History Characters / TheChroniclesOfNarnia

* CruelToBeKind: When it's necessary This can range from roaring at Lucy when she's tempted to try black magic, or giving uncharacteristically aspiring-to-tyranny Caspian ''such'' a telling-off that the later is visibly shaken and borderline traumatized; over ''not'' providing a [[DeniedFoodAsPunishment meal]] (in the form of letting a fruit tree grow overnight) for the questing Digory ''until asked''; over having to hurt Eustace rather badly while undoing the self-transformation Eustace [[AchievementsInIgnorance inadvertently managed by tapping into ambient magic]] - all the way to where it's even a plot point that teaching Aravis to put herself in another's place is exactly equivalent to her [[ATasteOfTheLash being]] ''flogged''.\\

* BadLiar: In spite of his success at convincing the Narnians that Alsan has returned and made him his spokesperson, Shift isn't a particularly good liar. He frequently makes [[FreudianSlip slip ups]] and all but admits to being [[ItsAllAboutMe only out for himself.]] Yet the talking animals of Narnia still take him at his word. Even after he sells them all into slavery.

* TheVamp: For Edmund and Digory. Uncle Andrew has just as strong an infatuation with her, though in his case the reason is not that Jadis is deliberately seducing him like a Vamp; he's attracted to her just because EvilIsSexy, without any deliberate effort on Jadis's part. [[invoked]]

* CruelToBeKind: When it's necessary This can range from roaring at Lucy when she's tempted to try black magic, or giving uncharacteristically aspiring-to-tyranny Caspian ''such'' a telling-off that the later is visibly shaken and borderline traumatised; over ''not'' providing a [[DeniedFoodAsPunishment meal]] (in the form of letting a fruit tree grow overnight) for the questing Digory ''until asked''; over having to hurt Eustace rather badly while undoing the self-transformation Eustace [[AchievementsInIgnorance inadverently managed by tapping into ambient magic]] - all the way to where it's even a plot point that teaching Aravis to put herself in another's place is exactly equivalent to her [[ATasteOfTheLash being]] ''flogged''.\\
That being said: in the majority of appearances where the reader would ''expect'' this from an unscrutable eldritch power and stern judge of the living and the dead, Aslan subverts it by acting ''not'' cruel-to-be-kind but ''just'' overwhelmingly kind - even when the protagonists have done something He does ''not'' agree with:

** In ''The Horse and His Boy'', the wellspring of a stream of water comes into existence out of Aslan's pawprint.

** In ''Literature/TheVoyageOfTheDawnTreader'' Aslan appears as an albatross - telling only Lucy (whose call for help this is answering) explicitely who it is - to guide the ship out of the darkness surrounding the island where nightmares come true.

** "Not a tame lion" is a frequent and accurate description of Aslan, who ranges from a warm, welcoming [[GuardianEntity protector]] and insuperably gentle, kind caregiver (at times bordering on a ParentalSubstitute to the books' child protagonists); to being deft, almost abrasive, and definitely prone to CruelToBeKind and BrutalHonesty where He deems it nescessary; over an aloof, stern, and inscrutable, but ReasonableAuthorityFigure; or even an [[YouCannotGraspTheTrueForm unknowable eldritch power]] that is outright threatening (at times borderline ''traumatising'') to allies and antagonists alike - to outright ''trolling'' characters (mostly [[TeasingParent in a]] friendly [[DopeSlap manner]], for when they get [[KnowNothingKnowItAll too full]] of themselves and Aslan knows better; but still) - sometimes all within the same book. As a Biblical allegory, this is actually incredibly spot on. Including the part where God likes to troll the self-righteous.

* HolyIsNotSafe: He's the TropeNamer: while definitely good, Aslan is an unknowable eldritch power that is outright threatening (at times borderline ''traumatising'') to allies and antagonists alike - and if someone's idea of "good" doesn't align with the real thing, they find out very quickly just what the real thing is like.

* LackOfEmpathy: Averted. Similar to Lewis' positive use of this trope in ''Literature/TheGreatDivorce'', Aslan has immense compassion for others, but cannot be manipulated or emotionally blackmailed. This compassion can and will ''not'' be misguided: Aslan [[HolyIsNotSafe does]] whatever needs to be done, with neither favor nor false consideration. However inexorable the Lion is about ''that'' the needful is going to be done, though: ''how'' it's done is quite another matter - and one Aslan can be insuperably gentle about ''when it's not nescessary to be CruelToBeKind.''

