Because it centers around a civil war between Telmarine humans and Old Narnians, what constitutes courage is a constant question in Prince Caspian. Certainly, there are many opportunities for characters to demonstrate courage, from night-time treks through unknown territory, to engaging in open war, to individual combat. Each example of courageous action adds to the book’s argument that courage is one of the highest and best virtues a person can have. Caspian shows courage and keeps his head in dangerous circumstances when he leaves his home to escape being murdered by his uncle, King Miraz, and when he finds himself in the den of three Old Narnians, one of whom (Nickabrik) wants to murder him, too. Then, despite his youth and inexperience, he agrees to lead the Old Narnian forces, gaining their trust through his willingness to risk his own safety and life on the battlefield. Similarly, Reepicheep the talking mouse shows courage far beyond what one would expect for his small size and the Old Narnians universally love and respect him for it. Even Miraz values courage, albeit mixed with vanity, when he agrees to face Peter in individual combat after his advisors Glozelle and Sopespeian imply that not doing so would be cowardly.
However, while the book places a high value on courage, it still takes a very forgiving and gentle view of those whose courage fails at one time or another. Although it perpetually portrays Susan as scared—from her fear of the dark in the ruins of Cair Paravel, to her refusal to trust Lucy’s claims about Aslan unless she sees him with her own eyes—when Susan finally comes face to face with Aslan, he doesn’t upbraid her for her poor choices. Instead, he has compassion for her, understanding that her actions arise from listening to her fears too much. He restores her confidence before he leads the children into the endgame of the Narnian war. Although the novel thus acknowledges that fear is a very human—and thus forgivable—offense, the book encourages its readers to value examples of courage and to strive to emulate them.
Related Themes from Other Texts
Fear and Courage ThemeTracker
Fear and Courage Quotes in Prince Caspian
“Oh, do let’s leave it alone,” said Susan. “We can try it in the morning. If we’ve got to spend the night here, I don’t want an open door at my back and a great big black hole that anything might come out of, besides the draft and the damp. And it’ll soon be dark.”
“Susan! How can you?” said Lucy with a reproachful glance. But both the boys were too much excited to take any notice of Susan’s advice. They worked at the ivy with their hands and with Peter’s pocket-knife till the knife broke. After that they used Edmund’s.
“Oh, don’t you know?” he said. “Aslan is the great Lion who comes from over the sea.”
“Who has been telling you all this nonsense?” said the King in a voice of thunder. Caspian was frightened and said nothing.
“Your Royal Highness,” said King Miraz, […] “I insist upon being answered. Look me in the face. Who has been telling you this pack of lies?”
“N—Nurse,” faltered Caspian, and burst into tears.
“Stop that noise,” said his uncle, taking Caspian by the shoulders and giving him a shake. “Stop it. And never let me catch you talking—or thinking either—about all those silly stories again. There never were those Kings and Queens. How could there be two Kings at the same time? And there’s no such person as Aslan. And there are no such things as lions. And there never was a time when animals could talk. Do you hear?”
Up till now neither Caspian nor the others had really been thinking of a war. They had some vague idea, perhaps, of an occasional raid on some Human farmstead or of attacking a party of hunters, if it ventured too far into these southern wilds. But, in the main, they had thought only of living to themselves in woods and caves and building up an attempt at Old Narnia in hiding. As soon as Glenstorm had spoken, everyone felt much more serious.
“Do you mean a real war to drive Miraz out of Narnia?” asked Caspian.
“What else,” said the Centaur [...].
“Is it possible, Glenstorm?” asked the Badger [...].
“Tarva and Alambil have met in the halls of high heaven, and on earth a son of Adam has once more arisen to rule and name the creatures […]. Our council at the Dancing Lawn must be a council of war,” [said Glenstorm].
“I won’t go,” said Nikabrik. With all these Humans and beasts about, there must be a Dwarf here to see that the Dwarves are fairly treated.”
“Thimbles and thunderstorms!” cried Trumpkin in a rage. “Is that how you speak to the King? Send me, Sire, I’ll go.”
“But I thought you didn’t believe in the Horn, Trumpkin,” said Caspian.
“No more I do, your Majesty. But what’s that got to do with it? I might as well die on a wild goose chase as die here. You are my King. I know the difference between giving advice and taking orders. You’ve had my advice, and now it’s the time for orders.”
“I will never forget this, Trumpkin,” said Caspian.
While they were doing this, Edmund asked, anxiously, “What do you think of him, Peter?”
“Tough,” said Peter. “Very tough. I have a chance if I can keep him on the hop till his weight and short wind come against him—in this hot sun too. To tell the truth, I haven’t much chance else. Give my love to—to everyone at home, Ed, if he gets me. Here he comes into the lists again. So long, old chap. Goodbye, Doctor. And I say, Ed, say something specially nice to Trumpkin. He's been a brick.”
