminate them. She offers Edmund, one of the siblings, the promise of power and treats in exchange for betraying his family. Edmund, tempted by her promises, falls under her spell and becomes her pawn. Throughout the story, the true nature of the Sorceress is revealed. She is a symbol of evil and embodies the dangers of unchecked power and the willingness to do anything for self-preservation. As the story unfolds, the children and other creatures of Narnia begin to resist her rule, making alliances and forming the beginnings of a rebellion against her. In the climactic battle between the forces of good and evil, the Sorceress is ultimately defeated by Aslan, a wise and benevolent lion who is the true king of Narnia. Her defeat signifies the triumph of good over evil and the restoration of balance to the land. Overall, the character of the Sorceress in "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" represents the dangers of power and the temptations of evil. Through her cunning and manipulation, she seeks to maintain control over Narnia, but ultimately faces defeat at the hands of those who choose to fight for what is right..
Reviews for "The Sorceress's Magical Abilities and their Significance in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe"
1. Tom - 2/5 stars - I found "Sorceress from the lion witch and wardrobe" to be quite disappointing. The storyline was incredibly confusing and hard to follow. There were several different characters introduced without much explanation, making it difficult to connect with any of them. The pacing was also very slow, and I found myself losing interest halfway through the book. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and wished I had spent my time on a different novel.
2. Emily - 2/5 stars - I was expecting so much more from "Sorceress from the lion witch and wardrobe," but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The writing style felt disjointed and lacked depth, making it hard to fully immerse myself in the story. Additionally, the characters were one-dimensional and lacked development. The plot seemed promising at first, but it quickly became predictable and lacked originality. Ultimately, I was left feeling underwhelmed and unable to connect with the book on any level.
3. Mark - 1/5 stars - I could not get into "Sorceress from the lion witch and wardrobe". The writing was dull and lacked any sort of excitement. The characters felt incredibly flat and uninteresting, and I had no investment in their journey. The book seemed to drag on with unnecessary details that did not contribute to the overall storyline. I was hoping for a magical and enchanting experience, but unfortunately, this novel failed to deliver. I would not recommend it to others.