The Last Battle is the last and the seventh book in Lewis’s series “The Chronicles of Narnia”, which turns out to be very sad and pessimistic. This story is more advisable for adults, because here the fairy-tale world is being destroyed very shatteringly.
The finale turns out to be tragic, even if we are not talking about characters, but about the world in general. Of course, the whole book has an obvious religious implication and it is natural, knowing that Lewis was theologian and Christianity formed the basis of his worldview. However, such straightforwardness can rack one’s brains in this book. Although in the previous parts of this series there is no such an underlying theme, the author also hoists moral issues, speaks about cultural wealth, but more subtly and unobtrusively.
The Last Battle is a dramatic end to the flourishing fantasy world, where everyone is pious most of the way. For what? Nothing except bewilderment, sadness and pessimism evokes such emotions. Frankly speaking, it seems that the good has lost. Nevertheless, this story teaches friendship, loyalty, love for the motherland and hope for the best. Narnia is not just a fictional country. It is also a personification of everything what we truly love and respect. It is the strongest breaking point for an adult, who has already faced losses and realized the fragility of what is dear to him or her (it is easier for children, because they do not understand it yet), to read about the horrible downfall of this world.
This part will destroy faith in Narnia, faith in a miracle and faith in something bright and kind in general. Despite such an unhappy end, the last book is a magnificent completion of “The Chronicles of Narnia.” There is a profound meaning in the book like in the previous parts. Susan, who decides not to believe in Narnia and forget all the wonders, is the only character to whom the reader can show sympathy. She prefers tranquility and lack of faith to unrequited hope, but deceives herself. Susan remains alone in England. Unfortunately, this is one of the sad things in the book, but also very didactic. The author hints at the fact that you need to believe in miracles and always be with your family, because loneliness is the worst thing in the world.
Unlike the previous parts, this book has more political underlying theme, as in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – a revolution, a change of power, self-destruction, complete separation from the rest of the world and illusions that everything will be fine and everything will be changed for the better. Certainly, philosophy also has an important role. There is consummate and unique philosophy, which affirms that there is nothing eternal and you can never return the past. Philosophy makes the reader think about life and death. The main characters wanted to know Aslan’s country, but they did not know what problems and trials were waiting for them ahead. It seems to be a children’s story, but there are problems and solutions which are too tough for children.
