The Silver Chair: Chapter 16 “The Healing of Harms”
C.S. Lewis Read-Along, Vol. 4, Issue 17
Background: Lewis said The Silver Chair was about “the continued war against the powers of darkness.” What is the end result of that war? We go home.
Quote:
“But,” said Eustace, looking at Aslan. “Hasn’t he—er—died?”
“Yes,” said the Lion in a very quiet voice, almost (Jill thought) as if he were laughing. “He has died. Most people have, you know. Even I have. There are very few who haven’t.”
If you remember from our introduction to The Silver Chair, we discussed a 1961 letter in which Lewis said the book was about “the continued war against the powers of darkness.” What is the end result of that war? We go home.1
The first part of their journey involves a brief moment of terror for Jill. She woke up in a cave and immediately assumed she was back in the Underworld. Not only do our eyes have to adjust to a new world of light, but so too does our psyche. Quickly, she realizes that’s not the case, and she remembers the delicious meal they had the night before.2
Once awake, Jill meets Glimfeather again. The owl, the first Narnian she met, tells her that Rilian has already left, and she and Eustace are to follow. But she can’t get any more information out of him because he falls asleep.
Next, Orruns the faun tells her that two centaurs3 have agreed to carry her and Eustace back to Cair Paravel.4 Another centaur, Cloudbirth, a famous healer, is coming to look at Puddleglum’s burnt foot.5
In their goodbyes to the marshwiggle, they call him “the best friend in the world.” He once again begins listing off future calamitous possibilities. Jill says that despite his doleful appearance, he really is happy. Though he talks as if he is afraid of everything, he’s actually as brave as a lion. She hugs him and kisses his face. This elicits perhaps the only self-congratulatory statement from Puddleglum, “I wouldn’t have dreamt of her doing that. Even though I am a good-looking chap.”
As he does in other places in Narnia, Lewis elevates the ordinary during this journey. During their honorific but uncomfortable ride on the centaurs’ backs, the children learn much about their couriers, the Narnian countryside, and even Aslan.6 Eustace and Jill marvel in the simple pleasures of hearing the animals and trees greet them and breathing the fresh air.
When they arrive at Cair Paravel, the scene turns quickly from celebratory to solemn. Aslan had met King Caspian on the sea and instructed him to return home to see his son. They have a brief interaction as Caspian is carried on his bed. The king raises his hand to bless the prince before his head falls back in death.
Jill says, “I wish I was at home.” Eustace nods. Then they hear, “I have come.” Aslan has arrived. As they look on Him, everything else fades away, and they find they are on His mountain. Think how different this scene is from their attempts to get into Narnia in chapter one. There are no chants and no ideas of drawing strange symbols. Jill essentially whispers a prayer, Eustace agrees, and Aslan answers.
