Name: Tuan Huynh Anh Nguyen
Course: Monsters and Philosophy PHIL-1501
Lecturer: Dr. Jennifer H. Weed
Date: Dec 5th 2024
Book Review – The Magician’s Nephew
The Magician’s Nephew, written by C.S, Lewis, is a story about exploring the origin of a
magical world that has drawn the imagination of many generations of readers. First established in
1955, the book introduces audience to the dawn of Narnia and the events that set the foundation
for The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, a book later in the series. Throughout the book,
courage and moral choices serve as the core values that led Digory Kirke and Polly Plummer to a
thrilling adventure. Timeless themes, such as friendship, responsibility, and the nature of good and
evil, are emphasized when they transformed the gray, soulless world in the hands of Jadis, to the
colorful, lively land where Aslan’s song creates life and replaces the emptiness. When
supplemented with other books in the series, The Magician’s Nephew’s richness in plot and
characters reveals the background behind iconic figures of Narnia, namely the origin of the White
Witch, the mysterious wardrobe, and the lamppost that lights the way. Not only in the virtual world,
Lewis’s story reflects the reality of the world that we are living in. The book encourages audiences
from different generations to delve into the most original virtues of a human’s heart, ranging from
making the right decisions, acting bravely, and trusting in the possibility of wonder.
The Magician’s Nephew tells the story of Digory Kirke and Polly Plummer, two children
who stumble upon a magical adventure in Victorian London (Lewis, 1955). Digory’s eccentric
Uncle Andrew tricks Polly into touching a yellow ring, leading to her being transported to a
mysterious dimension known as the Woods Between the Worlds. And since then, their journey
begins. Digory follows to rescue Polly, and together, they discover this wood is a nexus to
countless other worlds. The two curious young children are attracted to an ancient, dying world
called Charn, where they encounter the malicious Queen Jadis. With her powerful abilities, Jadis
follows them back to London and causes mass chaos. To reverse the consequences, they use the
magical rings to escape to another world along with Uncle Andrew and others. The story transitions
to a formless void, just before the lion Aslan’s voice creates Narnia from nothingness, with
astonishing landscapes, creatures, and magic. Digory, after witnessing this magnificent wonder, is
motivated by Aslan’s power and kindness and resists selfish temptations to help him retrieve an
enchanted apple which protects Narnia from Jadis’s destructive corruption. The apple is then used
to plant a protective tree that prevents the White Witch from coming back for many years to come.
With his grave kindness, Aslan even allows Digory to take one of these magical fruits back to
Earth where he can use it on his terminally ill mother and bring her back to normal life. In the end,
Digory plants the core of the apple in his backyard, in which grows into the tree that eventually
provides the wood for the wardrobe leading to Narnia in the later sequel (Lewis, 1955).
The Magician’s Nephew’s characters are a hardly forgettable group that represent diverse
aspects of personalities and moral choices. Together, they accurately describe the praised values
as well as dark corners of the society that highlights the unpredictability of human nature. Digory
Kirke, the protagonist of the story, is flawed and unable to resist curiosity and temptation in the
beginning. However, as the story develops, Digory proved himself as an intelligent, caring, and
brave boy. Aside from his deep love for his ill mother, Digory learns about responsibility and
morality along the way, motivating him to retrieve the magical apple and protect Narnia, a bigger
cause than his own selfish benefits. He is accompanied by Polly Plummer, an adventurous and
practical girl whose reasoning prevents Digory from acting impulsively. Another relative of
Digory’s is Uncle Andrew Ketterly, an eccentric and morally ambiguous person. He is an amateur
magician who takes part in setting off the risky events throughout the story with his recklessness.
This is explained by how he manipulates the two children into carrying out his experiment by using
the magical rings, a sign of selfishness and cowardness. Also, his narrow and self-centered
perspective stops him from seeing the wonders of Narnia. At the other end of the moral scale,
Queen Jadis represents a destructive, power-hungry tyrant. Her immense power and ruthlessness
killed most lives in Charn and creates a terrifying name for herself. Even after escaping from Charn,
her presence poses a lasting threat to Earth as well as the newborn land of Narnia. Opposite from
Jadis, the great lion and creator of Narnia, Aslan reflects kindness, wisdom, and authority. Trust
and respect come everywhere Aslan is present for his compassion, understanding, and majesty.
Apart from these main characters, supporting figures also depict various forces that shape the
context of the story. Mrs. Kirke, Digory’s mother, is always gravely ill throughout the story.
However, it does not stop her from being a kind and gentle woman. Eventually, her healing in the
end thanks to the magical apple sparks hope and restoration even under the most pessimistic
circumstances. Furthermore, the first King of Narnia, Frank the Cabby, is in fact a humble and
good-hearted cab driver from London. Aslan realizes in him a simple wisdom and innate decency,
which are the values that he wants to develop in Narnia.
