Volume 1 │ Issue 1 │ 2016 A Psychoanalytic Examination of Birth Order in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Into the Wardrobe: The Siblings of Narnia Sarah Geil Shorter University Georgia Theta Chapter Vol. 1(1), 2016 Article Title: A Psychoanalytic Examination of Birth Order in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Into the Wardrobe: The Siblings of Narnia DOI: 10.21081/ax0008 ISSN: 2381-800X Key Words: Birth Order, Lewis, Psychoanalytic Theory, Siblings, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Author contact information is available from the Editor at [email protected]. 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A Psychoanalytic Examination of Birth Order in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Into the Wardrobe: The Siblings of Narnia Sarah Geil Shorter University Georgia Theta Chapter Abstract Analyzing the traditional birth order roles in C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, the author uses psychoanalytic criticism to examine how the fictional characters show researched birth order personality traits. Peter’s brave responsibility, Susan’s motherly caution, Edmund’s rebellion and redemp- tion, and Lucy’s innocent curiosity are examples of characters that match birth order standards and fulfill sibling stereotypes. It is compelling, then, to consider how the infusion of birth order characteristics into fic- tional characters might strengthen the development of the story, while simultaneously enabling strong reader identification. However, does the literature help shape psychological constraints or do existing psycholog- ical trends shape the way literature is written and received? Lewis, whether consciously or subconsciously, infused these traditional birth order personality traits into his characters. Key words: birth order, Lewis, Psychoanalytic Theory, siblings, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Introduction In The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, four siblings display stereotypical birth order characteristics: Peter A father reads The Lion, the Witch, and the Ward- is the responsible firstborn; Susan acts as the practical robe to his children. He pauses to ask what they think. peacemaker middle-born; Edmund is the rebellious but His oldest boy, pretending to swing a sword, says he redeemed middle-born; and Lucy, the last-born, is loved likes Peter. His innocent youngest daughter whispers for her believing curiosity. For generations, children that she hopes to be like Lucy. And his middle child, a have identified with the Pevensie children, some more son, sits quietly, wanting to be brave like Peter but an- closely with one of the siblings in particular. Part of the gry about something his own older brother said. Narnia reason for this identification could be that Lewis, wheth- has had this effect on children for over half a century. er consciously or unconsciously, infused these tradition- The Pevensies’ adventure through the wardrobe is more al birth order personality traits into his characters. It is than a simple foray into another land; it is a narrative on also possible that when characters are written for read- psychological governances that impact characters and er identification and they fit a psychological stereotype readers without their knowledge. A Neo-Freudian psy- such as birth order, the author unknowingly perpetuates chologist, Alfred Adler, described birth order as a defin- the stereotypes, strengthening, for example, the impact ing factor in personality development (What Life 144). of birth order on personality development. 2016 Aletheia—The Alpha Chi Journal of Undergraduate Research 3 Psychoanalytic Theory and Birth Order figures themselves (Epstein 52). In terms of personality, firstborns score high on conscientiousness and respon- Theories relating to birth order stem from research sibility subscales (Herrera et al. 144). These personality by Sigmund Freud theorizing that there are many vari- traits are also built into the stereotype of firstborns. A ables, conscious and unconscious, that trigger actions a study on beliefs about birth order found that firstborns person might take (Problem Child viii; Freud 93). One were described as obedient, stable, responsible, and un- important element in this psychoanalytic theory discuss- emotional (Herrera et al.144). Because of their family es the importance of the family, as explained by Lois position, responsibility and leadership are encouraged Tyson: “the family is very important in psychoanalytic in and commonly shared among firstborns. theory because we are each a product of the role we are Unlike the privileged firstborn, middle-born children given in the family-complex” (13). Psychoanalysts ad- have instant inferiority to overcome. Adler proposed opted Freud’s ideas and applied them to other aspects of that middle-born children are “born into a situation of the development of personality and the impact of family. rivalry and competition” and must fight to overcome One prominent Neo-Freudian researcher, Alfred Adler, their inability to match older siblings in size and in proposed a theory in which birth order is key in defining strength (What Life 144; Friedman and Schustack 130). the choices one makes and the characteristics one adopts Adler’s theory of personality focuses on overcoming in- (Problem Child 38, 172). feriority, and because middle children are immediately Like many theorists of his time, Adler developed inferior in size and experience to their older sibling(s), his theory based on his personal experiences, primarily the early practice of overcoming inferiority could lead his experience as a middle child (Friedman and Schus- them to be more successful (Friedman and Schustack tack 130). Fundamental to his psychology is the need 130). Middle-born children act as both older and young- to overcome inferiority, and he believed that middle er siblings, taking on the most confusing and least char- children had the most inferiority to overcome (What acterizable of roles. Few studies have focused solely on Life 144). Adler also observed social structures in other middle children, because in most cross-sectional studies, families, and he believed birth order played a signifi- whether a participant is second born in a family of three cant role in determining and shaping personality charac- or sixth born in a family of seven, they are classified as teristics (What Life 144; Friedman and Schustack 130). a middle-born. Though meager in comparison, research Adler’s original hypothesis that birth order has a strong about middle children does exist. In an examination of impact on shaping personality has since been revisited many birth order studies, Eckstein et al. found that mid- by numerous studies (Problem Child 38; Eckstein 412). dle-born children tend to be characterized in one of two Research testing personality traits and the relationship different groups: they are either practical, quiet, and re- they may have with a certain birth order have distinct served or they are outgoing, find negotiation easy, and categories: firstborn, middle-born, or last-born children. are more likely to rebel dramatically (412). Regardless Adler’s prototypal theory proposed that because of these two types, middle-born children must face the firstborns begin their life as the only child, they are fa- feeling that they do not belong. However, overcoming vored and greatly benefit from the full attention of their this feeling can help them develop into successful adults. parents (Problem Child 56). When their siblings are While firstborn children are overrepresented in lead- born, they must adjust to sharing the focus and they of- ership positions, most of the revolutions of the world ten help