* SuperBreath: He sometimes [[HealingHands lays on a paw]] or [[WordsCanBreakMyBones says something]] for aditional emphasis, but most of the time Aslan's supernatural power is conveyed through breathing on people or things. His breath [[HealingWinds restores]] those who have been turned into stone (and it's hinted generally undoes enchantment and evil), breathes [[HeroicSecondWind courage]] into the protagonists (and the narration implies it turns them into better versions of themselves) and sentience into ordinary animals (turning them into talking beasts), and carries Jill and Eustace on an intercontinental flight. As a roar it wakes rivers and whole woods into sentience, teaches a whole people the fear of God, and absolutely terrifies the BigBad. And as a [[MagicMusic song]] it brings whole worlds into existence.

* MagicKnight: In the [[FilmOfTheBook film of]] ''Literature/TheLionTheWitchAndTheWardrobe'', she went into battle with a sword and a wand of petrification. A pretty nasty combination by anyone's standards, and she put both to pretty good use. Additionally, she has SuperStrength, so even when her magic is unavailable (such as in our world), she is still a monstrously powerful foe.

** He appears in ''Literature/TheHorseAndHisBoy,'' to [[spoiler:Shasta as a small house cat to comfort him, though Shasta ''is'' scratched at one point for having been pointlessly cruel (to a stray cat).]]
** In the same book, Aslan [[spoiler:chases Bree and Hwin to make sure they make it to their destination on time. He ''has'' the form of a lion, but a normal lion; because of this, they don't recognize Aslan and think a normal wild lion is hunting them.]]

** He appears as a lamb near the end of the same book to give the three children a hint about the "other name" in their own world. There are serious hints Aslan does this [[spoiler:''again'' in ''Literature/TheLastBattle'', appearing as the lamb who asks more or less the same ArmorPiercingQuestion later more thoroughly explained to Emeth - nearly toppling Shift's reign of terror before it even really got going.]]

* TheChessmaster: Even when things don't go perfectly according to plan (e.g. when Jill forgets the signs given to her in ''The Silver Chair''), Aslan still manages to accomplish His goals.

* DeusExMachina: He spends the entire series behind the scenes, spinning the adventure and coming before them [[GuardianEntity only when]] they need him most. He comes in during the last battle in ''Literature/PrinceCaspian'' to help the Narnians win after they began to lose hope.

* FaceDeathWithDignity: He keeps his dignity while being killed by the White Witch, even while being humiliated and mocked.

* BlackSheep: In the first part.

That being said: in the overwhelming majority of appearances where it's ''not'' necessary, Aslan's ''not'' cruel but ''just'' kind - even when the protagonists have done something He does ''not'' agree with:

* LackOfEmpathy: Averted. Similar to Lewis' positive use of this trope in ''Literature/TheGreatDivorce'', Aslan has immense compassion for others, but cannot be manipulated or emotionally blackmailed. This compassion can and will ''not'' be misguided: Aslan [[HolyIsNotSafe does]] whatever needs to be done, with neither favor nor false consideration. However inexorable the Lion is about ''that'' the needful going to be done, though: ''how'' it's done is quite another matter - and one Aslan can be insuperably gentle about ''when it's not nescessary to be CruelToBeKind.''

* LackOfEmpathy: Averted. Similar to Lewis' positive use of this trope in ''Literature/TheGreatDivorce'', Aslan has immense compassion for others; but can ''not'' be manipulated or emotionally blackmailed. Aslan [[HolyIsNotSafe does]] whatever needs to be done, with neither favor nor false considerateness. However inexorable about ''that'' it's going to be done: ''how'' the needful is done is quite another matter, though - and one Aslan can be insuperably gentle about ''when it's not nescessary to be CruelToBeKind.''

* HolyIsNotSafe: It's pointed out a few times that Aslan's not a "tame" lion.

* LackOfEmpathy: Averted. Similar to Lewis' positive use of this trope in ''Literature/TheGreatDivorce'', Aslan has immense compassion for others but cannot be manipulated or emotionally blackmailed. Whatever Aslan does [[CruelToBeKind needs to]] be done, with neither favor nor false considerateness. He can be insuperably gentle in ''how'' he does the needful, though - however inexorable Aslan is about ''that'' it's going to be done.

* ZeroPercentApprovalRating: As the traditional EvilSorceress, Jadis runs Narnia as she wishes. Downplayed in that it does win her a few friends - Talking Wolves, Hags, and the People of the Toadstools, for example. Dwarves (especially Black Dwarves) also seem to have done alright under her rule, though there were plenty of dwarves loyal to Narnia as well.

* LackOfEmpathy: Averted. Similar to Lewis' positive use of this trope in ''Literature/TheGreatDivorce'', Aslan has immense compassion for others but cannot be manipulated or emotionally blackmailed. Whatever Aslan does [[CruelToBeKind needs to]] be done, with neither favor nor false consideration. He can be insuperably gentle in ''how'' he does the needful, though - however inexorable Aslan is about ''that'' it's going to be done.

