MovieChat Forums > The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008) Discussion > Aslan is arrogant and neglectful.

Aslan is arrogant and neglectful.

posted 13 years ago by Gular-Scute
18 replies | jump to latest

He stands by and allows his people to be enslaved, slaughtered and maimed simply because they don't pay him the sort of attention he feels he is owed. He only intervenes when his ego is stroked and then expects people to be deferential and grateful.

If I was a big talking cat, I'd take it as read that people would naturally struggle to believe in me without proof. I'd make sure to show my face and spread myself around a bit, do good things for people.

He's a rubbish god.

[–] RbSnedlap 13 years ago

Thats the big question isn`t it?
SHOULD a deity come charging in and sort things out every time something bad happens or should they instead in the first instance stand back and let their people sort it out for themselves while perhaps giving some moral guidence from behind the scenes?
At least some of the message buried in this film was that the solution to everything was for somebody to actually go out and LOOK for Aslan rather than putting all their hopes on Peter or Aslan to just turn up and put everything back to the way it used to be.

"Any plan that involves losing your hat is a BAD plan.""

[–] Gular-Scute 13 years ago

An interesting question but one that only assumes importance because of mankind's tendency to invent omnipotent supernatural beings. Otherwise it's a little like asking "Is it right that dragons hoard gold?" or "Would it be morally instructive if Father Christmas also gave presents to naughty children?".

If there were such things as deities they absolutely should play a collaborative and interactive role in sorting out the troubles of the world. A machine is only as good as it's maker designs it to be and creators have a responsibility towards managing the flaws in their devices. It's not good enough to loaf around hubristically waiting for adulation before intervening.

[–] roboh-1 12 years ago

If there were such things as deities they absolutely should play a collaborative and interactive role in sorting out the troubles of the world. A machine is only as good as it's maker designs it to be and creators have a responsibility towards managing the flaws in their devices. It's not good enough to loaf around hubristically waiting for adulation before intervening.

But if a machine does have a flaw, sometimes it only becomes evident when the machine fails. The maker would make the machine, then set it to its purpose. If it fails, the maker would only then need to step in and fix the failure, maybe modify the machine, and then set it to its purpose again.

=*=*=*=*=
The main reason that Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live

[–] seeyouinkansas 12 years ago

This original post is wholly wrong. Aslan does not show arrogance at any time in the books or films.

Lewis intended the books to offer allegories of how the world actually works, and in our world, we err and encounter consequences from our error. This fact does not disprove the existence of God nor does it "prove" that he's neglectful.

[–] seeyouinkansas 12 years ago

One point of this film seems to be that God's apparent absence does not disprove his existence. After all, the Telmarines did not believe in Aslan, but this disbelief did not force Aslan not to exist. Saying that God does not exist because he neglects misses the point of the film.

[–] Gular-Scute 12 years ago

I get the point of the book but I wasn't taking about the existence of god, just commenting on how Aslan's appalling behaviour renders him unworthy of respect, let alone worship. In a more politically conscious society, Lewis's message is seen in a different light, the morality is seen as deeply wrong, hidebound fanaticism. He did write cracking stories though.

The onus of proof should rest on the shoulders of believers. It's pointless, inane and puerile to attempt to disprove the existence of that which is obviously false to the enlightened mind.

If my four year old says he's seen pixies at the bottom of the garden I don't go out looking for them with a torch or demand that he bring me one of their hats as evidence. I smile and say "That's nice sunshine".

If an adult made the same claim, I'd feel a profound sense of unease concerning their mental health and the influence of dangerous cults in their life.

[–] Gular-Scute 12 years ago

Of course he shows arrogance. Like I said, he waits until his people grovel before using his power to help them even though he's just as responsible for Narnia going down the toilet as everyone else who lives there seeing how he did precisely nothing to stop the Telmarines in the first place.

In fact, he bears greater responsibility because he has greater power. When it's all over, he acts like 'The Big I Am' in saying words to the effect of "that'll teach you not to stop worshipping me".

He's a psychopath. If I was a Narnian, I'd campaign for him to be tranquilised, declawed and made to work in a circus.

[–] Gular-Scute 12 years ago

If there were such a thing as an omnipotent, omniscient being, it would be shockingly negligent of them to design flawed machines. One would have to assume that the flaws were deliberate, products of a ghoulish conceit that demands veneration.

[–] marktayloruk 12 years ago

Didn't care for his treatment of the Pevensies and others-summoning them at will and then telling them they coud never come back.Can hardly blame Peter for being bitter about being a schoolboy in England when he'd been King of Narnia Couldn't they have at least been able to go back on hoiday?

[–] seeyouinkansas 12 years ago

No--the point of the allegory is that Aslan (Lewis's Christ figure) can be encountered in story and mythology when one reads mythological narratives from the perspective of a child. Adults cannot gain from Narnia what a child can. Lewis emphasizes this point in the fate of Susan, who does not return in Last Battle to the meeting of all the adults who had visited Narnia as children. She lost even the memory of childlike faith.

[–] Gular-Scute 12 years ago

There seems to have been some sort of problem with Susan maturing as a woman, wearing makeup and showing an interest in the opposite sex. A deeply troubling reason for exclusion that the Taliban would surely approve of.

It's a good thing that some societies are developing away from such absurd and offensive philosophies.

[–] teamhawkeye 12 years ago

The point of that was to say "If you ask for me, I will help you."

[–] RbSnedlap 11 years ago

Or "If you think to ask me, I will help."

"Any plan that involves losing your hat is a BAD plan.""

[–] ecuelles 11 years ago

The purest and kindest kind of help is given without being asked for..It is immoral to see creatures suffering and doing nothing because they forgot to ask for help. I think Jesus helped without being asked?

[–] yusef-ghanima 11 years ago

you know nothing about how a god should be just shut up and read the bible

[–] Gular-Scute 10 years ago

It seems I know more than you kiddo. Shut your trap and read a cereal packet, you might learn something useful.

[–] mike (327) 7 years ago

He is also very furry and has a soothing voice.

I think you’re forgetting that Aslan is following the will of his father, the emperor beyond the sea. He is limited in how much he is allowed to help and when he is allowed to give that help.

[–] Wint3rFir3 (7384) 7 years ago

I think it's more complex than is being discussed. Mostly because the notion of free-will is kind of being ignored. I kind of view Aslan and the Narnians' relationship in the same way one would view a parent and child relationship.

Your parents give you general guidelines on life, and you can choose to follow or not follow. Let's say you commit a crime. Sure, you want your parent to bail you out of jail, but you don't necessarily want them to step between you and the crime you're choosing to commit. Let's say you're dating an abuser. You want your parent to listen when you complain, but you don't necessarily want them to pluck you out of your relationship or stand up to your abusive partner. Your parent can't just step in and solve all your problems every time you make a mistake. And sometimes people need to learn from their mistakes.

The good thing about Aslan is that, nothing that is done can't be undone. So even if you do suffer, that suffering can be undone, and you can be wiser for wear. And if you ask for help, help will come.