How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Page)
Quote #1
All sorts of things, horrid things, went on which at an ordinary school would have been found out and stopped in half a term; but at this school, they weren't. Or even if they were, the people who did them were not expelled or punished. The Head said they were interesting psychological cases and sent for them and talked to them for hours. (1.3)
Jill and Eustace unfortunately inhabit a school-world that turns the norms of justice and fairness on their heads. Conveniently, this leaves them itching to make their escape…
Quote #2
"Why were you so near the edge, Human Child?"
"I was showing off, Sir."
"That is a very good answer, Human Child. Do so no more. And now" (here for the first time the Lion's face became a little less stern) "the Boy is safe. I have blown him into Narnia. But your task will be the harder because of what you have done." (2.24)
Aslan is a figure to be both loved and feared, and for good reason. For one, he's a gigantic lion (cute, like a plushy, yet terrifying). For another, he's got that divinity thing going on, so he knows what you're thinking, and he knows your intentions. Jill gets this right away and knows better than to try lying to Aslan—even if she tries to lie to herself about her behavior.
Quote #3
"Lord King, slay me speedily as a great traitor: for by my silence I have destroyed your son." And [Drinian] told [Caspian] the story. Then Caspian caught up a battle-axe and rushed upon the Lord Drinian to kill him, and Drinian stood still as a stock for the death blow. But when the axe was raised, Caspian suddenly threw it away and cried out, "I have lost my queen and my son: shall I lose my friend also?" And he fell upon the Lord Drinian's neck and embraced him and both wept, and their friendship was not broken. (4.60)
Perhaps Caspian would have been justified in killing Drinian for withholding information that might have saved his son. But he chooses mercy and lenience because he can't break his heart anymore. And also because he's a good king.
Quote #4
"We've brought the anger of Aslan on us," [Puddleglum] said. "That's what comes of not attending to the signs. We're under a curse, I expect. If it was allowed, it would be the best thing we could do, to take these knives and drive them into our own hearts." (9.129)
Puddleglum is right to be freaked out about eating a talking animal—it's a huge taboo in Narnia—but he's taking his fear a little too far, considering that he hadn't done it on purpose. Also, Aslan is a merciful ruler who understands the intentions of his subjects and judges them carefully.
Quote #5
"Once and for all," said the prisoner, "I adjure you to set me free. By all fears and all loves, by the bright skies of Overland, by the great Lion, by Aslan himself, I charge you—" (11.166)
This is a moment of dual judgment in the story. On one side, we have Jill, Puddleglum, and Eustace struggling with common sense in the face of the Black Knight's call for justice. On the other, there is the mention of Aslan, which conjures up the idea of the mission and a sense of duty.
Quote #6
"Lie there, vile engine of sorcery," he said, "lest your mistress should ever use you for another victim." (11.168)
The newly freed Prince Rilian addresses the silver chair as though it were a sentient being, truly responsible for the suffering he's been through. He passes sentence on the device and then hacks it to pieces. (He definitely needs some fresh air.)
Quote #7
"[…] as for your Ladyship's design of putting me at the head of an army of Earthmen that so I may break out into the Overworld and there, by main force, make myself king over some nation that never did me wrong—murdering their natural lords and holding their throne as a bloody and foreign tyrant—now that I know myself, I do utterly abhor and renounce it as plain villainy." (12.172)
Now that Rilian has been freed from enchantment, he sees the queen's plans for what they truly are. But although his judgment has cleared in this respect, Rilian has a hard time seeing past her femininity: He's very glad in the end that she transforms into a serpent so he doesn't have to kill a "lady."
Quote #8
"My royal mother is avenged," said Rilian presently. "This is undoubtedly the same worm that I pursued in vain by the fountain in the forest of Narnia, so many years ago. All these years I have been the slave of my mother's slayer." (12.185)
Okay, we might have guessed that the queen was behind everything from the very beginning (but we haven't been enchanted). Greater and greater awareness comes to Rilian after he defeats the Queen of Underland.
Quote #9
For, with the strength of Aslan in them, Jill plied her crop on the girls and Eustace plied the flats of their swords on the boys so well that in two minutes all the bullies were running like mad, crying out "Murder! Fascists! Lions! It isn't fair." (16.241)
It's always such a funny thing for bullies when the shoe is on the other foot—they seem to have a very good sense of injustice when they feel it's being done to them. At this moment, otherworldly justice seems too much for the gang of bullies that had been pursuing Jill and Eustace when they left Experiment House. Now that Jill and Eustace have returned carrying sword and whip, they don't like a show of strength so very much.
Quote #10
When the police arrived and found no lion, no broken wall, and no convicts, and the Head behaving like a lunatic, there was an inquiry into the whole thing. And in the inquiry all sorts of things about Experiment House came out, and about ten people got expelled. After that, the Head's friends saw that the Head was no use as a Head, so they got her made an Inspector to interfere with other Heads. (16.242)
Justice comes to Experiment House after Jill and Eustace return in spectacular fashion. Aslan allows the children to use their Narnian clothes and weapons (and their friend Caspian) to face up to the bullies who were chasing them. Despite the chaos, it really is a fairy tale ending for Jill and Eustace.