Review of Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
I think I have struck upon something, if I want to be transported to a magical world, I need to stand in a train station in England. While Harry Potter’s journey took a little more faith that running at a concrete column would not obliterate you and instead transport you safely to the other side the Pevensie children just simply begin their adventure while sitting on a railway seat awaiting their appropriate trains.
We meet back up with the Penvensie children a year after their return from Narnia while they prepare to head off to boarding school. The children land in a middle of a thicket of trees, while it feels familiar nothing looks familiar. As they start exploring they come to the realization that they are in the ruins of Cair Paravel and a great deal of time must have passed in Narnia. They aren’t sure why they are here or what has brought them back. Saving the life of a dwarf named Trumpkin enlightens them to the plight of Prince Caspian and Old Narnia versus King Miraz and the Telmarines.
“Wouldn't it be dreadful if some day in our own world, at home,
men started going wild inside, like the animals here, and still
look like men, so that you'd never know which were which?”
Lucy to Susan
Once again the children are faced with the forces of good versus evil. Can they trust themselves enough to follow the right path or do they still require outside guidance? Susan has somewhat taken on Edmund’s role in this book and is constantly snippety to her siblings and doubting their worth. Edmund seems to have grown some from his experiences in the first book, as when faced with backing Lucy he remembers his betrayal and how she was right in her belief of Narnia and Aslan.
Aslan takes a more backseat in this edition and allows the children more freedom to find their path. He tries to gently nudge them by allowing Lucy to see him, when she is unable to persuade them to follow the path she wishes to take they trudge along a path into danger. Aslan then reveals himself to her again and tells her she must either convince them to follow her or take the path she knows to be right on her own. These types of subtle hints to children can demonstrate the principle of “just because your friends do XXX doesn’t mean you should too.” It is easy to get swept up in peer pressure and not feel strong enough to stand up for yourself and take a different path.
Can’t wait to start the next book in the series.
[Notice: Original posting 2014-01-19 at Plethora of Books Blog: http://bookchallenges.weebly.com]
Tags: 2014, Children's, Classics