Narnia Movie: Edmund's betrayal

Re: Concerning Edmund's sin/betrayal.

I think that Edmund chose a lesser good over a greater good. In some way he called good evil, but in another way he simply exaggerated an evil within his siblings, especially Peter, and made them seem worse while at the same time diminishing his own evil (and ignoring it). He had a grudge against Peter. He was already out of sorts because of needing to leave his family. In the movie he rushed back into the house to get his father's picture. He was feeling abandoned. These feelings of being abandoned (father at war, mother sending them away) were legitimate. George MacDonald might call these things "lawful excuses". Perhaps. So much in Edmund's favor.

What isn't excuseable is his tormenting Lucy, and denying Lucy (as one could say "isolating her") once he realizes that she is correct, and enters Narnia.

The question for me is: When does Edmund effectively "fall" in the story? Is it when he belittles Lucy before he enters Narnia? Is it when he "falls" for the Witch's temptation, just listening to her, not trusting his conscience or the inner voice that was warning him? Turkish Delight in itself is not evil, or immoral, but it becomes evil or an avenue for evil when it is chosen over conscience and caution. He is seduced by pleasure. He eats and eats: his gluttony is an outward and visible sign of a growing inward and hidden depravity. The White Witch tempts further by letting him believe (but does he REALLY BELIEVE, or does he once again lie to himself?) that he would become her prince, and eventually rule?

What is ironic, is that he truly was destined to rule Narnia, but the ORDER was completely essential. The order he imagined (or that the witch offered) was to rule through her and have his siblings serve him. The Lie: He wasn't to serve anyone. The ORDER established by the prophesy and Aslan was for him to rule through ASLAN, and to be subservient to the High King, Peter. His rule was meant to be one of obedience to the True King, and the High King, and one of service.

In this way, a good (his destiny to be king) was twisted to become an evil (his imagined rule over his siblings through the White Witch). It is interesting how this theme comes up again in the Silver Chair when Rilian becomes ensnared by the Emerald Witch/Serpent and almosts invades Narnia on the Emerald Witch's behalf. He would have ruled Narnia (his rightful dominion) yet under false pretenses. His rightful rule would have be replaced by a wrongful rule. In essence, had he not be freed from the magic spell, he would have usurped his own throne.....