Selfish Edmund’s Characteristic and his Conflict
Edmund‘s conflict againsts the witch that focuses to bring Edmund‘s siblings also can be the depiction how selfish Edmund is. From what Edmund
thinks about being a King, he decides to tell the witch about his siblings. ―I‘m come, your Majesty,‖ said Edmund, rushing eagerly forward.
―How dare you come alone?‖ said the Witch in terrible voice. ―Did I not tell you to bring the other with you?‖
―Please, your Majesty,‖ said Edmund, ―I‘ve done the best I can, I‘ve brought them quite close. They‘re in the little house on top of the dam just
up the river- with Mr. and Mrs. Beaver.‖ Lewis, 2007:99
In that conversation, the writer can conclude that Edmund is a selfish person. He brings his sibling quite close with them. He tells the witch that his
siblings in Mr. and Mrs. Beaver‘s house. He does not bring his siblings because he wants to be the only King in Narnia. That is why he does not bring his siblings
to the witch‘s house. That is the best things that he can do. If he brings his siblings to the witch‘s house, he thinks that the Witch will also make his siblings to be the
King of Narnia. He will not put Peter on the same level with him because he does not like when Peter calls him a beast. Edmund‘s selfishness brings him in this
situation, conflict against other person. Furthermore
, Edmund‘s selfishness changes him into a greedy person. Greedy is having or showing a selfish desire to have more of something such as a
money or food. Greedy also has meaning very eager to have something Webster, 2006: 805. In the novel, the writer knows that he is a greedy person because he
always concerns only for himself: seeking or concentrating on one‘s own advantage, pleasure, or well-being without regard for other. It can be seen when
Edmund meets the White Witch at the first time. The White Witch offers something to eat and he asks Turkish Delight, as follow:
While he was eating the Queen kept asking him questions. At first Edmund tried to remember that is rude to speak with one‘s mouth full, but
soon he forget about this thought only of trying to shovel down as much Turkish Delight as he could, and the more he ate the more he wanted to
eat, and he never asked himself why the Queen should be so inquisitive. At last the Turkish Delight was all finished and Edmund was looking very
hard at empty box and wishing that she should ask him whether he would like some more. Lewis, 2007:37-38
From the explanation above, it can be identified that the character is
greedy because he eats gluttonously and he tries to shovel down the Turkish Delight as much as he can. He also speaks while his mouth full of food. He
concentrates on his own pleasure which is his Turkish Delight. Even when he finishes it, he wishes to get some more and more. Another statement that
strengthens Edmund is greedy, as follow: ―please, please,‖ said Edmund suddenly, ―please couldn‘t I have just one
piece of Turkish Del ight to eat on the way home?‖Lewis, 2007:41
From what he says, it describes that he never feels enough with what he gets. He has already gotten a round box that contains several pounds of Turkish
Delight but he wants more to eat on the way home. Edmund was already feeling uncomfortable from having eaten too many
sweets, and when he heard that the Lady he had made friends with was a dangerous witch he felt even more uncomfortable. But he still wanted to
taste that Turkish Delight again more than he wanted anything else.Lewis, 2007:42
From the explanation above, the writer can identify the characteristic
Edmund from his reaction. The author gives a clue by describing how a person
reacts to various situations. The narration above gives the writer a clue how Edmund reacts when he feels uncomfortable to be a friend with the White Witch.
Even though Edmund hears that the White Witch is a dangerous witch, he still seeks his pleasure. His pleasure about eat that Turkish Delight.
Edmund meanwhile had been having a most disappointing time. When the dwarf had gone to get the sledge ready he expected that the Witch would
start being nice to him, as he had been at their last meeting. But she said nothing at all. And when at last Edmund plucked up his courage to say,
―Please, your Majesty, could I have some Turkish Delight? You –you- said-
―Lewis, 2007:111 Edmund also still thinks about the Turkish Delight in fact he is
disappointed to the witch because she is not being nice to him like their last meeting. Even thought he is disappointed to him, he plucks up his courage to ask
some Turkish delight. From that situation, it can be said that he is a greedy person, showing a selfish desire to have more of food. He always thinks about the food
whatever the situation he is faced. By his characteristic that is greedy, the White Witch uses the enchanted
Turkish Delight to tempt Edmund. Probably the Queen knew quite well what he was thinking; for she knew,
though Edmund did not, that this was enchanted Turkish Delight and that anyone who had once tasted it would want more and more of it, and would
even, if they were allowed, go on eating it till they killed themselves. But she did not offer him any more. Instead, she said to him Lewis, 2007:38.
The Witch uses the enchanted Turkish Delight to kill Edmund and his siblings so that she can be the Queen in Narnia. Thus, she tempts Edmund with
Turkish Delight and promises to him to be a King in Narnia. … said the Queen. ― I am sure you would like it. There are whole rooms
full of Turkish Delight, and what‘s more, I have no children of my own. I want a nice boy whom I could bring up as a Prince and who would be
King of Narnia when I am gone. While he was Prince he would wear a gold crown and eat Turkish Delight all day long; and you are much the
cleverest and handsome young man I‘ve ever met. I think I would like to make you the Prince-some da
y, when you bring the others to visit me.‖ ―why not now? Said Edmund
―oh, but if I took you there now,‖ said she, ― I shouldn‘t see your brother and your sisters. I very much want to know your charming relations. You
are to be the Prince and-later on- the King; that is understood Lewis, 2007:38-39.
