Susan's Horn

Much ink has been spilled on Susan Pevensie and her betrayal of Narnia. I think there's more that has to be said but that's not the goal for today. Instead, I'd like to think about not Susan herself, but Susan's horn. 

Susan's horn was given to her by Father Christmas in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. However, even Father Christmas seemed unsure of the extent of its powers, "And when you put this horn to your lips; and blow it, then, wherever you are, I think help of some kind will come to you." 

The horn is first blown soon after it was gifted when Susan was being chased by the Wolf. Nothing magical seemed to have happened at that time. Aslan and Peter hear the horn and Peter saves Susan by killing the Wolf. Afterwards, it seems that Susan regularly kept the horn at her side, since she had it during the fateful hunting of the White Stag which brought the Pevensies back to England (though it seems she did not have it in Calormen in The Horse and His Boy). 

At that point the horn was lost for several centuries until it was discovered by Dr. Cornelius. He, in turn, gave the horn to Caspian before the latter's flight from the castle of his usurping Uncle Miraz. It was Caspian who then blew the horn for a second time and, this time, we see its remarkable magical ability. Trumpkin the Dwarf was already many hours journey away from Caspian and, nonetheless, described what he heard, "there came a sound that I'd never heard the like of in my born days. Eh, I won't forget that. The whole air was full of it, loud as thunder but far longer, cool and sweet as music over water, but strong enough to shake the woods. And I said to myself, `If that's not the Horn, call me a rabbit.' " And, of course, the horn dragged the Pevensie children out of England and back into Narnia. 

After Caspian's victory he offers the horn back to Susan, who refuses to accept, but at this point (and not in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe) Susan is cheered as Queen Susan of the Horn. 

We hear nothing of the horn for the rest of the Chronicles. It was not used again by Caspian even when trying to find his lost son. It was not used by King Erlian before falling in battle against the giants, and it was not used by King Tirian as Narnia came crashing down.  

However, we do find some other significant horns in The Last Battle. There is Father Time's horn which he blows to end the world, and there is King Frank's horn which gathers the Narnian heroes in the Narnian nirvana. What is the purpose of all of these horns?

Perhaps the purpose is to call others home. Father Time's horn unleashes a mass of shooting stars who eventually come down to Narnia, "All the stars were falling: Aslan had called them home." King Frank's horn brings the Narnian heroes further up and further in. 

What of Susan's horn?

Susan's horn brought Peter to knighthood. Susan's horn brought the Pevensies home to Narnia. And, I believe, Susan's horn will one day bring Susan, and all who are like her, home as well. 

In the U'netaneh Tokef prayer on the Days of Awe we are told of the Heavenly judgement. The great horn (the shofar) will be sounded causing even the angels to tremble. All creatures then come single file before God to be judged, "Like a shepherd pasturing his flock." However, this frightening picture is transformed if we look at the prooftext of Ezekiel. In the 34th chapter Ezekiel tells of the shepherds charged with caring for God's sheep - His people, the nation of Israel. The shepherds were irresponsible, even evil, not caring for the sheep, harming them, causing them to scatter to faraway places. 

God will punish the evil shepherds and then lovingly gather the sheep, "like a shepherd pasturing his flock." He will judge their needs and bring them home to the Land of Israel. Once again, the horn calls out to the people, "The day of judgement has arrived, God will seek you for it is time to come home."   

There are horns in this world even not on the Day of Judgement. They take on different forms: some are pleasant, some are excruciatingly painful. But they serve the same purpose, to call out to those who have strayed, it is time to come home.