Queens of Narnia

   I recently made two more Narnia graphics that I want to share with you! One is focused on Lucy, and the other on Susan. Susan's turned out different than I wanted it to, but I think I like it well enough. :D
  I'm sorry I haven't done Edmund's Comparison Post yet, they take quite awhile to write and I haven't found the time. :) I will hopefully start working on it soon, however, so that I can post it. I actually made some changes on Lucy's CP though, that I wanted to let you know about. In the CP I mentioned that the part where Lucy recites the spell to make her beautiful, and the fact that she wants to be prettier than Susan, isn't in the book. I, however, was wrong! Turns out I haven't read the book in.. uh.. ages. :) And that part actually IS in the book! I went back and corrected the post, but I wanted to let you know in this post so that you can go back and read it. In fact, I'll post the part that I changed right here:

The whole tempting business about the Green Mist and her wanting to be prettier than Susan, is not in the book. The tempting business with the Green Mist is not in the book, however, Lucy wanting to be prettier than Susan actually is! Lucy came across the spell in the Book of Spells when, like in the movie, she was releasing the Dufflepuds from the spell. In the book she didn't recite the spell later after tearing the page from the book, or enter into a dream. Even though she did not recite the spell to make her beautiful "beyond the lot of mortals.", she watches/looks at pictures in the Book of Spells that show her what it'd be like be prettier than Susan. Here's a section from the book that explains what she saw:

Lucy peered at the pictures with her face close to the page, and though they seemed crowded and muddlesome before, she found she could now see them quite clearly. The first was a picture of a girl standing at a reading-desk reading a huge book. And the girl was dressed exactly like Lucy. In the next picture Lucy (for the girl in the picture was Lucy herself) was standing up with her mouth open and a rather terrible expression on her face, chanting a recieting something. In the third picture the beauty beyond the lot of mortals had come to her. It was strange, considering how small the pictures had looked at first, the the Lucy in the pictures now seemed quite as big as the real Lucy; and they look into each other's eyes and the real Lucy looked away after a few minutes because she was dazzled by the beauty of the other Lucy; though she could still see a sort of likeness to herself in that beautiful face. And now the pictures came crowding on her thick and fast. She saw herself throned on high at a great tournament in Calormen and all the Kings of the world fought because of her beauty. After that it turned from tournaments to real wars, and all Narnia and Archenland, Telmar and Calormen, Galma and Terebinthia, were laid waste with the fury of the kings and dukes and great lords who fought for her favor. Then it changed and Lucy, still beautiful beyond the lot of mortals, was back in England. And Susan (who had always been the beauty of the family) came home from America. The Susan in the picture looked exactly like the real Susan only plainer and with a nasty expression. And Susan was jealous of the dazzling beauty of Lucy, but that didn't matter a bit because no one cared anything about Susan now.

                                      -The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Sorry it's so long. x) In the book Lucy never does recite the spell, though she wants to, for Aslan warns her through a picture of him growling; the picture apears right after she tells herself that she is going to recite the spell, even though she has a strong feeling she shouldn't. Anyway, that part is in the book, though some may either forget (like I did) or may not even know. :)

Hopefully that was easier than going back and finding what I changed. If you haven't read the whole post before, then I would suggest you do!
  Again, I'm sorry Edmund's CP isn't up yet, but I hope to get it written, then posted, soon!
I hope you enjoy the graphics. :) Here's a quote from the Voyage of the Dawn Treader, since that's what I have in my head right now. :D
   
                                   ------------------------------------------------------

Then her face lit up till, for a moment (but of course she didn't know it), she looked almost as beautiful as the other Lucy in the picture, and she ran forward with a little cry of delight and with her arms stretched out. For what stood in the doorway was Aslan himself , The Lion, the highest of all High Kings. And he was solid and real and warm and he let her kiss him and bury herself in his shining mane. And from the low earthquake-like sound that came from inside him, Lucy even dared to think that he was purring.
                           -The Voyage of the Dawn Treader [the book]

                                    -----------------------------------------------------

Graphics made by Miss Evelyn. (click image for full size)

Jane Austen's Lovely Pride and Prejudice

     Pride and Prejudice. Such a simple name with more meaning than we realize. Yes, there's the real meaning that Jane Austen meant it to have. She refers to Darcy's pride and Lizzy's prejudice... but there's also the other 'meaning'. When I here the name my mind races with images, scenes, the beautiful cover of the book, etc. I think of all the struggles Lizzy went through, the heart ache Jane endured, the silliness of Lydia and Kitty, the dullness of Mary, and the annoying complaints of their Mother.

