A Noble Contradiction

A Noble Contradiction

I went to see the movie, Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, with my family a few days ago. One phrase struck my heart. The Professor, Doctor Cornelius, speaking to Prince Caspian, a Talmarin, said that he could be the "most noble contradiction in history- the Talmarine who saved Narnia. "

Narnia has been largely conquered by the Spaniard-like Talmarines and pushed almost to extinction; the Narnian's became outlawed myths and legends. Caspian is the Prince of the Talmarines and heir to the throne. However, his uncle, Miraz, after having son, tries to have Caspian murdered so that he might become King and his son the next rightful heir. Caspian escapes into the world of Narnia and discovers a world of myth become fact, the Deep Magic of Aslan; and aided by the Pevensie's, who return to Narnia from our world as High King Peter, King Edmund, Queens Susan and Lucy, fights in the Narnian Civil War to overthrow his wicked uncle and the opportunity to show his quality by returning the freedom of Narnia. In a letter C.S. Lewis, refers to such courage and chivalry as "restoration of the true religion after corruption".

But what does it mean to be Noble? One definition is the possion of "hereditary rank in a political system or social class derived from a feudalistic stage of a country's development." Certainly, Prince Caspian had heridtary rank, social position and affluence but there is more to being Noble than rank, wealth, or social status.

Being Noble is more akin to a statement from Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. Faramir, a Lord of Gondor, captures the two Hobbits, Frodo and Sam, who are in possession of a Ring of Power. They seek to unmake the ring in the fires of Mount Doom, thus destroying the power of the Dark Lord Sauron. Faramir has the opportunity to take for himself, Gondor and Denethor, his father and The Steward of Gondor, a "kingly gift." Faramir has to make a choice, a "noble contradiction," when he says it is "an opportunity for Faramir to show his quality," and releases the Hobbits to continue their mission.

Nobility has less to do with status or power than it does with manifesting the Quality of High Moral Character and Virtue. These qualities might include, courage, generosity, honor, and even faith. These are some of the themes of Prince Caspian.

These "Noble Contradictions" are the stuff of our Christian Faith- to do unto others as we would have them do unto us, to love even our enemies, to rather suffer wrong for the sake of Christ than to seek our own self-justiifcation, that the greatest love is when a man lays down his life for a friend.

Faith, faith in Aslan-the Christ figure of Narnia, is a strong theme in Prince Caspian. "Who believes in Aslan nowadays?" asks Trumpkin when he first meets Caspian. Those who "hold on", like the badgers, are to be praised.

There are many times and places in our daily lives when we have the opportunity to show our Quality and make such Noble Contradictions. Therefore, Let us go forth into the world to love and serve the Lord!