From the speech above, the writer knows that Edmund is a person that easy to provoke. The Witch tells him about rooms full of Turkish Delight in her
house and makes Edmund wants to come in her house. That also supports how selfish Edmund because he is easily tempted by the food. She also promises
Edmund that he can be the King of Narnia, but he has to bring his siblings to meet the Witch. By praising Edmund, the Witch can also make Edmund believe in her.
Edmund becomes a traitor because he is greedy for the authority. He betrays because of the offer that is given by the White Witch. Edmund betrays his
siblings because he is promised by White Witch to be the King of Narnia. Edmund‘s character is also seen from the conversation with Mr. Beaver and his
siblings. They talk about Edmund that already becomes a traitor because of this condition.
―Then mark my words,‖ said Mr. Beaver, ―he has already met the White Witch and joined her side, and been told where she liv
es. I didn‘t like to mention it before he being your brother and all but the moment I set eyes
on that brother of yours I said to myself ‗Treacherous.‘ He had look of one who has been with the Witch and eaten her food. You can always tell them
if you‘ve living long in Narnia; something about their eyes‖ Lewis, 2007:85
Like what Mr. Beaver says, Edmund already meets the Witch and joins on her side. Edmund has already known where the witch is living. When Mr. Beaver
meets Edmund, Mr. Beaver knows that he is a treacherous. ―if you please sir,‖ said Edmund, trembling so that he could hardly speak,
―my name is Edmund, and I‘m the Son of Adam that Her Majesty met in the wood the other day and I‘ve come to bring her the news that my
brother and sisters are now in Narnia- quite close, in the Beaver‘s house.
She- she wanted to see them.‖Lewis, 2007:98
Edmund who is the son of Adam comes to the Witch‘s house to tell that he already brings his siblings to Narnia with his trembling voice. He does not bring
his si blings to her house but they are quite close, they are in the Beaver‘s house.
―Please, your Majesty,‖ said Edmund, ―I‘ve done the best I can. I‘ve brought them quite close. They‘re in the little house on top of the dam just
up the river-with Mr. and Mrs. B eaver.‖Lewis, 2007:99
After he meets the Witch, he tells to the Queen about his sibling. He tells her that the siblings are in the Beaver‘s house and he can not bring them to the
Witch. According to him, the best things that he can do bring his sibling quite close to her.
To support how selfish Edmund is, it can be seen by the way he faces his internal conflict and external conflict. The dilemma that Edmund faces is whether
to tell the truth or keep the secret and telling a lie about the country. But Edmund secretly thought that it would not be as good fun for him as
for her. He would have to admit that Lucy had been right, before all the others, and he felt sure the others would all be on the side of Fauns and the
animals; but he was already more than a half on the side of the Witch. He did not know what he would say, or how he would keep secret once they
were all taking about Narnia Lewis, 2007:43.
If Edmund tells the truth about Narnia, he can not be the King of Narnia because his siblings will be on the faun side. But, when he keeps the secret about
the existence of Narnia and tells a lie to them, he can be the King like he is promised at the first met and he can also taste the Turkish Delight. He fights with
himself about what he has to do whether he has to keep secret or tells about Narnia.
Edmund selfishness makes him telling a lie and it can be seen when he argues with his siblings about Narnia. Edmund has already gone in the wardrobe
and he has found a country that Lucy tells about to her siblings. Edmund meets Lucy in Narnia. Lucy wants Edmund to tell Peter and Susan about Narnia. She
wants Peter and Susan knows that Narnia is real. ―What‘s all this about, Ed?‖ said Peter.
And now we come to one nastiest thing in this story. Up to that moment Edmund had been feeling sick, sulky, and annoyed with Lucy for being
right, but he hadn‘t made up his mind what to do. When Peter suddenly asked him the question he decide all at once to do the meanest and most
spiteful thing he could think of. He decided to let Lucy down.
―Tell us Ed,‖ said Susan And Edmund gave a very superior look as if he were far older than Lucy
there was really only a year‘s different and then a little snigger and said, ―Oh, yes, Lucy and I have been playing-pretending that all her story about
a country in wardrobe is true. Just for fun, of course. T here‘s nothing there
really‖ Lewis, 2007:45
Lucy expects Edmund to convince Peter and Susan to believe that the story about Narnia is true. Peter and Susan ask Edmund about Narnia, but
Edmund decides to tell a lie to his sibling about a country in a wardrobe. There is something that he does not want his siblings know
about what‘s on in Narnia and he does not want his siblings know about the Witch who will make Edmund as a
King of Narnia. He tells that the country in the wardrobe is nothing, he just pretends that the story about Narnia is not real.