   I watched the 1995 movie version several years ago, possibly 5, and I have to admit I think that just the past 2 times I've watched it has everything clicked. I watched it when I was younger as another movie, I didn't understand  the whole story line, the seriousness of Lydia's behavior, the wickedness of Wickam, or why Darcy was so cold and proud. I have finally reached the age to be able to read the book. I started reading it with a friend and we both finished it within a week. A week! I figured it would take us a fortnight (2 weeks) at least! We both enjoyed it immensely. From the wit and sparkle of Lizzy to the annoying and disgusting Mr. Collins, it was amazingly well written and enjoyable. This is a book I have heard a lot about and have longed to read it and see for myself if it was as good as everyone portrayed it to be. I just have to say that it is not a bit overrated! I enjoyed Jane Auesten's writing tremendously and  look forward to reading many more of her wonderful novels. :)

    I have watched 2 versions of Pride and Prejudice, the 1995 version with Colin Firth as Darcy, and the 2005 version with Matthew Macfadyen as Darcy. I absolutely LOVE the old one. The new one was an enjoyable movie. It didn't follow the book (in more ways than one) as much as the '95 version did, but I enjoyed it! If you compare it to the book, I have to admit it was quite lacking. Yes, it was 2 hours, I understand, which means I should expect it to be a little rushed and have scenes taken out. But that's not exactly what I'm saying here. For starters both proposals, the 1st and 2nd, in the new movie, are in the wrong places. The 1st was supposed to be in the Collins sitting room, it was outside in the rain, instead. The 2nd was supposed to be during a walk, instead it was.. well.. on a walk, but they ran into each other during the night (or shall we say very early morning?) instead of them being purposely together on a walk. They weren't bad necessarily, just not true to the book. The first proposal I was surprised at how they yelled at each other (or at least Lizzy did). Some may say they weren't yelling that much or that they were trying to be heard above the rain. Either way I didn't think that's what their characters would have done. True, they were upset and were insulting each other, but I think it would've been more like the '95 version where it seemed like they were yelling but they never raised there voices.  The 2nd proposal was.. alright. Though I didn't like how all she said  was 'your hands are cold', instead of saying something at least close to yes, or I love you.   
    And they left out Mrs. Hurst! I thought that, that was a big disappointment. Mrs. Hurst isn't a huge part in the book, but then again she is. Without her, Miss Bingley (her sister) had no one to 'play off of'. No one shared Miss Bingley's opinion of.. well.. everything, other than her sister. So without her you don't have the silly, nonsense gossip they talk about.
     Now don't get me wrong, I loved the 2005 movie. The clearness of the everything, the amazing scenery, the incredible music, it was all wonderful! While there were things I liked better in the '95 version (*ahem* such as Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy) there were also things I liked better in the new. I think that Jane was better portrayed in the new, she was more of the simple, innocent, tries-to-make-everyone-good, Jane we know in the book. :) And I thought Mr. Collins hilarious and liked him a ton. Even if he's nothing like the book Mr. Collins I still love the funniness of his character. :D That, is a 'faithful narrative' of my opinion. Feel free to share yours in a comment, I'd love to hear it!
   I have created a couple graphics of Lizzy, both from the new version and the old, that I'd like to share with you! I posted them at the very end... Hopefully someday I'll post more that includes other characters. :) I hope you enjoy the graphics, as well as my ramblings. Here's an amusing conversation between Caroline Bingley and Mr. Darcy to end with. :)

<3 Eva

-------------------------------------------

Miss Bingley then came up to Mr. Darcy saying, "I can guess the subject of your reverie."
   "I should imagine not." He replied.
   "You are considering how insupportable it would be to pass many evenings in this manner - in such society; and indeed I am quite of your opinion. I was ever more annoyed! The insipidity, and yet the noise - the nothingness, and yet the self-importance of all those people! What would I give to hear your strictures on them!"
   "Your conjecture is totally wrong, I assure you. My mind was more agreeably engaged. I have been meditating on the very pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a woman can bestow."
   Miss Bingely immediately fixed her eyes on his face, and desired he would tell her what lady had the credit of inspiring such reflections. Mr. Darcy replied with great intrepidity:
   "Miss Elizabeth Bennet."
   "Miss Elizabeth Bennet!" repeated Miss Bingley, "I am all astonishment..."
                              -Pride and Prejudice [the book]

Click image for full size.. it's much clearer. :D

Graphics made by Miss Evelyn

Comparison Post - Part 1; Lucy Pevensie

 

     If you didn’t read my explanation of the Comparison Posts in my last post then I will explain again. This is going to be a 5-part post with a Character Comparison in each one. I will be doing the 4 Pevensies (Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy) as well as Prince Caspian. I figured I’d start with Lucy (the youngest) and work my way to the oldest. =) So without further ado:

     Lucy Pevensie is a girl of about 8 when the story first starts in The Lion, he Witch, and the Wardrobe. She is torn away from everything she knows in Finchly, England and sent to live with the Professor in the country to wait out the war with her brothers and sister. She is a small, timid girl, afraid and unsure of what’s happening to the world around her. You see her getting a little more comfortable in her surroundings (the Professors house) when she begs Peter to play hide-and-seek. Which, of course, is how she finds the wardrobe.. but that is a long story. =)