* LackOfEmpathy: Similar to Lewis' positive use of this trope in ''Literature/TheGreatDivorce'', Aslan has immense compassion for others but cannot be manipulated or emotionally blackmailed. Whatever he does is what must be done, and he will do it with neither prejudice nor pity.

* GodOfEvil: His role. His cult even includes idols and sacrifices in the vein of the [[MesopotamianMonstrosity ancient Mesopotamian gods]], which were considered devils by Biblical authors for good reasons. Tash's appearance is more in line with [[MysticalIndia Hindu]] goddess Kali, who's not evil but not the most gentle deity.

* OffstageVillainy: Tash doesn't actually harm anyone "on page" except for the villain who summoned him [[PayEvilOntoEvil serving as karma for the lack of faith in it and for using it for his own agenda in spite of that]]. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]], as he's not there for a long time besides in that scene, and it's implied that if [[spoiler: King Peter]] hadn't stopped him, he would have gone after the heroes. Even so, it's mentioned that he requires HumanSacrifice.

* EvilIsNotAToy[=/=]NoMereWindmill[=/=]NotSoImaginaryFriend: Before he stepped up to the plate, many of the characters doubted his existence, even some of his supposed followers (we're looking at you, Rishda, Shift, and Ginger).

* GreaterScopeVillain: As revealed in ''The Last Battle'', he serves as this for the whole series.

* OffstageVillainy: Tash doesn't actually harm anyone "on page" except for the villain who summoned him. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]], as he's not on page much besides in that scene, and it's implied that if [[spoiler: King Peter]] hadn't stopped him, he would have gone after the heroes. Even so, it's mentioned that he requires HumanSacrifice.

* GodOfEvil: His role. His cult even includes idols and sacrifices in the vein of the [[MesopotamianMonstrosity ancient Middle-Eastern gods]], which were considered devils by biblical authors for good reasons. Tash's appearance is more in line with [[MysticalIndia Hindu]] goddess Kali, who's also ... not very nice.

* ShesAManInJapan: In the Russian translation of Narnia, Tash was made into a female goddess.

* MagicalBarefooter: ''The Magician's Nephew'''s [[https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/narnia/images/5/53/Queen-jadis-charn-tmn.jpg illustration shows her barefoot]], which may be because she doesn't care about cold or injuries due to her magical powers.

* NothingIsScarier: Just what was the "terrible price" for learning the deplorable word?

* FlatEarthAtheist: Exploited. [[spoiler:She pretends to be an atheist and makes [[CompellingVoice magically-augmented arguments]] about Aslan and the land above being nothing but stories in an attempt to brainwash the protagonists, although she knows perfectly well that isn't true. It nearly works.]]

* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: His name means 'lion' in Turkish.

Jadis, commonly known as the White Witch, is the [[BigBad main villain]] of ''The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe''. Jadis also appears at length in ''The Magician's Nephew'', which concerns her origins and the origins of Narnia. She is the Witch who froze Narnia in the Hundred Years Winter.

Professor Kirke's cranky old housekeeper, who inadverently chases the protagonists into Narnia in ''Literature/TheLionTheWitchAndTheWardrobe''.

* WouldNotHurtAChild: She thinks children ''are'' a nuissance, but would never intentionally hurt one.

* MagicalBarefooter: Does not wear shoes, which is implied to be connected to his spirituality and his magical gift of foresight.

* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: Well, 109 years old, which is not outside the realm of possibility for a human in real life, but still feels somewhat supernatural, especially given that he also has the gift of foresight.

* ButtMonkey: Nothing goes right for Uncle Andrew after Jadis arrives and once he winds up in Narnia it becomes worse. He is forced to spend large amounts of money, gets caught in an hansom crash, gets dragged into another world, gets chased by a number of talking beasts, and finally gets mistaken for a tree and planted.

* EvilColonist: He is intrigued by the idea of exploiting Narnia's unique properties to make a fortune by burying bits of scrap iron to grow trains and battleships, and contemplates building a health resort. Thankfully his schemes never get off the ground.

* IneptMage: He's able to create magic rings that teleport people to other worlds but without fully understanding how they function, and he's completely outclassed and humiliated once he meets the likes of Jadis and Aslan.

* OhCrap: When Diggory points out that as an evil magician he's going to come to the same bad end as the ones in fairy tales, he look horrified but quickly dismiss Diggory's claim as "old wives tales".

** This becomes an impressive WorldHealingWave in the ''The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe''. His mere presence lets Narnia go from the endless January of the One Hundred Years' Winter to the May of a new spring in a few hours or so.