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
At the sight of Aslan, the Telmarine soldiers turn pale. The Dwarves’ mouths hang open and a few of Nikabrik’s friends edge away. The talking beasts press forward and greet Aslan with adoration and delight. Peter forces his way forward and presents Caspian, who kisses Aslan’s paw. In answer to Aslan’s question, he confesses he’s not sure if he's ready to rule Narnia, since he’s still “only a kid,” but Aslan takes his humility as a promising sign. Overestimating his own capacities would be a sure indication that Caspian wasn’t, in fact, ready.
Having sorted the countryside into believers and unbelievers, Aslan returns to the field and shows himself to his most faithful followers, the Old Narnians who not only kept the faith but also risked their lives to restore Aslan’s country. Their courage and self-sacrifice stands in stark contrast to Telmarine selfishness and oppression, and Caspian shows himself to be a worthy king of the renewed Narnia when he humbly confesses his inexperience. Guided by Aslan, the book suggests, he will make a king at least as excellent as High King Peter once was.
Themes
Then the mice approach Aslan, bearing a grievously wounded Reepicheep on a stretcher. Lucy who anoints each wound with a drop of her cordial and the gallant mouse springs back to his feet and bows to Aslan. Suddenly realizing his tail is gone, sputters, then begs the lion or Lucy to fix it, because a tail is “the honor and glory of a Mouse.” Aslan replies that he sometimes finds Reepicheep too mindful of his honor. Reepicheep answers that a mouse’s very small size necessitates a special care over one’s dignity. Aslan only relents after he realizes that the rest of the mice plan to cut off their own tails to spare Reepicheep shame. Aslan remembers how other, ancient mice gnawed through the ropes that bound him to the Stone Table. For their help, he granted Narnian mice the ability to speak. Now, causes their descendant Reepicheep’s tail to regrow.
Despite—or because of—his tiny size, Reepicheep showed extraordinary courage in the war against the Telmarines, and it’s clear he was willing to lay down his life for their cause. But this doesn’t make Reepicheep perfect, and Aslan gently chides him for his excessive pride. As a divine figure, Aslan cares about the virtue of his subjects as well as their safety and flourishing. But, when the rest of the mice show their loyalty and devotion to Reepicheep’s gallant leadership, he relents and performs a small miracle for the tiny creature. This miracle points back to the earlier book and Aslan’s own miraculous resurrection, further cementing his role as a Christ figure in the world of Narnia and suggesting that his presence there now ushers in a new Golden Age.
Themes
Aslan commands Peter to bestow the Knighthood of the Order of the Lion on Caspian, who immediately makes Trufflehunter, Trumpkin, and Reepicheep knights of the order, too. Then Caspian names Doctor Cornelius as his Lord Chancellor and the Bulgy Bear as official Marshal of the Lists. The Old Narnians confine the captured Telmarine soldiers in Beruna. The Narnian forces gather for a massive celebration bonfire and feast which stretches late into the night, filled with good food and rich wine courtesy of Bacchus, Silenus, and the Maenads. Long after the stars come out, the last Narnians drift contentedly off to sleep.
The Narnians’ celebrations show that goodness, righteousness, and order have finally been restored to Narnia, and the incredible feast which the gods of fertility and merriment make for the forces foreshadows how Narnia will flourish under Caspian’s capable rule. And his rule will be so good, in part, because he has no desire to hoard power for himself—instead, he surrounds himself with wise counselors, advisors, and friends.
Themes
The next day, animal messengers race across Narnia. They announce that Caspian is now king, and that Narnia again belongs to talking beasts and magical creatures. Anyone who wants to stay will be welcome. Anyone who doesn’t, can come to the Ford of Beruna in five days’ time, and Aslan will give them a new home. Some people greet the news with delight, others with fear. But still, on the appointed day, many show up. They find an empty doorframe made of stakes, surrounded by Aslan, Peter, Caspian, Susan, Edmund, Lucy, Trumpkin, Trufflehunter, Lord Cornelius, Glenstorm, Reepicheep, and others. Everyone wears grand silks and jeweled armor and jewelry taken from Miraz’s storerooms. The rest of the Old Narnians look on.
Aslan has restored order in Narnia, a land he wants humans to rule but not to oppress or control. Only those Telmarines willing to live in the new world can stay, as those who will resent the changes may poison the new peace. And while Aslan shows himself and the representatives of true Narnia in splendor by the door, they offer no challenge to the departing Telmarines, content to forgive the abuses of the past and let them go in peace.
