Original artwork, not a still
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe ‧ 1950
Safe? Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
Lewis's whole picture of Aslan sits in this exchange: power and goodness are not the same as comfort. Readers use it for anything formidable but trustworthy, and for a reading of Aslan as a figure of awe, not a pet. The plain beaver voice delivering it is part of the charm, and it is the root of the phrase 'not a tame lion'.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for The Lion, the Witch and the WardrobeShow the scene
In Chapter 8 of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, "What Happened after Dinner", the Pevensie children have followed Mr and Mrs Beaver home and eaten with them. Mr Beaver tells them about Aslan the Great Lion and the prophecy of the four thrones at Cair Paravel. When the children nervously ask whether Aslan is quite safe, Mr Beaver answers with this speech, which in the book runs a little longer than the quoted core. It is the children's first real picture of the Lion before they meet him.
Sources (2)
- Wikiquote: The Chronicles of NarniaLion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Ch. 8: What Happened after DinnerReference checked
- Fandom Narnia Wiki: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (book)chapter list and plot summaryReference checked
Context reviewed