   I think that out of the 4 Pevensies, the movies portrayed Lucy the best. In the first one, at least, she acts and looks exactly as she should! Picturing her standing there in the busy train station her eyes huge hugging her teddy bear.. that’s what we know her to be. We see her progress as she does in the book, into a bolder girl. As example the first night she’s there it shows her in bed complaining that ‘the sheets are scratchy’. Peter tries to cheer her up but she still has a forlorn look on her face. But the next day (after she finds Narnia) she sticks to her story of finding a world in the wardrobe though no one believes her.

“A jolly good hoax, Lu,” Peter said, “you have really taken us in, I must admit. We half-believed you.”

“But it wasn’t a hoax at all,” said Lucy, “really and truly. It was all different a moment ago. Honestly it was. I promise.”   -The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. [The Book]

    She becomes more adventuresome and brave, trusting completely in Aslan, knowing that whatever he does is best.

   “We sent the word that you were dead. Peter and Edmund would have gone to war.” Susan tells Aslan.

    “We have to help them.” Lucy adds drawing her knife.

     Aslan, gently pushes her dagger down, replying, “We will, but not alone. Now, climb on my back. We have a long ways to go and little time to get there. And you might want to cover your ears.” Throwing back his head he releases a roar that shakes the earth.

 -The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. [The Movie]

     I think all throughout the first movie there’s really nothing to complain about.  Her faith is strong and her character develops throughout the movie, as it does in the book, until she is, indeed, valiant. 

In the 2^nd movie, Prince Caspian, we find her again strong in her faith of Aslan. And again, they portrayed Lucy’s character really close to the book. Which, of course, I’m glad of. :)Though, in the book, she doesn’t have a dream that she talks to Aslan, she actually does talk to him. I almost like it in the book better because she again has to tell and convince her siblings something that they find hard to believe. And in this case she says she sees Aslan standing in front of them but they can see nothing. She finally convinces them to follow her as she follows Aslan, though none of them go willingly. That’s where, in the movie, they start going off track. After they cross the gorge they all continue towards Aslan’s Howe and then meet Prince Caspian gathering troops. As in the book, they all eventually see Aslan and admit that Lucy was right. Then after they cross the gorge they separate, the boys and Trumpkin traveling towards Aslan’s Howe to help Caspain and the girls stay with Aslan to help gather creatures. Susan and Lucy do not meet Prince Caspian until the end of the book, after the battle takes place. So in short, the whole thing about Susan and Lucy riding Caspian’s horse to find Aslan isn’t in the book. Also it is both Susan and Lucy who are with Aslan at the bridge, not just Lucy.

 Now we shall take a look at the 3^rd movie, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

 Lucy, Edmund, and their obnoxious cousin Eustace, travel to Narnia through a painting. In this movie it’s not as if there’s a bunch of small things they changed, it’s one big thing they added. I’ve realized that movie directors don’t like ‘adventure’ movies where there’s not a ‘main bad guy’. (If we want to call it that…) And since there was no enemy that they could focus on, they simply created one: The Green Mist. Or The Dark Island, whichever one you want to refer to as the enemy.

    When they get captured by the slave traders, Edmund and Caspian are thrown into prison, while Lucy and Eustace are put up for sale as slaves. While the men are locked up Caspian finds Lord Bern living in the prison cell. They then learn about this mysterious Green Mist, or rather, as much as Lord Bern knows. This is how it happens in the movie, in the book after they are captured they are brought back to town. A gentleman who lives on the island takes a fancy to Caspian and buys him. This gentleman turns out to be Lord Bern and Caspian confirms Bern’s suspicions telling him that he is King Caspian, the son of the Caspian the IX. Caspian then reclaims the island for Narnia and makes Lord Bern Duke of the Lone Islands. (Sorry for such a long rabbit trail, it will help in the later Post though, I promise!) 

This Green Mist in the movie tempts everyone in different ways. For Lucy she wants to be as pretty (or prettier) than her sister, Susan. When she releases the Dufflepuds from the spell of invisibility she comes across a spell in the Book of Spells that will make her the beauty she's always wanted to be. Later she recites the spell in the privacy of the boat room, and enters a dream where she is Susan and neither Lucy nor Narnia exist. The whole tempting business about the Green Mist and her wanting to be prettier than Susan, is not in the book.  
The tempting business with the Green Mist is not in the book, however, Lucy wanting to be prettier than Susan actually is! Lucy came across the spell in the Book of Spells when, like in the movie, she was releasing the Dufflepuds from the spell. In the book she didn't recite the spell later after tearing the page from the book, or enter into a dream. Even though she did not recite the spell to make her beautiful "beyond the lot of mortals.", she watches/looks at pictures in the Book of Spells that show her what it'd be like be prettier than Susan. Here's a section from the book that explains what she saw:

