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Jim Hawkins
Mrs. Carman
Introduction to Literature and Composition
24 November 2018
The Virtue of a Faun
There is an old, wise saying that goes, “You can’t judge a book by its cover.” With mansaving lions, white witches, and magical wardrobes, C.S. Lewis wonderfully exemplifies this
proverb in his magical book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Lewis’s fascinating and delightful character Mr. Tumnus demonstrates that one should not be judged on appearances alone.
The faun, Mr. Tumnus, with his black hair, curved horns, reddish skin, and goat’s legs conjures
up an image of the demonic; however, nothing could be further from his character. Though he
lives in Narnia, a mysterious land ruled by the wicked White Witch, and he faces tremendous
pressure to side with evil, Mr. Tumnus remains faithful to the good. Mr. Tumnus retains his extremely kind, immensely loyal, and amazingly courageous character.
Mr. Tumnus’s friendliness towards Lucy shows that he is a warm-hearted, hospitable, and
sincerely kind faun. Mr. Tumnus invites Lucy into his warm, cozy home. It is simple, but
thoughtfully and comfortably decorated. He generously gives Lucy the best of what he has, filling her with eggs, sardines, butter toast, toast with honey, cake, and tea (15). His conversation,
demeanor, and attentiveness to Lucy is cheerful and pleasant. Though one might argue that Mr.
Tumnus is only trying to trick Lucy, the quality and wholesomeness of his nature cannot be
faked. His kindness is deeply a part of him, unlike the White Witch, who brings a sense of unease
even when she is trying to be pleasant. The White Witch cries for no one, whereas Tumnus
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weeps uncontrollably when he contemplates hurting Lucy. He begs for Lucy’s forgiveness for his
near betrayal of her. This intense shame shows Mr. Tumnus’s sincerity and the depth of his
goodness. Mr. Tumnus is genuine, sincere, and loyal to what is good in his own heart and in Narnia, so he is indeed a truly kind faun.
Mr. Tumnus, although pressured into the service of the White Witch, always remains loyal to Narnia and to what is good even at great personal cost. This loyalty shines through when
Mr. Tumnus faithfully puts Lucy and Narnia before himself in refusing to deliver Lucy into the
hands of the evil witch. Though he had only known Lucy for the space of an afternoon, Mr.
Tumnus sees the true goodness in Lucy’s heart and knows that he must protect her. Mr. Tumnus
also recalls the memory of his old father, saying, “He would have never done a thing like
this” (19). Mr. Tumnus values the legacy that he is a part of, that is, the legacy of his family,
which had always been loyal to a good and free Narnia. Mr. Tumnus’s loyalty stays with him to
the end, even when he faces trials that not only require loyalty, but demand a good deal of
courage as well.
Mr. Tumnus shows heroic courage when facing torture, imprisonment, and even death.
He knows of the horrific tortures that the White Witch inflicts when she is disobeyed, and yet he
resolves to let Lucy go against the Witch’s command. Well aware of the danger, Mr. Tumnus
shows martyr-like courage in allowing Lucy to escape. Consequently, he is captured, imprisoned,
and turned to stone. Eventually Aslan saves Mr. Tumnus, and, without a second thought, Mr.
Tumnus immediately goes to fight at Aslan’s side in the battle for Narnia. Though he had been
released from stone only hours before, Mr. Tumnus selflessly faces death for a second time.
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These heroic decisions show that, although Mr. Tumnus is a humble, simple faun, once his mind
is made up, there is no stopping his courage.
A kind heart, a loyal soul, and a brave spirit are the makings of a true hero, and Mr. Tumnus proves to be one of Narnia’s most noble and memorable characters. His consideration for
others, faithfulness to the good, and selfless valor are characteristics one would desire in a sibling, a spouse, a fellow soldier, or a leader. In Mr. Tumnus one finds an example to imitate in
one’s own life. It is often the simple and humble, but faithful and good, that change the fate of a
family, a community, a nation, or even the world. Mr. Tumnus is an excellent example of this
truth, and he inspires one to follow his lead, in his simple but heroic life.
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Work Cited
Lewis, C.S. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. New York: HarperCollins, 2000.