Brianna M.

Mitchell
English 308 FA14
M. Becker
November 12, 2014
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe vs. Mahabharata
THE BETRAYAL
There are many betrayals in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. First is Mr.
Tumnus betrayal of the White Witch in chapter 2. All betrayals after that are Edmunds. His first
is the unconscious betrayal of Lucy and Mr. Tumnus while talking to the White Witch in Chapter
4. This first betrayal starts the Witch in her manipulation of Edmund. Although he has many
other betrayals along the way his greatest is considered his betrayal of Aslan and his siblings in
chapter nine when he reaches the Witchs house and tells her of the plan to meet him and the
Stone Table.
In the Mahabharata Karna is betrayed most of all by his mother. The first occurred upon
his birth when she put him in to the river because she was ashamed of him. Next she betrays him
the eve of the battle by approaching him as her long lost son but the flips the script because she
doesnt want her other sons to die. He is also betrayed by Krishna during the battle by telling
Arjuna of the violations that the Kauravas committed knowing that the three curses had to be
enacted for Karna to be killed.
CONVERSATION ON THE EVE OF THE BATTLE
In The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Aslan really does not have a talk with
anyone on the eve of the battle. He had a different demeanor about him as he was walking with
Lucy and Susan. He walks like he has been defeated. He does mentions to the girls that he is sad
and lonely in chapter 17, before he leaves the girls to walk to the Stone Table to accept his fate.

Karna has three conversations on the eve of the battle. His conversation with Krishna
reveals his linage as the eldest son of Kunti and rightful heir to the throne and he will be given a
kingdom if he betrays Duryodhana. Next is his conversation with Surya before Indra disguised
as a Brahmin comes to get his armor. Surya tells Karna about Indras intentions, but is dismissed.
Karna agrees to Indras terms but only if he give up the Vasavo Shakti. It is agreed upon but with
the condition that Karna can only use it once. Finally Karna is visited Kunti. Kunti visits to beg
him not to fight for he is her son and doesnt want them to kill her other sons. In a version of the
myth I read online that Parasurama appears to Karna in a dream and ask him to accept his fate of
death for the sake of Dharma.
THE BATTLE AND THE DEATH
For Aslan his death is kind of anticlimactic in a way. He does not fight back even when
he is tied up to a point that the ropes are cutting into his skin, his mane shaven, muzzled, kicked,
and jeered. The death is harder on Lucy and Susan than it is on Aslan. They are so devastated
over his death that they pretty much shut down all other feelings but their grief.
Over the days during the battle with the Pandavas, Karna is not present because of
Bhiishma. He says its because Karnas humiliation of Draupadi doesnt want him in the army.
But it is because he knew that Karna was Kaurava and did not want him to fight against his own
brothers. When he does enter the war he keeps his promise to Kunti and spares his other
brothers. His death is tragic because of Krishnas manipulation of Arjuna to kill Karna.