White Witch

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==Bio Info==
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'''Titles:''' Princess of Charn, The White Witch, The White Lady, as well as her self-appointed titles: Empress Jadis, Imperial Majesty Jadis, Queen of Narnia, Chatelaine of Cair Paravel, Empress of the Lone Islands
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'''Age:''' Unknown. She dwelt in Narnia for a thousand years before the hundred-year winter began. It is unknown how long she lived in Charn before that. It is only certain is that she was over 1,100 years old when she died.
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'''Species:''' The White Witch’s origin is a topic of some debate, as there are two descriptions for it given in the Chronicles. In LWW (1950), Mr. Beaver tells the Pevensies that she is half-Jinn and half-giantess, and that there is not a drop of real human blood in her. In MN (1955), Jadis is depicted as the last of the humanoid race of Charn, though not a Daughter of Eve. The apparent discrepancy can be reconciled by the idea that Mr. Beaver's story is a Narnian old wives' tale. But it is also possible that Lewis made an error or simply changed his mind. Since Lewis said he did not plan out the series in advance, the most plausible explanation seems to be that Lewis intended Mr. Beaver’s words to be true when he wrote them, but later decided to change Jadis' origin to the royal family of Charn. Whatever her origin, it is clear that Jadis is not a Daughter of Eve, and therefore cannot be the rightful ruler of Narnia.
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'''Home:''' Charn; Her castle (northeast of Lantern Waste), Narnia
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'''Physical Description:''' Beautiful, with a red mouth, and skin as white as snow (in LWW) and taller than people in our world. In MN, Digory said that he had never in all his life seen a woman so beautiful — but Polly always said she could never see anything especially beautiful about her.
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'''Tools:''' Golden wand, stone knife
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'''First Appearance:''' ''The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe'', Ch. 3 (1950)
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==About The White Witch==
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Jadis, the White Witch, is an iconic character in the Chronicles. When The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was published in 1950, little of her origin was known. When The Magician's Nephew was published in 1955, Lewis reveals that she had previously been Queen of another world, Charn. In that world, Jadis warred with her sister for the throne. She defeated her sister by uttering the "Deplorable Word," which made her the only living thing in Charn. However, this also had the effect putting her in an enchanted sleep, until awakened by Digory. When she travels with Digory and Polly out of the destroyed Charn into the Wood Between the Worlds, she is greatly weakened by the wholesomeness of that place. Once in Narnia, she eats the forbidden fruit, making her immortal but also bringing her despair. When Aslan plants the Tree of Protection, He says that the smell of it is horror and despair to her. "All get what they want; they do not always like it," He says. A thousand years after Narnia's creation, she returns as the White Witch and oppresses the land with her hundred-year winter. Lewis describes her (and most witches) as terribly practical, saying, "They are not interested in things or people unless they can use them."
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==Inspiration==
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Jadis' ability to turn people to stone may have been inspired by the myth of the Greek gorgon Medusa, who was able to turn people to stone if they looked directly at her. Jadis is also similar in some ways to the character of Circe in The Odyssey; Circe uses magical food to tempt humans, just as Jadis uses Turkish Delight to tempt Edmund.
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Douglas Gresham writes, "Jadis is the embodiment of all evil. She's the most beautiful woman you'll ever see in your life. The devil dresses up his temptations in beauty, so Jadis also represents that side of Satan's favorite temptations. I think her character is probably an amalgam of various women who passed through Jack's life. There are bits of various people in her."
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==Appearances==
==Appearances==
===~ The Magician's Nephew ~ (1955)===
===~ The Magician's Nephew ~ (1955)===
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===~ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe ~ (1950)===
===~ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe ~ (1950)===
[[File:3784.jpg|left]]The White Witch is riding through Narnia on her sledge when she comes upon a Son of Adam, Edmund, standing in the snow. Fearing the prophecies that predict her overthrow, she uses enchanted Turkish Delight to persuade Edmund to bring his brother and two sisters to her. From Edmund, she learns of Tumnus' involvement and has him arrested, eventually turning him stone. When Edmund returns to the Witch with the news that "Aslan is on the move," she immediately sledges down to the Stone Table, hoping to cut off the other three Pevensies. But along the way, Aslan ends her hundred-year winter and she is unable to travel quickly in the thaw. She has just made the decision to kill Edmund when Narnians (sent by Aslan) arrive in time to rescue him. She escapes by turning herself and her Dwarf into a boulder and a tree-stump. Although Edmund escapes that night, the Witch comes to the Narnian camp and tries to claim him by citing the Deep Magic, which states that all traitors belong to her. In private negotiations Aslan offers His own life in exchange for Edmund's. The Witch agrees, and she kills Him on the Stone Table that very night. After He is dead, she wastes no time in attacking the Narnian army. During the battle, she uses her wand to turn the Narnians to stone and severely wounds Edmund when he breaks it. The Witch is stunned when Aslan appears, leading another army (the stone statues from her castle that He had brought back to life). With a roar that shakes all Narnia, Aslan flings Himself at the White Witch and kills her.
[[File:3784.jpg|left]]The White Witch is riding through Narnia on her sledge when she comes upon a Son of Adam, Edmund, standing in the snow. Fearing the prophecies that predict her overthrow, she uses enchanted Turkish Delight to persuade Edmund to bring his brother and two sisters to her. From Edmund, she learns of Tumnus' involvement and has him arrested, eventually turning him stone. When Edmund returns to the Witch with the news that "Aslan is on the move," she immediately sledges down to the Stone Table, hoping to cut off the other three Pevensies. But along the way, Aslan ends her hundred-year winter and she is unable to travel quickly in the thaw. She has just made the decision to kill Edmund when Narnians (sent by Aslan) arrive in time to rescue him. She escapes by turning herself and her Dwarf into a boulder and a tree-stump. Although Edmund escapes that night, the Witch comes to the Narnian camp and tries to claim him by citing the Deep Magic, which states that all traitors belong to her. In private negotiations Aslan offers His own life in exchange for Edmund's. The Witch agrees, and she kills Him on the Stone Table that very night. After He is dead, she wastes no time in attacking the Narnian army. During the battle, she uses her wand to turn the Narnians to stone and severely wounds Edmund when he breaks it. The Witch is stunned when Aslan appears, leading another army (the stone statues from her castle that He had brought back to life). With a roar that shakes all Narnia, Aslan flings Himself at the White Witch and kills her.
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==About==
 
