Ghoul

Ghouls are among the most repulsive and terrifying creatures in Narnia, serving as part of the White Witch's army. They are mentioned only once in the story, but their inclusion in the Witch's forces underscores the depth of her evil and the variety of monstrous beings she commands.

Role in the White Witch's Army

When the Wolf messenger reports to the White Witch that Aslan and the children have reached the Stone Table, the Witch orders him to summon all her allies for battle. Among the creatures she calls are "the Ghouls," listed alongside other horrors such as the Boggles, the Ogres, the Minotaurs, the Cruels, the Hags, the Spectres, and the people of the Toadstools. This catalogue of monsters reveals that the Ghouls are a recognized species within the Witch's dark dominion, distinct from other evil beings and feared for their particular nature. Their presence in the army indicates that they are loyal to the Witch and willing to fight against Aslan and the forces of good.

Nature and Significance

Ghouls are traditionally associated with the consumption of corpses, and their inclusion in the story reinforces the theme of death and decay that surrounds the White Witch's reign. Unlike the more humanoid or animal-like creatures in her service, Ghouls represent a pure, undiluted horror that is both physical and spiritual. They are part of the "evil-looking" assembly that gathers around the Stone Table to witness Aslan's humiliation and death, contributing to the atmosphere of dread and malevolence. The fact that the author declines to describe them fully—saying that if he did, "the grown-ups would probably not let you read this book"—emphasizes their unspeakable nature and marks them as belonging to a realm of terror beyond the page. In the final battle, the Ghouls fight alongside the Witch's other minions, but their specific fate is not recorded; they are simply part of the enemy host that is defeated when Aslan kills the White Witch and her forces are routed. Their brief appearance serves to deepen the sense of the Witch's power and the scale of the evil that must be overcome.