Edmund and Temptation

In Lewis' classic work, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, the character Edmund provides an archetypal example of the expression of temptation in the Christian life. The witch tempts Edmund with Turkish delight, which is a pastry that becomes more and more enticing the more one eats it. It's interesting to consider that Edmund followed Lucy into the wardrobe as well. When thinking about temptation in Christianity, one is usually drawn by curiosity into something out of boredom or frustration. Edmund appears to be bored with his life before Narnia, so he follows Lucy into the wardrobe. He also exhibits forms of jealousy in interactions with his other siblings throughout the work. He is clearly struggling with insecurities of his own and seeks the immediate gratification of turkish delight in replace of deeper relationships.  James 1:14 talks about how when one is tempted, "he is dragged away by his own sinful desires and enticed." This is exactly what happens with Edmund and the turkish delight. One response to temptation is to keep oneself from getting in positions in which one is tempted. The apostle Paul discusses in Romans 7 how he always does what his spirit does not want him to do. If man's natural state is to live contrary to his new self, then he must be aware of this and aware of how easily humans are enticed by evil desires. Lewis is skillful in presenting issues of the Christian life, and particularly with this phenomenon of temptation.