There are many instances in literature where we see characters giving up what they love, or even their own lives for other characters. This concept of death in order to save another human being is called self-sacrifice and it is a recurring theme in many of the children’s books and young adult fiction books that we read nowadays. Self-sacrifice is an extremely crucial part of children’s literature. We see it all the time in Disney movies such as in today’s popular movie Frozen, where Elsa was saved by her sister Ana. (Frozen [Motion picture on DVD].(2013).USA.) It is an action that elicits an immensely positive and sympathetic reaction from readers and viewers. When people read about a person giving their life so that another person may continue on their mission it resounds in our minds. One example that many people are familiar with is in J.R.R Tolkien’s Lord of The Rings. As the group of men, elves, and dwarves run through the Dwarven Ruins they encounter a huge beast that Gandalf calls, “The Balrog.” The group runs through the great Dwarven halls until they reach a bridge where Gandalf stops and speaks to the Balrog. He shouts at it stating, “you cannot pass,” but the Balrog presses forward anyway. At this point Gandalf slams his staff into the bridge crumbling it under the feet of the Balrog as he shouts, “You cannot pass!” As the Balrog falls it uses its whip in order to grab hold of the foot of Gandalf and drag him down into the abyss. At this point it is evident that Gandalf is going to die, but what is interesting are his last words, “Fly, you fools!” By saying this we begin to understand that even as Gandalf is being drug into the abyss he still is watching over the group and attempting to ensure their safety. This is one of the most memorable moments of self-sacrifice in literature today, because of how it sticks with the reader. The first time I read the Lord of The Rings this scene seared itself into my mind. The way that Gandalf is depicted is as though he cares very little about his life, but wants more than anything for the group to keep going. These traits are seen as honorable and respected in a character in fiction. One of the reasons that this scene in The Lord of The Rings sticks out so much is because it seems as though Gandalf exhibits Christian-like qualities throughout the book, making him seem to be representative of Christ’s death.
This is also the case in C.S. Lewis book The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, when Aslan dies by the snow queen on the stone table in order to save Edmund. Many arguments have been made to back the theory that C.S. Lewis directly made this book to follow along the lines of Christ’s death. Here the image of self-sacrifice is a little different because it directly correlates with the Bible. Aslan is walked to the table by Susan and Lucy, and when they ask him if they can walk with him his reply is, “I would be glad of the company for awhile…I am sad and lonely.” This may seem insignificant but if you look at the Bible when Jesus is walking with his disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray he says, “Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” This shows that Aslan was a character created to emulate Jesus Christ. Here we see an example of self-sacrifice that directly affects the Christian community. C.S. Lewis did an excellent job attempting to recreate a fictional book that deals with Jesus Christ death and resurrection. This is
another example of self-sacrifice in literature that maintains a persistent visual with the readers.
This is also the case in C.S. Lewis book The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, when Aslan dies by the snow queen on the stone table in order to save Edmund. Many arguments have been made to back the theory that C.S. Lewis directly made this book to follow along the lines of Christ’s death. Here the image of self-sacrifice is a little different because it directly correlates with the Bible. Aslan is walked to the table by Susan and Lucy, and when they ask him if they can walk with him his reply is, “I would be glad of the company for awhile…I am sad and lonely.” This may seem insignificant but if you look at the Bible when Jesus is walking with his disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray he says, “Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” This shows that Aslan was a character created to emulate Jesus Christ. Here we see an example of self-sacrifice that directly affects the Christian community. C.S. Lewis did an excellent job attempting to recreate a fictional book that deals with Jesus Christ death and resurrection. This is
another example of self-sacrifice in literature that maintains a persistent visual with the readers.