Narnian Ba'alei Teshuva: Edmund

The first character in the Chronicles to experience spiritual renewal is Edmund. Having been saved from the White Witch and after a talk with Aslan, Edmund utterly rejected his former ways so much so that Aslan asserted, there was no further need to talk about the past. 

Yet, the unmerciful, non-spiritual, world is not so easily appeased. The White Witch demands that Edmund be killed as a traitor, and, by law, she is correct. One who has sinned cannot escape justice and punishment simply due to a change of heart. Only because the White Witch is willing to accept a replacement is Edmund saved. The trade, of course, is for Aslan himself and his subsequent murder is clearly symbolic of the Christian worldview that the death of God’s Son achieves Grace for humanity. For it is only through this willing sacrifice that man can rise from the carnal and achieve salvation.

Edmund himself recognizes the truth of this and later describes Aslan to Eustace saying, “He is the great Lion, the son of the Emperor-beyond-the-Sea, who saved me and saved Narnia.” 

There are, however, some points to note: 

1. Though salvation only comes to Edmund due to the sacrifice of Aslan, Edmund himself already showed signs of remorse before this. Upon reaching the palace of the White Witch and having betrayed his siblings, Edmund is finally confronted with the true evil of the White Witch. He is filled with remorse, and looks back at his former actions as the lie that they truly are. Would Aslan have saved Edmund without this penitence? Would the sacrifice have been made for one not worthy of Grace?

2. Despite Aslan’s statement that there is no need to talk to Edmund about the past, Edmund apologizes to all of his siblings, and his apology is accepted. Is this part of achieving Grace or simply an act of politeness? 

3. Aslan pressures Lucy into visiting others of the wounded by rhetorically asking, “Must more people die for Edmund?” This clearly invokes the past even though there is no need to speak to Edmund about it. 

4. Edmund grows up to become King Edmund the Just, “great in council and judgement.” How much of this growth can be attributed to his experience as a traitor and a returnee?

While not able to address all of these issues, perhaps the Jewish view of teshuva, repentance, can shed light on the salvation of Edmund.