Edmund‘s selfishness makes Lucy down. He tells to his siblings that Lucy‘s story about a country in the wardrobe is not real, just for fun. Moreover, he
succeeded to make Lucy sad and rushes out of the room. He keeps secret about it because he still wants to taste the Turkish Delight and to be a King of Narnia
without regard for other. His selfishness shows when he disregards the other. He only concerns with his own advantage.
Edmund‘s selfishness can also be seen when he being spiteful. Edmund likes to jeer and being beastly to anyone who is smaller than him. It can be seen
when Lucy tells about her experience in Narnia to her siblings, they do not believe about it. They think that she was telling a lie. It makes Lucy become sad. The
quotation below strengthens that he is selfish. The others who thought that she was telling a lie and a silly lie too, made
her very unhappy. The two elder ones did this without meaning to do it, but Edmund could be spiteful, and on this occasion he was spiteful. He
sneered and jeered at Lucy and kept on asking her if she‘d found any other new countries in other cupboards all over the house. Lewis, 2007:26
Peter and Susan do that without any purpose to make Lucy sad, because she tells about a country in the cupboard that they think that it is only a story
made up for fun, but Edmund does that pitiless. He sneers and jeers Lucy about the new country that she has found in the cupboard.
This evidence also shows that Edmund likes being beastly not only with Lucy, but also to anyone who is smaller than himself like when he was at school.
―You didn‘t think anything at all,‖ said Peter; ―it‘s just spite. You‘ve always liked being beastly to anyone smaller than yourself; we‘ve seen
that at school before now Lewis, 2007:46.‖
From Peter‘s speech, it gives a clue that Edmund is selfish. He is selfish because he just want to concern with him own pleasure by being mean to other
person especially one who smaller than him. The way he faces his dilemma until he decides to tell a lie, it describes
how selfish Edmund is. He becomes a liar in order to be a King and eat the Turkish Delight. He is selfish not only about the food, but also on the authority
that make him became a liar. Beside the dilemma that he faces, external conflict that Edmund faces also
can be the depiction of how selfish Edmund is. Edmund, who was becoming a nastier person every minute, thought that
he had scored a great success, and went on at once to say, ―There she goes again. What‘s the matter with her? That‘s the worst of young kid, they
always- ―
―Look here,‖ said Peter, turning on him savagely, ―shut up You‘ve been perfectly beastly to Lu ever since she started this nonsense about the
wardrobe, and now you go playing games with her about it and setting her off again. I believe you did it simply out of spite Lewis, 2007:
45.‖
In the quotation above, Edmund becomes a nastier person. At the first time when Lucy tells about a country that she can get through the wardrobe, he jeers
Lucy and now, when he already knows about Narnia, he makes Lucy angry and hurt her feeling by pretending there is nothing real in Narnia.
Edmund that is selfish can be seen in the conflict that he faces. He gets a conflict against Peter. Peter does not like Edmund who likes to jeer Lucy and
Edmund lies to his sibling because he wants to be a king.
In that conversation, there is a tension between Peter and Edmund. Peter does not like the way Edmund treats his sister and can not value his sister that tells
about Narnia. In fact, Edmund has already gone to Narnia, a magical country that Lucy has been said before. Lucy wants Edmund to tell the truth that Narnia really
exists in the wardrobe. When she asks that, Edmund tells that Lucy‘s story about a country in the wardrobe is just for fun, there is nothing in there.
There is a tension between them that can be categorized as a conflict. It also can be used as an explanation to support Edmund‘s characteristic that is
selfish. Edmund does not tell the truth about Narnia because there is something to be kept from his siblings. Because of his selfishness, he wants concern with
himself and feels exclusively without regard for other. From the conflict against the White Witch, the writer can conclude that he
is a selfish person, especially for the authority. He concerns exclusively with himself without regard for other. It can be seen in this conversation between
Edmund and the White Witch, as follow: ―I‘m come, your Majesty,‖ said Edmund, rushing eagerly forward.
―How dare you come alone?‖ said the Witch in terrible voice. ―Did I not tell you to brin
g the other with you?‖ ―Please, your Majesty,‖ said Edmund, ―I‘ve done the best I can, I‘ve
brought them quite close. They‘re in the little house on top of the dam just up the river-
with Mr. and Mrs. Beaver.‖ Lewis, 2007:99
Edmund comes alone to the wi tch‘s house. He demands the promise about
the Turkish Delight and to be the a King of Narnia. In that conversation between Edmund and the witch there is a tension can be categorized as a conflict. The
conflict that can support Edmund‘s characteristic. The conflict happened between
Edmund and the witch because there are two opposing focuses. Those focuses are Edmund does not bring the siblings and the White Witch wants Edmund to bring
his siblings in order she can destroy them and then she can be the only Queen in Narnia.
The witch will break the spell by destroy the Son of Adam and Daughters of Eve by tempting Edmund. The spell that everyone in Narnia knows says that
when Adam‘s flesh and Adam‘s bone sit at the Cair Paravel in throne, the evil time will be over and done. So, the witch does whatever it takes to prevent her era.
The other focus comes from Edmund that he does not bring his siblings because his characteristic which is selfish. He wants to be the only King in Narnia.