The Silver Chair Mortality Quotes

Eustace is overwhelmed to see that his great friend, Caspian, is now an old man. He feels as though his friend's life has been taken from him, even though Eustace realizes that Narnia time runs differently from England time and that Caspian really has had an entire life. Or perhaps it is that Eustace feels like he's been deprived of his friend's youth by the wonky space-time continuum issue.

Rilian finds that his mother has been attacked by a venomous snake and there is little that can be done to save her. Coming face-to-face with his mother's death will quite literally change Rilian's life and place him in mortal danger.

Jill doesn't realize at this point why the giantesses are boo-hooing over her—she's just trying to be cute and find a way out of Harfang—but the truth is, of course, that she and Scrubb are destined to be man-pies. Lewis takes pains to show that when the characters think they are in the lap of luxury, they are really in the most danger, while conversely, when they feel they are in a dangerous and dismal place, they are really closest to achieving their goals.

Adventures have a way of putting you into these kinds of life or death situations. Puddleglum amplifies the nastiness of their situation—being chased by giants and dogs into the Underworld—by stating the situation exactly as it is. He's not one to sugarcoat the possibility of an unpleasant death. Puddleglum, is, however, resigned to the fact that all living things die, and this gives him a practicality and bravery that serves them well on their mission.

While many of us might think of immortality as a cool thing, this is not so for Narnians. "Long-livers" signal major evil for them, since they've had some bad experiences with immortal beings in the past.

Rilian, who is still enchanted at this point, seems to be making light of murder here. Jill is immediately disgusted and tells him he will be an awful tyrant. Rilian had not considered before that his overthrow and murder of a rightful sovereign would be considered a bad thing. Enchantment is funny like that.

Aslan does, in fact, tell Jill Pole that she is to search for the lost prince until she finds him, dies in the attempt, or is sent back home. It's a bleak-sounding truth, but beyond the fear of mortality, there is the consolation of doing one's duty. And that is something that Puddleglum won't let them forget.

Rilian has awakened from his enchantment and finally vanquished his mother's killer, the witch Queen of Underland. He's glad to have killed her snake form, rather than the female one, which seems a little odd on account of how she was a murderous witch and all.

Both Rilian and Puddleglum, true born Narnians, have very little regard for death. They are creatures of principle who pride themselves on their allegiance to Aslan and everything the Lion stands for. The prince is encouraged further by the appearance of Aslan's device on his previously blank armor—like a sign of favor that promises protection and reward no matter what happens to their bodies.

The death of King Caspian after all of their efforts to restore Rilian to him makes the children feel like they've failed at their mission. But in the end, they weren't meant to save Caspian's life; they were meant to preserve his reign by returning his heir in time to receive his blessing and take the throne of Narnia. Eustace has the added pain of losing a good friend and leader—at least for the moment.

The children have just seen the old King Caspian die outside of Cair Paravel in Narnia, and now are speaking with a young, living Caspian on Aslan's mountain. Aslan wants the children to see that there are different ways of being alive—or rather, that death is not the last word when it comes to human existence. Caspian will continue to live and thrive with Aslan, despite the fact that his life in Narnia is over. If you're thinking Aslan's mountain sounds a bit like heaven right now, well, we're with you on that one.