The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is a popular fantasy novel written by C.S. Lewis. It is the first book in The Chronicles of Narnia series and was published in 1950. The story revolves around four siblings - Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy - who stumble upon a magical wardrobe that transports them to the enchanted land of Narnia. In Narnia, the White Witch is a powerful and evil character who has plunged the land into an eternal winter.
Dismissing Pauline Baynes’ beloved yet bland illustrations from the original C.S. Lewis books, Mussenden hit upon the missing element thanks to her son’s obsession with Pokemon, in which the game’s characters physically evolve over time. She envisioned the White Witch’s costume as an organic element that would similarly evolve and change colors. “We called it a mood ring,” she says. “It would blow up as she was feeling strong and deflate as her powers would disappear.”
But this ice palette is not the glittering white of a department store North Pole; it s the opaque aqua of icebergs and the steely blue of a frozen sea. The dresses are imposing, beautiful and feminine as befits an enchantress who can lure children to her castle with Turkish delight and the warmth of a fur mantle.
In Narnia, the White Witch is a powerful and evil character who has plunged the land into an eternal winter. She is known for her icy demeanor, cold heart, and tyrannical rule over the creatures of Narnia. The White Witch's main goal is to maintain her control and keep Narnia in perpetual winter, where Christmas never comes.
The witch and her wardrobe
When costuming a witch, certain factors need to be considered. For starters, the black hair and broomstick thing is, frankly, passe. And when the witch in question is Jadis the White Witch from “The Chronicles of Narnia,” black would simply be the ultimate fashion faux pas.
“She’s the Ice Queen; she couldn’t be dark,” says Costume Designers Guild nominee Isis Mussenden, who says the character of Jadis, portrayed with fierce intensity by Tilda Swinton, was the greatest challenge of the job.
Mussenden spent months in the concept phase — because the other thing about dressing witches is that they’re not human, so such mundane tasks as actually getting dressed are irrelevant. “I didn’t want to think that she went into the wardrobe and pulled her dress out,” says the designer. “I didn’t even want to think that she has a closet!”
Dismissing Pauline Baynes’ beloved yet bland illustrations from the original C.S. Lewis books, Mussenden hit upon the missing element thanks to her son’s obsession with Pokemon, in which the game’s characters physically evolve over time. She envisioned the White Witch’s costume as an organic element that would similarly evolve and change colors. “We called it a mood ring,” she says. “It would blow up as she was feeling strong and deflate as her powers would disappear.”
Seven different icy-hued dresses were crafted from hand-felted wool and silk, with a lace overlay that was then burned for texture and depth. But this ice palette is not the glittering white of a department store North Pole; it’s the opaque aqua of icebergs and the steely blue of a frozen sea.
The dresses are imposing, beautiful and feminine — as befits an enchantress who can lure children to her castle with Turkish delight and the warmth of a fur mantle. Alexander McQueen was a design inspiration, and in fact, none of the garments would look out of place on the couture catwalk.
“We were not going to make her evil-looking,” says Mussenden; that was Swinton’s responsibility. Mussenden adds that the alabaster pale, otherworldly beauty will do “anything” to make a costume work, including, in this case, wearing no makeup, which for many fortysomething Hollywood actresses would be a deal-breaker.
Really, who needs makeup when you’re swathed in white fox, ritualistically adorned with black feathers, or dressed, literally, to kill, in what came to be called “the Aslan poncho”: a lion’s mane ruff (synthetic, of course) worn atop a titanium chain-mail skirt that took a week to weld together.
For the Ice Queen’s signature piece — her icicle crown — Mussenden collaborated with the New York City artist Hope Atherton, who uses textiles and taxidermy in her work. “Hope has this little thing in her brain that’s really macabre,” says Mussenden. “It takes her one step further into darkness.”
The designer had always imagined a crown of ice that would melt away, yet it was Atherton who conceived of icicles actually growing from the witch’s skull.
Mussenden widens her eyes. “I mean, shards of ice coming out of someone’s head! It’s just fantastic!” She continues, chuckling at the memory, “And then when I said, ‘OK, how are we going to make this?’ she said, ‘I don’t know, that’s your job.'”
Seven different icy-hued dresses were crafted from hand-felted wool and silk, with a lace overlay that was then burned for texture and depth. But this ice palette is not the glittering white of a department store North Pole; it’s the opaque aqua of icebergs and the steely blue of a frozen sea.
The White Witch's appearance is described as cold and regal, with white skin, a crown of ice, and a wand that can turn her enemies into stone. She is feared by the inhabitants of Narnia and is known for her cruelty and lack of mercy. She has been prophesied to be overthrown by two Sons of Adam and two Daughters of Eve, which leads her to target the Pevensie siblings. Edmund, the youngest of the Pevensie siblings, falls under the White Witch's spell and betrays his siblings. He becomes entangled in the White Witch's web of deceit and is swayed by her promises of power and luxury. However, as the story progresses, Edmund realizes the error of his ways and joins forces with his siblings and the noble lion Aslan to defeat the White Witch. The White Witch symbolizes the allure of power and the consequences of succumbing to temptation. She represents the destructive forces of greed, fear, and tyranny. However, in the end, good triumphs over evil, and the White Witch is ultimately defeated. The portrayal of the White Witch in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe highlights the importance of courage, loyalty, and forgiveness. It serves as a reminder that even the most powerful and seemingly unbeatable forces can be overcome by the unity and resilience of those who stand against them..
Reviews for "The White Witch as a Symbol of Evil in "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe"
1. James - 2/5 stars - I found "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" to be underwhelming, particularly in its portrayal of the White Witch. Throughout the book, she is depicted as a shallow and one-dimensional character, lacking depth and complexity. I was hoping for a more nuanced antagonist, but instead, the White Witch is reduced to nothing more than a stereotypical evil sorceress. This lack of character development made it difficult for me to connect with the story and ultimately left me feeling unsatisfied.
2. Rebecca - 2/5 stars - "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" fell short of my expectations, particularly in its depiction of the White Witch. Rather than being a compelling and formidable villain, she came across as somewhat cartoonish and predictable. Her motives and actions lacked true depth and complexity, and I found it hard to take her seriously as a credible threat to the protagonists. Overall, I was disappointed by the lack of development given to the White Witch character, which undermined my enjoyment of the book.
3. Alex - 3/5 stars - While I appreciate the overall storyline of "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," I wasn't particularly impressed with the portrayal of the White Witch. She came across as a somewhat generic and clichéd antagonist, lacking the depth and complexity that I had hoped for. I found myself craving more insight into her backstory and motivations, which would have made her a more compelling character. However, despite my reservations about the White Witch, I did enjoy other aspects of the book and found it to be an enjoyable read overall.
4. Sarah - 2/5 stars - The White Witch in "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" left much to be desired. While her ice-cold demeanor and intimidating presence were initially promising, her character ultimately fell flat. I was disappointed by the lack of development and depth given to the White Witch, which made it difficult for me to fully invest in the story. I was hoping for a more complex and multidimensional antagonist, but the White Witch felt too one-dimensional and lacking in substance. As a result, I found myself losing interest in the book as a whole.