The White Witch of Narnia: A Hero in Disguise?

Was Jadis Just Misunderstood?

When I first read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, I took the story at face value: Aslan is noble, the Pevensie children are brave, and Jadis — the White Witch — is pure evil. But the more I’ve revisited Narnia, the more I wonder if we’ve misjudged her. Was Jadis truly a villainous tyrant, or was she simply fighting for her place in a world that refused to accept her rule? Let’s dig into the facts.

## Did Jadis Bring Order to Narnia?

Before Aslan’s return, Jadis ruled Narnia for a hundred years under the curse of eternal winter. While it’s often painted as a bleak, joyless existence, it was also a time of stability. There were no wars, no rebellions, and no chaos. In a land where new rulers — humans, no less — suddenly appeared claiming the throne, Jadis’ rule could be seen as a form of governance that kept the peace, albeit through fear. Her laws were harsh, yes, but perhaps necessary in a realm still young and vulnerable.

## Was She a Victim of Prophecy and Prejudice?

The prophecy that “two sons of Adam and two daughters of Eve” would sit on the thrones of Narnia seems suspiciously convenient. It conveniently excludes Jadis, who was already ruling when the Pevensies arrived. Her actions — from turning creatures to stone to striking down traitors — may have been defensive rather than purely cruel. After all, if a prophecy declared that your reign would end violently, wouldn’t you take drastic steps to prevent it? Jadis was vilified for doing what rulers have done throughout history: protecting her power against a foretold threat.

## Did She Ever Have a Chance at Redemption?

Unlike many characters in Narnia, Jadis is never offered forgiveness. Aslan doesn’t try to reason with her, nor does he extend mercy. In fact, she is executed by a human child in a moment of supposed triumph. Contrast this with Edmund, who betrays his siblings and is not only forgiven but honored. Jadis, meanwhile, is never given the same opportunity. If redemption is a core theme of Narnia, why was she denied it? Could this be a failure of the story’s moral framework rather than a flaw in her character?

## What About the Magic She Used?

Jadis wielded deep magic from the dawn of time, which gave her the authority to execute traitors like Edmund. That magic was older than Aslan’s — and arguably more legitimate. If the Deep Magic is law, then Jadis was enforcing it. Her use of magic wasn’t random or evil; it was rooted in the very fabric of Narnia’s creation. By ignoring this and invoking a newer, “deeper” magic, Aslan essentially rewrote the rules mid-game. Jadis followed the laws she believed in — laws that were later nullified by a power shift.

## So, Was Jadis a Hero or a Villain?

It’s tempting to see Jadis as a textbook villain, but the truth is more complicated. She ruled a land for a century without internal collapse. She defended her throne from invaders. She followed the laws of her time, only to be undone by a new order that refused to recognize her legitimacy. While her methods were brutal, her motivations — survival, sovereignty, and self-defense — are not inherently evil. In a different version of the story, Jadis might have been the tragic protector of Narnia rather than its eternal enemy.

If you're curious to explore Jadis’ side of the story — to ask her about the Deep Magic, her exile, or how she saw her rule — you can talk to her directly on HoloDream. You might find that her answers aren’t as black and white as the stories suggest.