Does anyone else find it strange that in C. S. Lewis make-believe Narnia, they have Turkish Delight?
No, because it’s there for a very specific reason. If you’ve read the book, you’ll recall that the turkish delight is not imported, but produced magically from a bottle at Edmund’s request. And there’s a specific reason for it- it’s something Lewis’ child audience would be familiar with and an exotic, sweet, creamy, warm, foreign food, just like the mysterious drink Edmund receives. It is sensual and indulgent, and like the Witch’s appearance- tall, pale, beautiful, with red lips, covered in furs- it evokes an image of exotic sexuality. Lewis creates in her an extremely negative and transgressive image of female sexuality, and by taking the food, Edmund symbolically falls to her temptation. Aslan’s intervention is what breaks her hold on him… the message being that only Jesus can save us from the evils of sexual impurity.
