From the moment that Eustace falls from the sheer cliff on Aslan's mountain in The Silver Chair, we're confronted with the idea of death. But the discussion of mortality is kind of a peculiar one because death really has very little sting in this work. While there is real sorrow at the deaths of the King and Queen of Narnia, Aslan reveals that they will be alive on his mountain.
Perhaps it is this trade-off of existences that makes Puddleglum so willing to give his life for Aslan and to put a bold face on things while doing so. For Narnians like Puddleglum and Rilian, living and dying is all part of the same continuum, so sticking to the plan and living to the high moral standards of a Narnian is far more important in the grand scheme of things.
Questions About Mortality
- Why is Eustace so depressed to find that Caspian is now an old man?
- Other than personal/familial reasons, why is it important for Rilian to make it back to Cair Paravel before King Caspian dies?
- How does the fear of death change the behavior of the adventurers in The Silver Chair, if at all?
- How does Lewis deal with the problem of mortality in The Silver Chair? Do you think it is a central issue? Why?
Chew on This
The children's preoccupation with finding comfort while journeying across Ettinsmoor paradoxically puts them in greater danger than if they were to stay out of doors and endure the cold and hard living.
Lewis tackles the issue of mortality with Jill and Eustace by waiting until they've gained strength from their adventures and have learned to trust Aslan so that his young readers will be less fearful of the prospect of death.