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Jadis, the White Witch, is an iconic character in the Chronicles. When The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was published in 1950, little of her origin was known. When The Magician's Nephew was published in 1955, Lewis reveals that she had previously been Queen of another world, Charn. In that world, Jadis warred with her sister for the throne. She defeated her sister by uttering the "Deplorable Word," which made her the only living thing in Charn. However, this also had the effect putting her in an enchanted sleep, until awakened by Digory. When she travels with Digory and Polly out of the destroyed Charn into the Wood Between the Worlds, she is greatly weakened by the wholesomeness of that place. Once in Narnia, she eats the forbidden fruit, making her immortal but also bringing her despair. When Aslan plants the Tree of Protection, He says that the smell of it is horror and despair to her. "All get what they want; they do not always like it," He says. A thousand years after Narnia's creation, she returns as the White Witch and oppresses the land with her hundred-year winter. Lewis describes her (and most witches) as terribly practical, saying, "They are not interested in things or people unless they can use them."
 
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==Inspiration==
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==Portrayals==
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Jadis' ability to turn people to stone may have been inspired by the myth of the Greek gorgon Medusa, who was able to turn people to stone if they looked directly at her. Jadis is also similar in some ways to the character of Circe in The Odyssey; Circe uses magical food to tempt humans, just as Jadis uses Turkish Delight to tempt Edmund.
+
-
Douglas Gresham writes, "Jadis is the embodiment of all evil. She's the most beautiful woman you'll ever see in your life. The devil dresses up his temptations in beauty, so Jadis also represents that side of Satan's favorite temptations. I think her character is probably an amalgam of various women who passed through Jack's life. There are bits of various people in her."
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==Bio Info==
+
-
'''Titles:''' Princess of Charn, The White Witch, The White Lady, as well as her self-appointed titles: Empress Jadis, Imperial Majesty Jadis, Queen of Narnia, Chatelaine of Cair Paravel, Empress of the Lone Islands
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+
-
'''Age:''' Unknown. She dwelt in Narnia for a thousand years before the hundred-year winter began. It is unknown how long she lived in Charn before that. It is only certain is that she was over 1,100 years old when she died.
+
-
 
+
-
'''Species:''' The White Witch’s origin is a topic of some debate, as there are two descriptions for it given in the Chronicles. In LWW (1950), Mr. Beaver tells the Pevensies that she is half-Jinn and half-giantess, and that there is not a drop of real human blood in her. In MN (1955), Jadis is depicted as the last of the humanoid race of Charn, though not a Daughter of Eve. The apparent discrepancy can be reconciled by the idea that Mr. Beaver's story is a Narnian old wives' tale. But it is also possible that Lewis made an error or simply changed his mind. Since Lewis said he did not plan out the series in advance, the most plausible explanation seems to be that Lewis intended Mr. Beaver’s words to be true when he wrote them, but later decided to change Jadis' origin to the royal family of Charn. Whatever her origin, it is clear that Jadis is not a Daughter of Eve, and therefore cannot be the rightful ruler of Narnia.
+
-
 
+
-
'''Home:''' Charn; Her castle (northeast of Lantern Waste), Narnia
+
-
 
+
-
'''Physical Description:''' Beautiful, with a red mouth, and skin as white as snow (in LWW) and taller than people in our world. In MN, Digory said that he had never in all his life seen a woman so beautiful — but Polly always said she could never see anything especially beautiful about her.
+
-
 
+
-
'''Tools:''' Golden wand, stone knife
+
-
 
+
-
'''First Appearance:''' ''The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe'', Ch. 3 (1950)
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'''Portrayals:'''
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*Tilda Swinton: Disney/Walden ''The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe'', 2005; ''Prince Caspian'', 2008
*Tilda Swinton: Disney/Walden ''The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe'', 2005; ''Prince Caspian'', 2008
Born: 5 November 1960
Born: 5 November 1960

Revision as of 22:54, 5 October 2009

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