I started by posting about the newly released movie but realized I was getting close to details of the story that might be considered spoilers by some. I'll assume everyone coming to the books thread has read the books, seeing as they've been out quite a while....

In any case I was wondering what you all think of Lewis's portrayal of loyalty and faithfulness in the PC story? Below is what I wrote in the movie thread...

...the idea of being faithful was still embedded in the story -- or, rather, of being loyal, following the orders of your superiors (of those to whom your loyalty/fealty is pledged) regardless of whether or not you believe they're rational, and regardless of whether or not anyone else goes along with it, sticking to what you know is right regardless of whether or not it seems like it's "working". I was a little disappointed that Trumpkin the dwarf doesn't get to show off this aspect of his character as much as he does in the book. Lucy still gets the lion's share (pun intended) of this characterization, but she's the believer in the LWW too, so that's pretty consistent. Ed gets in on a little of this by backing up Lucy (as he does in the book)... And of course the opposite (disloyalty in the ranks) ends up being one of the downfalls of Miraz...

What I didn't mention in the movie thread was Reepicheep's extreme faith in Aslan without regard to the consequences ("I'll lead all my mice into that archway if you command it"), and the idea of the Badger's remembering and holding to optimism based on the stories of the "old days" even though nothing in the current day of the story makes it probable that Aslan or the ancient Kings and Queens will show up.

And this is all contrasted with Miraz's ultimate unfaithfulness (usurping the throne, killing Caspian's father, trying to kill Caspian) and his minion's unfaithfulness (killing Miraz) and even unfaithfulness within the "old Narnians" with Nikabrik calling on Aslan in a completely mercenary way, and being willing to call on anyone including the White Witch in the same way.

Of particular interest to this site, I'm wondering how Lewis' portrayal of loyalty and faithfulness (in a rather battle-heavy chivalrous manner, at least for the Narnia books) compares with the portrayals of loyalty in middle-earth. Does Tolkien bring out the same character traits in any of his stories? Does he treat them similarly (loyalty rewarded, and disloyalty being the downfall of the enemy)? Is there anywhere in middle-earth a parallel to Lucy's unpleasant task - (Following Aslan, telling her companions to follow her, and having them all disbelieve her most of the way through the journey, yet doing it anyways?)