The penultimate book of the Chronicles of Narnia takes Eustace, known to readers of “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,” and his classmate Jill on a perilous quest. Prince Rilian, the son of King Caspian, has been missing for years and must be found before the king dies.
Like most of the books in the Narnia series, this one too begins and ends in the prosaic world of England, more specifically in a “progressive” school (which the narrator openly mocks) that Eustace attends. Eustace has definitely improved after his adventures in Narnia, and as he helps his schoolmate Jill escape from a gang of bullies, the two suddenly discover a door leading to Narnia. The boy and girl are soon separated, and Jill has to overcome her fears when she meets a lion, which of course turns out to be Aslan. Aslan sends them to find Prince Rilian, the only son of the now aged Caspian (as we know from previous books, time flows at a different pace in Narnia) and gives Jill certain instructions and clues, which unfortunately she won’t always remember.
During their journey, the two are accompanied by another of Lewis’s memorable and quirky characters, Puddleglum the Marshwiggle, who despite his innate pessimism turns out to be a true friend. They meet the mysterious Lady of Green Kirtle who directs them to the City of Giants. Let me mention that they are supposed to play a rather peculiar role in a big party there…
In the last chapters of this strongly allegorical book, the protagonists descend into an underworld, meet Prince Rilian, who has obviously been bewitched, and have to overcome the danger of materialism when they are pressured to deny the existence of Aslan and the “superworld.” “. Only then can they ascend back to Narnia.
“The Silver Chair” is not one of the best Chronicles of Narnia books. Readers of the other volumes will find certain events quite predictable. Eustace and Jill never become the full characters that Peter, Edmund, Susan and Lucy were. Only the bizarre Marshwiggle shows some of Lewis’s former creativity in creating strange and memorable creatures.