This was the first book on my most
recent read-through of The Chronicles of Narnia that I had never read before.
That was a bit of a special treat I was looking forward to. Reading any of the
Narnia books for the first time is always an adventure, and this did not
disappoint.
The
Silver Chair brings back Eustace Clarence Scrubb and introduces a new
character, Jill Poole. Jill and Eustace are sent on a quest to find the missing
prince and return him his rightful place in Narnia. Dozens of heroes have gone
out on the same quest, and none have ever returned, so what hope do Jill and
Eustace, two children have? That would be Aslan. Aslan has sent them out and
given them five simple (or seemingly simple) instructions for the journey.
Silver
Chair tied with The Lion, the Witch
and the Wardrobe for second place on my list of favorite Narnia books. Like
Dawn Treader, it is pure, quest-style
adventure. But I have to say, it is quite a bit darker than Dawn Treader. From cannibalism to bewitchments
to a hell-like abyss descending into the fiery depths below Narnia, I would
consider it for a slightly more mature audience than the earlier books in the
series.
I loved Jill. She seemed to be a
very well-developed character, and as much as I liked Susan and Lucy, and even
though they will always be the classics, Jill earned her place next to them.
More adventurous than Susan, yet more flawed than Lucy, Jill truly is her own
character, and had elements I think a variety of people could identify with.
But oddly enough, my favorite
character was the Marsh-wiggle Puddleglum. Or perhaps that’s not odd at all
considering Reepicheep, Mr. Tumnus, and all the other ‘secondary’ characters
that steal the show for me. Puddleglum is a sad, depressed creature, who truly
believes he is flighty and unserious. He becomes the children’s guide, and
frequently also fulfills the role of their conscience, Jiminy Cricket style.
Beyond all that though, for some reason I just found him adorable and hilarious…I
guess I’m just weird like that.
As with the other Narnia books I collected
my favorite quotes. This time, almost all of them came from Aslan.
“You would not have called to me unless I
had been calling to you,” said the Lion.
This quote was particularly
poignant to me. It seemed like a rephrasing of John 15:16: “You did not choose me but I chose you…” Jill’s
folly was in thinking she somehow had power over Aslan, and that she had
summoned him, not vice versa. Silly human, thinking she had power over the
Great Lion.
“…remember, remember, remember the signs.
Say them to yourself when you wake in the morning and when you lie down at
night, and when you wake in the middle of the night. And whatever strange
things may happen to, let nothing turn your mind from following the signs. And
secondly, I give you a warning. Here on the mountain I have spoken to you
clearly: I will not often do so down in Narnia. Here on the mountain, the air
is clear and your mind is clear; as you drop down into Narnia, the air will
thicken. Take great care that it does not confuse your mind. And the signs
which you have learned here will not look at all as you expect them to look,
when you meet them there. That is why it is so important to know them by heart and
pay no attention to appearances. Remember the signs and believe the signs. Nothing
else matters.”
Aslan always gives his laborers the
warnings, information and help they need. Whether they remember it and use it
or not though, is another matter. Yes, the air is thick and clouds the mind.
They even faced enchantments leading them into overpowering unbelief. But they
always had the signs and promises of Aslan, if only they would remember then. And
yet even when they forget them and are full of shame and regret, he has words
of comfort:
“Think of that no more. I will not always be
scolding. You have done the work for which I sent you into Narnia.”
Aslan is always forgiving. Sometimes
he rebukes and punishes, but he always forgives those who care to be forgiven.
Really, in the end, Aslan is why I feel I will be rereading this series many
times.
And just to end on a light note,
two quotes that made laugh quite hard when I read them.
“Where
I come from,” said Jill…, “they don’t think much of men who are bossed about by
their wives.”
“Shalt think otherwise when thou hast a man
of thine own, I warrant you,” said the Knight…
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