From a philosophical perspective, The Magician’s Nephew sparks various questions about
human nature, the concept of an almighty creator, evil, and the factors that affect moral choices in
the society. In the latter part of the story, Aslan sings Narnia into existence, creating a theologically
majestic scene. The whole joyful process differentiates from a typical mechanical production of
any materialistic matter. It informs that creativity and harmony is formed when the creator’s will
is satisfied. Throughout the adventure, Digory’s bravery and moral choices are also something to
be complimented. Instead of taking the enchanted apple for his own benefits, Digory obeys Aslan’s
request and returns it to protect Narnia. This highlights the concept of free will, ethical decisionmaking, and the two rationales that are always conflicting in each person, personal desire and the
greater good. The dilemma resembles the story of Adam and Eve, where human choices matter
significantly in shaping who they are as well as moral realities. Moreover, it would be a mistake
not to mention evil as an indispensable factor in the book, represented by the White Witch, Jadis.
Opposite to Digory, Jadis is willing to destroy anything in her world to fulfill her greed for power
and control. Therefore, we must question, is evil innately born within each one, or is it formed and
shaped upon our own actions and choices? Last but not least, Uncle Andrew’s figure also depicts
an unfortunate reality in the materialistic world. He lacks the creative perception to hear Aslan’s
song or appreciate the world that is created with it, indicating a dull utilitarian mind that seeks only
manipulation, not understanding.
The Magician’s Nephew is a remarkable piece of literature on many aspects. It fosters a
captivating origin story that supports another book in the series, The Chronicles of Narnia. Not
only great as a standalone story, the richness in plot also answers questions about the origin of
Narnia through Aslan’s song, the making of the wardrobe, as well as how the White Witch is born.
As mentioned above, the book is noticeably deep in terms of philosophy and theology. Different
themes applied in the story, ranging from free will, temptation, and redemption, to the beauty of
creation, make the overall journey entertaining to readers and provoke thoughts on human nature.
The diverse settings that take place from the beginning to end indicate a rich world-building,
described vividly and imaginatively. Also, on the characters aspect, Lewis did an amazing job in
creating a fluent flow for Digory’s personal growth and responsibility, facilitated with his internal
struggles and eventual redemption. Overall, by combining humor, adventure, and emotional depth,
the book would be a shame to be missed out for readers of all ages who appreciate a meaningful
story.
However, there is still room for improvement for several parts of the story. While the mix
of characters is engaging to readers, some figures such as Uncle Andrew and Polly can be analyzed
in more details as they are relatively one-dimensional and lack cognitive diversity as well as deep
development. The moral lessons in the book might be seen as too explicit, especially when Aslan
is mentioned with his power of the creator, and highlighted in Digory’s moral dilemmas. Turning
to the plot, the pace as characters develop through different stages of the story might seems uneven,
which is slow at the beginning but rushes through some parts of the middle that involve the magical
adventure. This could feel unbalanced to some readers and make the story less interesting to follow.
Another drawback to be noticed is that compared to other books in the series, The Magician’s
Nephew seems less action-packed or emotionally intense, which can be seen in its relatively small
battles and casts.
In general, The Magician’s Nephew is a must-read for any generation. For the beloved fans
of the series as well as newcomers who just know of Narnia for the first time, the book offers a
backstory that enriches the entire series and stand out as an individual novel. Its themes which
emphasize human’s core values that has been praised since the beginning of time are relevant
across multiple cultures, making it endure over a long time. Also, Lewis’s creativity in fantasizing
a world full of wonders and possibilities opens up to the readers and lead them into a mesmerizing
escape from the practical monotonous reality. Yet, it does not mean that the book is all fairy tales
and hoax. This prequel to The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe provides moral and spiritual
questions about how our free will can resist temptation and fulfill out responsibility. It provokes
philosophical thoughts that are deep but not overwhelming, creating an environment where readers
can change or strengthen their own values and beliefs. That is why the story is captivating not only
to young children but also adults who seek to appreciate different layers of meaning and promote
personal growth. Furthermore, Digory’s, as well as other characters’ struggles and miseries are
relatable to readers, helping in seeing their own image reflected in the story itself. Finally, the book
immerses readers in miracles and wonders, reveals the beauty of imagination in ordinary life, and
encourages them to think more deeply about the choices they make that shapes the path they will
walk on, recognizing both the greater good and personal values.
In conclusion, The Magician’s Nephew is more than just an impractical fantasy. Lewis’s
imagination reflects on the nature of life and morality, leaving a lasting impact on different
generations. It is certainly a wonderful book to read for the inspiration, the entertainment, and the
deep thoughts that it brings.
Reference
C.S. Lewis. The Magician’s Nephew. (New York: HarperCollins, 1955).