Themes
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Aslan tells the Telmarines he will send them back to their own world—the world they came from even before they lived in Telmar—which they no longer remember. Half of the Telmarines greet this news with fear, thinking he means to slaughter them; half feel relief that they come from a better place than this world, with its “queer, nasty, unnatural creatures.” Aslan explains that the Telmarines descend from a band of shipwrecked pirates who took over an island in Earth’s South Sea. During one of their frequent squabbles, six pirates and their indigenous wives fled into a mountain cave where they stumbled into one of the once-common cracks between worlds. These 12 landed in barren Telmar, and their descendants grew into a proud and fierce people there. Many years later, after a famine, they invaded and conquered Narnia.
The Telmarines’ reaction to the offer of repatriation—they return to their true homeland—demonstrates the flaws that made them rule Narnia badly: some of them exhibit a lack of faith and trust in Aslan, while the rest show arrogance, pride, and self-interest. They believe themselves to be superior to the Narnian creatures, and therefore they ruled them abusively. The Telmarines’ history on Earth—and now readers can note that their name, literally means “distant sailors” (combining the Greek root tel-, or “far”, with “marine”)—mirrors and foreshadows their history in Narnia, which is one of violence, abuse, and oppression. Only those who have listened to and decided to stay in Narnia under Aslan’s rule seem destined to break the cycle of violence.
Themes
Caspian says he wishes he came from more honorable lineage after hearing the story, but Aslan reminds him that he descends from Lord Adam and Lady Eve and that alone is honor enough. After a long pause, a brave Telmarine steps forward and volunteers to be the first through the door. Aslan replies that his bravery means that magic is on him, and he will have a good future in his new home. Then Aslan breathes on the man and sends him through the door. Everyone watches as he steps through the frame and vanishes. The Telmarines begin to wail; some of them demand that the Narnians send some of their own people through to prove that it’s safe.
Caspian laments his violent ancestors, but Aslan reminds him that humans inherit an equal capacity for good and evil from their original ancestors, Adam and Eve, whom God cast out from the Garden of Eden for disobedience but whose human race God blessed throughout history (according to Christian theology). And because humans can be good or bad, faith and virtue become active choices a person must make, not passive values they inherit. And the Telmarines’ inability to trust Aslan mirrors their own flaws. They fear him because they themselves are untrustworthy. Unused to honesty and truth, they do not know how to handle it.
Themes
Reepicheep volunteers, but Aslan holds him back. Peter turns to Edmund and Lucy and says, “Our time’s up.” To the younger siblings’ surprise, Susan leads them back to the trees, where their school clothes and other belongings wait in bundles. Earlier that morning, Peter and Susan had a long talk with Aslan, who told them (among other things) that it was time for them to go home and that Peter and Susan will never return to Narnia. They’re too old now. Lucy feels bad about this horrible luck, but Peter replies that it doesn’t feel as devastating as she might think. When she’s older, she’ll understand.
Although it’s clear that all four of the children—especially Lucy—might like to stay in Narnia, Aslan has different plans for them. And they model the self-sacrifice and honor of good leaders when they follow his commands without complaint. Narnia is no longer theirs to rule: it is now Caspian’s. And their continued presence will unbalance the natural hierarchy.
Themes
When Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy return to the glade, their royal garments exchanged for rumpled school clothes, some of the Telmarines jeer. But the other creatures bow and bid them fond and tearful farewells. Caspian tries to return the horn to Susan, but she refuses. Susan puts her hands on Peter’s shoulders, Lucy and Edmund do the same behind her, and the Telmarines join the chain behind the children. In a long line, they all walk through the door. As they do, Narnia fades out and the train station fades in. Although it feels a little flat and dreary after Narnia, the familiarity of England comforts the children. Peter remarks on what a nice time they had, and Edmund realizes he left his new flashlight in Narnia.
The defeated Telmarines continue to show their lack of respect for others by making fun of the kings and queens of Narnia—although they may not look like much in their Earth clothes, their actions in the preceding days should have been more than enough to prove their courage and dignity. But the children refuse to sink to the Telmarines’ level, and they ignore the noise. Instead, they lead the Telmarines by their own example out of Narnia and back toward Earth, thus proving that English schoolchildren can have the full dignity and power of kings and queens if they always and everywhere trust in Aslan and follow his guidance.
Themes
