Peter and Susan are brother and sister

Peter and Susan Pevensie are the two eldest of the four children sent from London to the country house of an old Professor during the war. As the oldest siblings, they naturally assume a parental role over the younger two, Edmund and Lucy, and their relationship is marked by a consistent pattern of joint decision-making, mutual protection, and shared concern for the family's welfare.

Identity and Introduction

Peter and Susan are introduced together as the elder pair among the four children. On the first evening at the Professor's house, after the children have said good night, the boys come into the girls' room and they all talk together. Peter expresses enthusiasm about their new surroundings, declaring, "We've fallen on our feet and no mistake," while Susan calls the Professor "an old dear." Their easy, collaborative tone establishes them as a unit that looks out for one another and for the younger children. When Lucy first returns from Narnia and insists her story is true, it is Peter and Susan who together confront the situation, first disbelieving her, then later deciding to consult the Professor. They stand side by side in their concern, with Susan voicing the fear that Lucy might be "going queer in the head" and Peter insisting that Edmund stop jeering at her.

Shared Authority and Decision-Making

Throughout the narrative, Peter and Susan repeatedly act as a joint authority. When the four children enter Narnia together, it is Peter who leads the group, but he consistently consults Susan. After discovering the arrest notice for Mr. Tumnus, Peter asks, "What do you think, Susan?" and she replies, "I've a horrid feeling that Lu is right," before adding, "I don't want to go a step further and I wish we'd never come. But I think we must try to do something." Peter then confirms, "That's what I feel too." This pattern of shared deliberation continues when they encounter the robin: Susan says, "I've an idea he does [mean us to follow him], what do you think, Peter?" and Peter answers, "Well, we might as well try it." Their decisions are made together, with each respecting the other's judgment.

Protective Roles and Emotional Support

Peter and Susan's protective instincts toward their younger siblings are a defining feature of their relationship. When Edmund betrays the family and sneaks away to the White Witch, it is Peter who insists they must still search for him, saying in a choking voice, "He is our brother after all, even if he is rather a little beast, and he's only a kid." Susan, for her part, is the one who comforts Lucy after Edmund's betrayal and who, along with Lucy, follows Aslan on the night of his sacrifice. During the battle, Susan uses the bow and horn given to her by Father Christmas, and when Peter kills the wolf Fenris Ulf, Susan comes down from the tree and they embrace, with the narrator noting that "there was kissing and crying on both sides." Their emotional bond is strong enough to allow vulnerability between them.

Change and Ending

After the coronation, Peter and Susan grow into their royal roles. Peter becomes a tall, deep-chested man and a great warrior, called King Peter the Magnificent, while Susan grows into a tall and gracious woman with black hair that falls almost to her feet, called Queen Susan the Gentle. Kings from countries beyond the sea send ambassadors asking for her hand in marriage. When they later hunt the White Stag and find themselves back through the wardrobe, they are no longer Kings and Queens but simply Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy in their old clothes. Their sibling relationship, forged in shared adventure and responsibility, remains the bedrock of their identity.

Thematic Significance

Peter and Susan's relationship embodies the theme of responsible leadership and familial duty that runs through the story. As the eldest, they model the transition from childhood to authority, and their mutual respect and collaboration provide the stable foundation upon which the younger children can grow. Their bond illustrates that true kingship and queenship begin not with crowns but with the willingness to care for one another.