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Chapter 12: Sorcery and Sudden Vengeance
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Prince Caspian, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Good vs. Evil
Faith and Belief
Power vs. Leadership
Fear and Courage
Summary
Analysis
After their breakfast, Peter tells Caspian that Aslan, Susan, and Lucy are nearby, but that Aslan will act in his own time. Until then, they must do the best they can on their own. He suggests that they challenge Miraz to single combat with Peter to decide the war. Caspian can’t represent his side because of his injury. Trufflehunter doubts that Miraz, who has the advantage, will accept. But even if he doesn’t, Peter says, just asking about it will buy them some time. He asks if Doctor Cornelius has a pen and paper and prepares to dictate a letter to Miraz.
The book clearly argues that while believing in Aslan is a good and necessary thing for Narnians, they still must act in their own interests rather than simply waiting for Aslan to save them. In this way, it yet again connects faith with service to the common good. And Peter immediately gets to model the kind of leadership worthy of the common good—which involves both courage and self-sacrifice—when he volunteers to risk his own life in single combat with Miraz to stop the general bloodshed on both sides of the war.
Themes
After a short pause to remember the flowery language he used to use in his royal letters during the Golden Age of Narnia, Peter begins. Identifying himself as High King of Narnia and the Lone Islands, he addresses his letter to Miraz, onetime Lord Protector and now alleged king of Narnia. In order to prevent further bloodshed, the letter says, Peter offers to fight Miraz to prove Caspian is the rightful king. The fight will also prove that Miraz himself is guilty of treachery, first in withholding the throne from Caspian and second in the “most abhominable [...] bloody, and unnatural murder” of Caspian’s father (he insists on the “h” in abhominable). Then, he gives Edmund authority to arrange the details of the challenge if Miraz accepts. He decides that Wimbleweather and Glenstorm will go with Edmund to deliver the challenge.
The longer the children remain in Narnia, the more they remember their past selves’ royalty. This hints at the voluntary nature of faith, which requires a believer to continually choose to follow his or her beliefs. Likewise, the longer they act like kings and queens, the more Peter and his siblings feel like kings and queens. Peter stresses the word “abhominable” with an h, contrary to its modern English spelling, “abominable” because the “h” points to one of the word’s roots, “hominum” or the Latin word for “man.” He stresses the inhumanity of Miraz’s abominable actions, suggesting that he’s not worthy of leading his own fellow humans, much less Narnia as a whole. And it points to the Chronicles of Narnia’s larger claim that one’s actions and character make one a “person,” not one’s species—thus, talking animals with courage and dignity are more humane and more human than the power-hungry and cruel Miraz.
Themes
About an hour later, the Telmarine lords Glozelle and lord Sopespian notice the Old Narnians’ approach. They recognize the centaur and the giant, but not the boy. Noting the defiant look on his face and the fine armor he wears, they guess Edmund comes to issue a challenge. Miraz would be foolish to accept it, since his army holds the advantage, but Glozelle suggests that if he can be goaded into accepting, he and Sopespian might be able to use that to their advantage.
Thus far, readers have only met Miraz and Caspian as representatives of the Telmarine race. And while readers may have developed a strong sense that Caspian isn’t a typical Telmarine, the introduction of Glozelle and Sopespian confirms this beyond all doubt. Like their leader, they are selfish and power hungry, willing to do anything—even help their enemies kill their own king—to get it.
Themes
When Glozelle and Sopespian reach Miraz’s tent, they find him inside, fuming over the letter. Glozelle and Sopespian heavily insinuate that many knights would be afraid to face Edmund, much less his brother Peter. They thus goad Miraz with the implication that they will think of him as a coward (and possibly tell others) if he refuses. Thoroughly offended, Miraz declares he will accept the challenge, even though he had planned to refuse it, since (as everyone knows) the Telmarine army has the advantage. Glozelle and Sopespian smile as Miraz rushes from the tent to shout his acceptance to Edmund.
Glozelle and Sopespian goad Miraz into foolishly accepting the challenge by playing to his vanity. While he thinks he’s defending his courage and demonstrating fearlessness, Miraz really seems to be afraid of any challenges to his power, whether they come from inside or outside his own society. Having his people think him a coward would impact his ability to rule them through fear. In the end, he cares about no one and nothing but himself.
Themes
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After hearing that Miraz has accepted Peter’s challenge, a great commotion breaks out among the forces at Aslan’s How. The Old Narnians must select three field marshals to referee the combat. The oldest of the Three Bulgy Bears reminds High King Peter that in the old days, the bears had a longstanding right to supply a marshal of the lists for tournaments and combat. Trumpkin worries that the “good creature” will no doubt embarrass them by falling asleep or sucking his paws—he’s sucking them at the very moment, in fact!—but Peter cannot ignore the traditional right.
For Narnia to be restored, it must become a country for all its inhabitants once again, and that means that everyone must be included, as Peter’s actions in this moment insist. Nikabrik’s attempt to restore the rights of the Dwarves, even at the expense of others, has just been punished with his death. Peter won’t go down the same road. If the bears have a right to participate as marshals of the field, then he will support that right, no matter how silly it might make the Narnians look to the Telmarines.
Themes
Reepicheep asks to be selected as one of the marshals, pointing out that the mice were offended that their trumpeter—the only one in the army—wasn’t included in the parlay group. Wimbleweather breaks out in a loud guffaw but gets ahold of himself before Reepicheep can figure out where the noise (so far above his head it sounded like thunder) came from. Peter appreciates Reepicheep’s request but declines to honor it, on the grounds that some humans, maybe even Miraz, fear mice and the Old Narnians can’t risk the Telmarines claiming they cheated in the fight. In the end, he selects Wimbleweather and Glenstorm to represent the Old Narnian side again, in addition to the bear. As he and Edmund walk off to finish preparations, Edmund asks if Peter really can win. That, Peter replies, is what he plans to find out when he faces Miraz.
As the tiniest of the Narnians—but also one of the bravest—Reepicheep proves that good things come in small packages, and that courage has more to do with trust and faith—in one’s own abilities, in the eventual triumph of good over evil, in the power of Aslan and all that he represents—than in brute strength and size. Peter gently denies Reepicheep’s request, letting him down in a way that soothes any wounded pride the mouse might feel; he thus demonstrates how good leadership entails seeing and honoring the value in all of one’s supporters, something Caspian will be wise to learn. This lesson contrasts with the evident frustration of Glozelle and Sopespian, who become traitorous when their leader, Miraz, fails to recognize their contributions adequately.
Themes
