Almost everyone has a book or a movie that reminds them of their childhood. Undoubtedly, The Chronicles of Narnia is a book series that is at the top of that list for many people like me.
I still remember the first time I read about Turkish delight in Narnia, and I was kind of surprised to encounter my favorite dessert in one of my favorite books.
The movie adaptation was also enjoyable to watch; the combination of the choice of music and the unique Turkish dessert, Turkish delight.
I think the best thing about movies and books is that everyone can see something different. Therefore, it’s not a surprise that there are many different comments and ideas about the meanings of this scene.
As a local in Turkey, I am very much interested in this scene, and I would like to help you learn more about it.
In this article, we will explore this particular scene and talk about its deeper meanings.
So, if you’re ready, let’s get into our wardrobes and explore the magical world of Narnia!
1. Why Did Edmund Like Turkish Delight?
The White Witch had one goal, and that was to make Edmund lose control because she wanted to get more information from Edmund.
Therefore, she first asked Edmund what he would like to eat. After he said that he wanted Turkish delight, she gave him enchanted Turkish delights.
We can’t deny that Turkish delight is already addictively delicious without any magic. So, can you imagine eating an enchanted one?
There’s a different and interesting approach to why Edmund likes Turkish delight. It could be because of the things that the Turkish delight reminded him of.
He remembered the times when everything was simpler, and he was happy with his family. Therefore, he wasn’t ready to give that up.
This dessert is portrayed as a guilty pleasure in the movie. As he was eating and enjoying Turkish delights, the White Witch kept asking questions.
However, I think we can’t really blame him for liking these enchanted Turkish delights.
After all, he’s just a child, and the White Witch caught him off guard.
As mentioned, Turkish delight is an addictive dessert. Since these soft candies are not that big and easy to eat, people tend to eat them uncontrollably.
For instance, whenever I promise myself that I will eat only two of them, I end up eating six or seven of them. That’s why I don’t think I’m in a position to judge Edmund for wanting more…
2. What Does Turkish Delight Represent in Narnia?
Turkish delight in Narnia is the symbol of several things.
First of all, as soon as Edmund bites into the Turkish delight, he craves more and more. The joy he experienced while eating this candy was so powerful that it wasn’t enough. As you can imagine, it’s not just because the Turkish delight is so delicious.
Above all, the Turkish delight Edmund eats represents sin.
The White Witch wanted Edmund to be easy to control. That’s why she gave her magical Turkish delights. She wanted to have information and used Edmund for it.
The Turkish Delight symbolizes temptation and the dangers of immediate gratification. It serves as a warning that unchecked desires can lead to treachery and downfall.
The allure of the Turkish Delight is encapsulated in a quote from C.S. Lewis: “Each piece was sweet and light to the very center, and Edmund had never tasted anything more delicious.”
This quote perfectly captures the irresistible temptation that the Turkish Delight represents. Because after taking a bite, he just wanted more, and nothing else was important. Therefore, he was willing to betray his family.
Another theory compares Edmund to Judas because Aslan is the representation of Jesus Christ, and Edmund betrayed him. Same as Judas Iscariot betraying Jesus Christ.
3. What Does Turkish Delight Taste Like?
Before we begin, I think it’s best to learn more about this unique dessert called “Turkish delight,” or “Lokum.”
Turkish delight tastes like soft, powdery, and sweet candy, like jelly beans but much softer. It dissolves in your mouth very fast.
The nutty ones are more lasting. My favorite flavor is Turkish delights mixed with chocolate cream and other nuts.
Turkish delight has a unique taste that brings you happiness whenever you take a bite of it. When you begin to eat, you want more and more.
Also, since there are plenty of different flavors, every flavor tastes different. That’s why you can easily find the perfect flavor that gives you the feeling of pure happiness.
So, is it really that delicious? Well, believe me, it is. It’s one of the most delicious and extraordinary desserts with plenty of flavour options.
In the movie, Edmund eats a rose-flavoured Turkish delight. This flavor is one of the classics.
Even though I may not be a big fan of that particular flavor, it’s one of the most popular Turkish delight flavors.
If you’d like to learn more about Turkish delight, you can read my article about Turkish delight. Click here to see the details of this unique taste.
4. Other Turkish References in Narnia
As a local in Turkey, I was very proud when I saw that C. S. Lewis used Turkish delight in this movie.
Of course, Turkish delight was a universally popular dessert before this movie.
However, we can’t deny that Turkish Delight made a huge impact and everyone was suddenly more interested in Turkish culture.
Surprisingly, Turkish delight is not the only Turkish reference in this movie.
There are many other Turkish references that immediately draw attention. Here is a list of these references:
- The true king of Narnia, who is Aslan, means lion in Turkish. Apart from that, Aslan is a depiction of Jesus Christ. He sacrifices himself to save Edmund.
- The tents at Aslan’s soldiers’ camp bear a great resemblance to Ottoman and Turkish war tents.
- Peter is known as Peter the Magnificient, just like the Ottoman Sultan Suleyman.
For many years, people have argued about why C. S. Lewis used Turkish references. Everyone has different ideas about C. S. Lewis’ interest in Turkey.
Even though we cannot know for sure, it may be due to his interest in different cultures.
5. Why is Turkish Delight Expensive?
Turkish Delight is often handmade and uses premium ingredients like high-quality sugar, natural flavorings, and sometimes expensive nuts.
This, combined with the labor-intensive process of its creation, contributes to its higher price.
