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How And How Not To Do Emeth's Encounter With Aslan

Jasmine
(@jasmine_tarkheena)
NarniaWeb Guru

We all know that one of the most important things if not the most important for Narnia film or series adaption is to get the character of Aslan right. That's a really hard character to get right. He should be portrayed as "not safe but good", like unpredictable and have a sort of wildness in him. He is to be "good and terrible at the same time."

Now I think it is crucial to get the scene where Emeth meets with Aslan right. It's actually one of my favorite scenes in the series, and perhaps my favorite in the book. Plus, Emeth is my favorite character in the series. It's even my favorite encounter with Aslan in the series.

“So I went over much grass and many flowers and among all kinds of wholesome and delectable trees till lo! in a narrow place between two rocks there came to meet me a great Lion. The speed of him was like the ostrich, and his size was an elephant’s; his hair was like pure gold and the brightness of his eyes like gold that is liquid in the furnace. He was more terrible than the Flaming Mountain of Lagour, and in beauty he surpassed all that is in the world even as the rose in bloom surpasses the dust of the desert. Then I fell at his feet and thought, Surely this is the hour of death, for the Lion (who is worthy of all honor) will know that I have served Tash all my days and not him. Nevertheless, it is better to see the Lion and die than to be Tisroc of the world and live and not to have seen him. But the Glorious One bent down his golden head and touched my forehead with his tongue and said, Son, thou art welcome. But I said, Alas, Lord, I am no son of thine but the servant of Tash. He answered, Child, all the service thou hast done to Tash, I account as service done to me. Then by reasons of my great desire for wisdom and understanding, I overcame my fear and questioned the Glorious One and said, Lord, is it then true, as the Ape said, that thou and Tash are one? The Lion growled so that the earth shook (but his wrath was not against me) and said, It is false. Not because he and I are one, but because we are opposites, I take to me the services which thou hast done to him. For I and he are of such different kinds that no service which is vile can be done to me, and none which is not vile can be done to him. Therefore if any man swear by Tash and keep his oath for the oath’s sake, it is by me that he has truly sworn, though he know it not, and it is I who reward him. And if any man do a cruelty in my name, then, though he says the name Aslan, it is Tash whom he serves and by Tash his deed is accepted. Dost thou understand, Child? I said, Lord, thou knowest how much I understand. But I said also (for the truth constrained me), Yet I have been seeking Tash all my days. Beloved, said the Glorious One, unless thy desire had been for me thou wouldst not have sought so long and so truly. For all find what they truly seek.

“Then he breathed upon me and took away the trembling from my limbs and caused me to stand upon my feet. And after that, he said not much but that we should meet again, and I must go further up and further in. Then he turned him about in a storm and flurry of gold and was gone suddenly.

“And since then, O Kings and Ladies, I have been wandering to find him and my happiness is so great that it even weakens me like a wound. And this is the marvel of marvels, that he called me Beloved,”

*Now please do not turn this into a theological discussion here*

It should be more like a documentary where Emeth is walking through the field of grass and flowers. It should not be some big helicopter shot, "Oh, what an awesome landscape this is." Emeth should also feel that fear and awe when he meets with Aslan.

If Aslan is like he is in the BBC or the Walden, we won't get that sense of that awe and fear that Emeth is feeling. Besides of that, how will it affect the rest of the final third act in the story? This is especially where-

"The term is over: the holidays have begun. The dream is ended: this is the morning.”

And as He spoke He no longer looked to them like a lion

So it is important is how filmmakers get each of the characters encounter with Aslan right, and Emeth's is no exception.

Any ideas on how to and how not to do Emeth's encounter with Aslan?

"And this is the marvel of marvels, that he called me beloved."
(Emeth, The Last Battle)
https://escapetoreality.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/aslan-and-emeth2.jpg

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Topic starter Posted : April 1, 2023 6:33 pm
Courtenay liked
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