Warning! Spoilers ahead for the final book in The Chronicles of Narnia series, The Last Battle

The Chronicles of Narnia novels are a seminal work of children's fantasy by C.S. Lewis, and the Pevensie children play a huge role throughout the story. First described in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the Pevensies introduce the audience to Narnia, and it's their influence and legacy that links the different installments together. Though the later books don't touch upon the four central children as much, they do reappear in the final novel, The Last Battle. However, when they return, Susan Pevensie, the oldest girl, doesn't have the same ending as everyone else.

There's been speculation about how the Narnia books will be brought to life in Greta Gerwig's adaptation of the novels. While the development and characterization of all the Pevensies is vitally important, adaptation must bring justice to Susan Pevensie, whose story remains open-ended and doesn't have the full-circle conclusion that her siblings receive. Thanks to Lewis' conclusion, there are plenty of questions left about Susan's fate and lots of room for discussion about how it can be interpreted. Regardless, Susan remains one of the most interesting Pevensies to analyze.

Susan Pevensie Is Unable To Return To Narnia In The Last Chronicles Of Narnia Book

She is described as no longer being a friend to Narnia

Aslan destroys Narnia at the end of the last book because Narnia has become corrupted, and he needs to start again. When he makes this decision, which can be read as a metaphor for Christianity, Judgment Day, and ascension to heaven, Aslan decides who is worthy to him in the true Narnia. Peter, Edmund, Lucy, and other characters the audience has met throughout the books are brought to the new Narnia to live in peace. However, to get there, the Pevensies must die and are killed in a train accident in the real world before they can Aslan.

However, since she's grown up and embraced adulthood, Susan is barred from entering the true Narnia, even though the rest of the Pevensies are allowed to go with Aslan. It's a surprising turn of events and changes much of Susan's character arc up to this point. Aslan and the other characters provide some reasons why Susan is the only Pevensie who doesn't get to return to Narnia, but these justifications have been critiqued by readers for many years. It's the way Susan has transitioned into adulthood that's cited as why she can't go.

The Real Meaning Of Susan Being Banned From Narnia Explained

There could be a darker reason why Susan can't her family

While it's impossible to be certain what Lewis meant by barring Susan from Narnia, there has been much discussion and debate about the reasons behind Susan's exclusion. Describing her as "frivolous" and touching upon how she only cares about material objects and her looks, Lewis cites these as the reasons she's left behind. Casting such a harsh moral judgment on Susan despite her years of dedication and love of Narnia is an unexpected narrative turn in The Last Battle. This leads the audience to believe that Lewis decided to leave Susan out as an expression of his opinions about femininity.

It's not simply a question of age, even though adults can't go to Narnia in Lewis' books since Peter is allowed to come to Aslan's more perfect Narnia. At best, Lewis' decision to leave Susan out could be read as an uncertainty about what to do with her character and the desire to make the ending bittersweet. Unfortunately, it can also easily be interpreted as Lewis incorporating sexist and outdated beliefs about young women into the text. This is a tough note to end the books on, as so many young women read Narnia and identify with Susan.

Susan Survives The Train Crash That Kills The Pevensies In The Last Battle

Susan is technically the only Pevensie who survives The Chronicles of Narnia

Though the other Pevensies dying and ascending to the true Narnia could be looked at in a positive light, as it's a metaphor for them entering heaven, it leaves Susan on her own. As the only survivor, Susan is left alone in the real world, unable to find peace in Narnia and also separated from her family. Due to this, and the fact that Lewis' descriptions of why Susan couldn't enter Narnia are slightly harsh, this could be interpreted as a punishment for Susan growing older. However, it does leave her story open to interpretation.

Having her decide to stay on Earth and explore adulthood would give back her agency and be a strong new legacy.

It will be interesting to see how Gerwig tackles this part of the story. Though she's only signed on to direct the first two movies in the new The Chronicles of Narnia films, if they're a success, the entire series might be brought to life onscreen. If the adaptations reach The Last Battle and the filmmakers choose to keep Lewis's intense ending, it might be exciting to see Susan the rest of her family. Conversely, having her decide to stay on Earth and explore adulthood would give back her agency and be a strong new legacy.