The Last Battle
Title: The Last Battle Author: C.S. Lewis
Series: Chronicles of Narnia #7
Genre: Classic, Fantasy, Middle Grade
Format: Hard Cover
Pages: 224
Reason Read: Just Because
Rating:
Also in this series: The Magician's Nephew, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Horse and His Boy, Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair
My Thoughts
THE LAST BATTLE was definitely not my favorite of the series, but I still enjoyed aspects of it. I’m so glad Reepicheep was in this story, even if it was for a short time. I’m a little disappointed with the ending. I didn’t expect almost everyone in the series to die and I didn’t expect the series to end the way it did.
I want to know more about Susan. I found Lewis’ explanation by the other Pevensies inadequate. It just seemed strange that every Penvensie, including the parents, were brought to Aslan’s country, except Susan. What made Susan so bad that she didn’t deserve to come back? It’s not like she started to believe in Tash. She became a little mixed up. If Puzzle could be forgiven for impersonating Aslan, then I think Susan can be forgiven for being “interested in nothing nowadays except nylons and lipstick and invitations.” I guess there’s a possibility she may be able to go to Aslan’s country in the future. I just don’t know for sure and that bugs me.
Overall, the series was good and I enjoyed reading the books. I enjoyed meeting the characters, especially the Pevensies, Aslan, and the other animals. I also enjoyed the symbolism very much. PRINCE CASPIAN is, indeed, my favorite of the series.
At this point, I’m not sure I’ll read the series again, perhaps, if I have free time and nothing else to read. I’m glad, however, I read the books at least once.
2022 Reread
When I first read THE LAST BATTLE back in 2007, I enjoyed aspects of it but it was my least favorite of the series. As I reread it, I tried to keep an open mind. I’m glad I did because I enjoyed it much more this time around. I do still have a couple of problems with it, though. The first problem is with some of the allegory and the second is the same problematic language regarding the Calormenes that I noticed in THE HORSE AND HIS BOY.
I didn’t have a problem with all of the allegory. In fact, I truly enjoyed the allusion to Moses and the staff with the serpent on it as the characters saw or didn’t see what was really past the door in the stable. I also loved the allusions to the second coming of Christ and what’s written in Revelation regarding the wars, false Christs, and the coming of the Beast. The way Lewis tied them all together as a coherent story was phenomenal.
The part of the allegory in THE LAST BATTLE I had a problem with is regarding Susan and Puzzle. I still don’t agree with how Lewis treated Susan nor do I think that she shouldn’t be “redeemed” when Puzzle, who imitated Aslan, was. I know Puzzle was tricked by Shift. However, before Puzzle agreed to go along with Shift, Puzzle actually said that he knew it was wrong to impersonate Aslan. To me, this means he went along willingly. Don’t get me wrong. I’m glad Puzzle was “redeemed.” I just think if he was, then Susan should’ve been as well as she only liked nylons, lipstick, and invitations more than Narnia.
My rating changed from 2 stars to 3.5 stars after this reread.