The White Witch is a powerful and malevolent character in the Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis. She serves as the primary antagonist in the first book, "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." The White Witch, also known as Jadis, is an enchantress who rules over the land of Narnia with an iron fist. She is cold-hearted, cruel, and deeply feared by the inhabitants of Narnia.

How did Jadis come to control Narnia?

I'm working on a paper for uni to do with Lewis and Tolkien and just comparing some things in their respective worlds.

Just checking if anyone knows or has considered: how did the White Witch originally take control over Narnia? In the Magician's Nephew she is in Narnia, she has eaten from the tree but the new king and queen are established, she is banished to the North and then its like we arrive in 'The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe' and she's been ruling for 100 years.
Am I missing what happened?
Is there any history of a battle as to how she came to usurp the rule of Narnia from the original royal line?
If there is no answer to this, then that's okay, I just hadn't been able to find one and wanted to check that I wasn't just having a blonde moment.

P.S I haven't been here for ages - but still love looking around the place!

Jadis-the-White

New member

I'm working on a paper for uni to do with Lewis and Tolkien and just comparing some things in their respective worlds.

Just checking if anyone knows or has considered: how did the White Witch originally take control over Narnia? In the Magician's Nephew she is in Narnia, she has eaten from the tree but the new king and queen are established, she is banished to the North and then its like we arrive in 'The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe' and she's been ruling for 100 years.
Am I missing what happened?
Is there any history of a battle as to how she came to usurp the rule of Narnia from the original royal line?
If there is no answer to this, then that's okay, I just hadn't been able to find one and wanted to check that I wasn't just having a blonde moment.

P.S I haven't been here for ages - but still love looking around the place!

LGK Lewis did not go into much detail of how Jadis ruled Narnia other than when the tree died she was able to come in and take it over. She had her new weapon her wand and as there was no one to match her it was easy for her to take it over. The human race must have died out in Narnia over time as Mr Tumnus had a book on his shelf is man a myth. The only war was when the Narnians tried to storm her castle and she turned them all to stone, Mr Tumnus' father took part in that war. Jadis ruled for 100 years but was an outcast for 900. Hope that helps.

Queen Jadis A.K.A. The White Witch

Welcome to NarniaWeb, jrosg7! You indeed found the right place to post your art, and attaching it is perfectly acceptable.

I really like your piece! You've got a nice use of colour and I'm impressed by the texture of and highlights/shading in her hair. I also like the design of her crown and how you used the negative space of the paper to form part of her ruff/mantle. Thank you for sharing!

Death is swallowed up in victory.

@valiantarcher Good morning valiantarcher,

Thank you for the wonderful compliments on my piece. I know that Queen Jadis is said to have cruel, hard facial features, but I wanted to give her a friendly looking visage. After I finished the piece, I thought, now if anyone who crossed her path were to see a gentle, soft countenance, they would be completely blindsided by her evil acts!

Thanks again, & I'm happy to be here

Thank you for the further explanation, jrosg7. I had noticed she looked deceptively friendly - I could see Edmund accepting her food and drink with that expression easily!

Death is swallowed up in victory.

@valiantarcher You're welcome, valiantarcher 🤗

White Witch facts for kids

This page is about the Narnia character. For the general term, see White witch. For other uses, see White Witch (disambiguation). For other uses of Jadis, see Jadis (disambiguation).

Jadis is the main antagonist of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and The Magician's Nephew in C. S. Lewis's series, The Chronicles of Narnia. She is commonly referred to as the White Witch in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, as she is the Witch who froze Narnia in the Hundred Years Winter.

Some recent editions of the books include brief notes, added by later editors, that describe the cast of characters. As Lewis scholar Peter Schakel points out, the description there of Jadis and the Queen of Underland (the main antagonist of The Silver Chair) "states incorrectly that the Queen of Underland is an embodiment of Jadis". Beyond characterising the two as "Northern Witches", Lewis's text does not connect them. See Lady of the Green Kirtle for further discussion.

She is cold-hearted, cruel, and deeply feared by the inhabitants of Narnia. Jadis is known for her striking beauty, with her pale skin, piercing blue eyes, and flowing white hair, which gives her the appearance of an ice queen. She often dresses in a white fur coat, further emphasizing her association with winter and coldness.

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Jadis gained her power through dark magic and has the ability to turn creatures into stone with her enchanted wand. She is also capable of manipulating the weather, keeping Narnia in a constant state of winter but never Christmas. This eternal winter symbolizes her control over Narnia and her desire for dominance. The White Witch's main goal is to maintain her reign and ensure that no human or non-human creature opposes her rule. She is especially threatened by the prophesied arrival of two humans, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie, who are destined to play a crucial role in restoring order to Narnia. Jadis focuses her attention on Edmund, the youngest of the Pevensie children, manipulating him through flattery and promises of power. She tempts him with the promise of Turkish Delight, a magical sweet that he desires, in exchange for information about his siblings. Eventually, Edmund succumbs to her manipulations and betrays his family, bringing about the climax of the story. Throughout the narrative, the White Witch represents the destructive power of evil and the corruption that can take hold of individuals. She is a symbol of greed, selfishness, and tyranny. Despite her initial allure, it becomes clear that her reign is one of fear and oppression. Ultimately, the White Witch's downfall comes at the hands of Aslan, the true king of Narnia. Aslan sacrifices himself in order to save Edmund and defeat Jadis. Her defeat marks the beginning of the end of her oppressive rule, as Narnia is finally freed from her icy grip. The character of the White Witch serves as a cautionary figure, showcasing the consequences of unchecked power and the possibility of redemption. She remains a memorable and complex villain in the world of literature..

Reviews for "The White Witch's Legacy in Narnia's Future Stories"

1. John - 2/5 - I found the character of the White Witch in Narnia to be quite disappointing. While she was presented as a formidable and powerful villain, I felt that her portrayal lacked depth and complexity. She seemed one-dimensional and predictable, and I couldn't really connect with her as a character. Additionally, I didn't find her motivations or backstory to be very compelling. Overall, I think the White Witch could have been developed better to make her a more engaging and memorable antagonist.

2. Sarah - 3/5 - The White Witch in Narnia was certainly a visually striking character, but I wasn't fully satisfied with her role in the story. While she was supposed to be the main antagonist, I felt that she lacked true depth and complexity. Her motivations and actions felt rather cliché and predictable, and I would have liked to see more layers to her character. Additionally, I felt that the resolution of her storyline was a bit rushed and could have been more satisfying. While the White Witch did have some intimidating moments, overall, I think she could have been a stronger and more well-developed villain.

3. Mark - 2/5 - The White Witch in Narnia fell flat for me. She was built up as this formidable and terrifying presence, but I just didn't feel the impact. Her character lacked depth, and I found her motivations to be generic and uninspiring. She came across as more of a typical fantasy villain without any unique qualities that would make her truly memorable. Even her visual appearance, while initially striking, quickly lost its charm for me. Overall, I was disappointed with the portrayal of the White Witch and would have liked to see a more dynamic and compelling antagonist in the story.

The White Witch as the Ultimate Feminine Villain in Narnia