Lucy peered at the pictures with her face close to the page, and though they seemed crowded and muddlesome before, she found she could now see them quite clearly. The first was a picture of a girl standing at a reading-desk reading a huge book. And the girl was dressed exactly like Lucy. In the next picture Lucy (for the girl in the picture was Lucy herself) was standing up with her mouth open and a rather terrible expression on her face, chanting a recieting something. In the third picture the beauty beyond the lot of mortals had come to her. It was strange, considering how small the pictures had looked at first, the the Lucy in the pictures now seemed quite as big as the real Lucy; and they look into each other's eyes and the real Lucy looked away after a few minutes because she was dazzled by the beauty of the other Lucy; though she could still see a sort of likeness to herself in that beautiful face. And now the pictures came crowding on her thick and fast. She saw herself throned on high at a great tournament in Calormen and all the Kings of the world fought because of her beauty. After that it turned from tournaments to real wars, and all Narnia and Archenland, Telmar and Calormen, Galma and Terebinthia, were laid waste with the fury of the kings and dukes and great lords who fought for her favor. Then it changed and Lucy, still beautiful beyond the lot of mortals, was back in England. And Susan (who had always been the beauty of the family) came home from America. The Susan in the picture looked exactly like the real Susan only plainer and with a nasty expression. And Susan was jealous of the dazzling beauty of Lucy, but that didn't matter a bit because no one cared anything about Susan now.

                                      -The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Sorry it's so long. x) Anyway, that part is in the book, though some may either forget (like I did) or may not even know. :)
   I really liked Lucy in the 3^rd one. I like seeing her fight and be adventuresome. She’s finally old enough to be in the battles! :D Oh yes, that is another thing I need to discuss: her age. In the 1^st book she’s 8, she’s supposed to be 8 in the movie but in real life she’s 10. In the 2^nd book she is 9, in the movie/real life she is 13. As for the 3^rd she is 10 in the book but 15 in the movie/real life. We have to understand and remember that you can’t stop time. And when it takes about 2 years to plan, film, and make the movie it adds 2 years to the age of Georgie Henley (Lucy Pevensie) with every movie, and no one could stop that. So even if the ages are quite off (Though, in the 3^rd they did try to make her a lot younger than she is.) I don’t really mind because that wasn’t something the directors could change.

Over all I think that they did a very good job on portraying Lucy in all 3 movies, even if there are some changes. :) Here's a quick over view of her character: 

     Lucy is a very sweet girl in every way. She is very forgiving as we see in the 1^st movie when she forgives her siblings for not believing her and pretty much calling her a liar. She is full of courage and has a great to desire to help others and uses her cordial given to her by Father Christmas many times to heal them. She is a lover of animals and is very sad to see the wild land of Narnia, once filled with creatures and talking animals, invaded and harshly ruled by humans. She is also very brave and daring. Though we don’t get to see her fight in any battles other than The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Aslan hints that she is a very brave telling her, "If you were any braver, you would be a lioness”. Later in The Horse and his Boy she does fight in a battle. As I read once, not only a lovely lady and an accomplished queen, she was also a fierce warrior, known to ride into battle in times of need. In other words…. she was a Valiant Queen and Warrior.

I fear this is getting quite long, so I will end it. But I hope you enjoyed this comparison of Queen Lucy. The others, however, will have more to compare. Edmund and Lucy are portrayed the best, but I think the older the characters get the more different the book and movie characters will be. :)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“But as for Lucy, she was always gay and golden-haired, and all princes in those parts desired her to be their Queen, and her own people called her Queen Lucy the Valiant.” 
                    -The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Graphic made by Miss Evelyn

A True Lover of Narnia...

Yes, indeed I'm a true lover of Narnia. I thought that out of all my graphics I've created & want to share with you, I'd start with a Narnia one. It is one I made not to long ago! I think they are all truly Warriors of Narnia. Yes, even Caspian. Though some people can't stand the site of him in the movies. :D Since there are so many opinions on the Narnia movies I was thinking about doing a 5-part Narnia comparison post. Where in each post I compare the movie character to the book character, talk about the things they did well in the movies and the things they changed. I would do the 4 Pevensies and Prince Caspian. :) I think that even if there are a lot of things that weren't so good in the movies (things they added or changed) there were a lot of good things too! Anyways, just a thought of something fun. Plus, if I do that I'll include a graphic with each Character Comparison Post.

I included beneath the graphic a quote from the 3rd Narnia book, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. I'm sure you know the quote, but I thought I'd post it anyway. :D

“I am [in your world].’ said Aslan. ‘But there I have another name. You must learn to know me by that name. This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there.” 

-The Voyage of the Dawn Treader