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The religious symbolism in C.S. Lewis's Narnia books is well known and, in many cases, very clear: Aslan is Jesus, the Calormenes are a very stereotypical portrayal of Muslims, the Dwarfs may represent Jews, and so on.

What about the Telmarines, as seen in Prince Caspian? They rule over Narnia and banish the talking creatures and dwarfs, hags, etc. to the mere legends that they are in our own world. Do they represent anything in the symbolic Lewisian theology? Atheists, perhaps?

Rand al'Thor
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  • The Ancient Romans morphing into the Roman Catholic Church :) Am attempting a justification. – fundagain Oct 15 '18 at 16:57
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    "the Calormenes are a very stereotypical portrayal of Muslims"? Can you justify or reference this? In my understanding, the Calormenes are way too early to be Muslims. – fundagain Oct 15 '18 at 17:36
  • I would associate the Calormenes with people in that area, or India, etc., but long before Islam. – fundagain Oct 15 '18 at 17:49
  • Perhaps atheists? I'd have to think about it more, and I'd be curious for your thoughts on it, but: they don't believe in the 'old stories' but are secretly a bit afraid, they believe in 'progress' (think schools that Aslan tears down, the deforestation, and the bridge over Beruna), and we never hear about any particular god-like figure that they worship. However, there's a part of me that wonders if that position was kinda taken up by Eustace's parents? – auden Feb 20 '19 at 01:51
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    @heather Could well be! For Eustace's parents, see this question. – Rand al'Thor Feb 20 '19 at 07:03

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