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Old 02-22-2006, 01:24 PM   #32
davem
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties
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davem is battling Black Riders on Weathertop.davem is battling Black Riders on Weathertop.
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In fact, I would suggest that it's a lot more clear that the Emperor is in charge of things in Narnia than Eru in M-E (at least LotR M-E) insofar as it is explicitly the fulfillment of the Emperor's Law that allows Aslan to come back to life and save the day!
I always felt that Aslan cheated the White Witch. He knew that he would be resurrected (& says as much to Lucy & Susan). If we compare that to Gandalf's sacrifice of himself in Moria, its clear he had no idea that he would be 'sent back'. Clearly this is 'against the rules', in that the decision to send him back takes place 'beyond thought & time' (ie beyond the Circles of the World).

This is another intervention by Eru in the story, & is the most direct reference to an 'external' power (the Valar are, rather, an 'internal' power, as they are bound within the Circles of the World by their choice to enter into it). So, we don't have 'fate' as such in either world. Its rather that Aslan is in control of events as he knows the rules by which Narnia operates (the 'Deep Magic'). In M-e terminology he is a 'Master' of the Secret Fire, while Gandalf is a 'Servant' of it. Aslan is, effectively the 'Emperor' incarnate & uses the Rules. Gandalf has no idea he will be 'sent back', so in that sense his sacrifice is 'purer'. All he knows is that he will 'die'.
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