The Defeat of the White Witch

Tracks the White Witch's reign, her attempts to maintain power, and her ultimate downfall through Aslan's sacrifice and the battle.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

The Witch's Rule of Terror

The Eternal Winter The Witch's Enchantment The White Witch has cast a spell over Narnia, making it always winter and never Christmas. She rules through fear, turning dissenters into stone statues. Her secret police, led by Fenris Ulf, enforce her will. The land is oppressed, and the creatures live in dread. The Witch's Interest in Humans She has long known the prophecy that humans will end her reign. She has been watching for any human entering Narnia. When she meets Edmund, she sees an opportunity to use him to trap the others. She offers him enchanted Turkish Delight to bind him to her. The Witch's Weakness Despite her power, the Witch is not omniscient. She does not know about Aslan's arrival until Edmund tells her. She also underestimates the power of the Deeper Magic. Her cruelty is her undoing, as it drives creatures to oppose her. The winter is a symbol of her barren, lifeless rule.

The Witch's Counterattack

The Sledge Pursuit The Witch's Plan When Edmund arrives at her castle, she learns that the children are with the Beavers and that Aslan is in Narnia. She is furious. She sends Fenris Ulf to kill the Beavers and children, but they escape. She then takes Edmund on her sledge toward the Stone Table, intending to intercept the group. The Thaw Foils Her As spring arrives, the snow melts, and her sledge becomes useless. She is forced to walk, dragging Edmund with his hands tied. The thaw is a sign that her power is breaking. She is enraged by the sight of Father Christmas's gifts to the animals. The Attempt to Kill Edmund When she realizes she cannot reach the Stone Table in time, she decides to kill Edmund in the forest. But centaurs and eagles sent by Aslan rescue him just as she is about to strike. The Witch escapes by using magic to disguise herself as a stump. She then summons her army for the final battle.

The Witch's Final Stand

The Sacrifice and the Battle The Witch's Triumph At the Stone Table, the Witch believes she has won. She kills Aslan, thinking she has removed the only threat to her power. She then leads her army to attack Peter's forces. She uses her wand to turn many soldiers to stone. The Turning Point Edmund, now fighting with Peter, charges the Witch and breaks her wand. This is the crucial moment. Without her wand, she cannot petrify anyone. She fights with a stone knife, but Peter engages her. Aslan arrives with the rescued statues, and the Witch is slain. The End of the Witch's Reign With the Witch dead, the winter ends completely. The statues are restored. The children are crowned. The Witch's reign is over forever. Her defeat is total, brought about by Aslan's sacrifice, the children's courage, and the Deeper Magic she did not understand.

Throughout the story, background established early

After Edmund's betrayal, night of the flight

At the Stone Table and the battlefield