The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
The other week I continued my read through Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia with The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (See the bottom of this post to my blog posts on all the books of the series).
This is another lovely story from the land of Narnia. This time Lucy and Edmund, along with their cousin Eustace, take an adventrue over the sea with King Caspian. One of the cool things in this book is the transformation of Eustace from a pompus little boy to a courageous friend to Narnia. This book also brings a lovely end to Reepicheep as he sails off into the great East and the Land of Aslan. The Dawn Treader takes many adventures out at sea and meets up with various lands and peoples.
As per usual, there are many great moments that Lewis shares. I want to highlight three.
The first is shortly after Eustace’s episode as a dragon and his transformation back by Aslan:
The very first tear he made was so deep that I thought it had gone right into my heart…. The only thing that made me able to bear it was just the pleasure of feeling the stuff peel off…. Then he caught hold of me… and threw me into the water…. After a bit the lion took me out and dressed me… in new clothes.
The full scene is a quite moving testimony to the transforming abilities of Aslan. The second moment is with the Magician who is talking about the odd creatures, the Duffers:
Well, they wouldn’t do what they were told. Their work is to mind the garden and raise food - not for me, as they imagine, but for themselves. They wouldn’t do it at all if I didn’t make them. And of course for a garden you want water. There is a beautiful spring about half a mile away up the hill. And from that spring there flows a stream which comes right ast the garden. All Iasked them to dowas to take their water from the stream instead of trudging up to the spring with their buckets two or three times a day and tiring themselves out besides spilling half of it on the way back. But they wouldn’t see it. In the end they refused point blank.
I think that is quite a good analogy to our human life. We are simply told to mind the garden and raise food (regardless of how complicated we make it) but we will sometimes outright reject that charge because of our perceptions about who we think God is and what He wants. The third, extended, moment comes at the end when Lucy, Edmund, and Eustace meet a Lamb at the End of the World:
“Please, Lamb,” said Lucy, “is this the way to Aslan’s country?”
“Not for you,” said the Lamb. “For you the door to Aslan’s country is from your own world.”
“What!” said Edmund. “Is there a way into Aslan’s country from our world too?”
“There is a way into my country from all the worlds,” said the Lamb; but as he spoke his snowy white flushed into tawny gold and his size changed and he was Aslan himself, towering above them and scattering light from his mane.
“Oh, Aslan,” said Lucy. “Will you tell us how to get into your country from our world?”
“I shall be telling you all the time,” said Aslan. “But I wil not tell you how long or short the way will be; only that it lies across a river. But do not fear that, for I am the great Bridge Builder. And now come; I will open the door in the sky and send you to your own land.”
“Please, Aslan,” said Lucy. “Before we go, will you tell us when we can come back to Narnia again? Please. And oh, do, do, do make it soon.”
“Dearest,” said Aslan very gently, “you and your brother will never come back to Narnia.”
“Oh, Aslan!!” said Edmund and Lucy both together in despairing voices.
“You are too old, children,” said Aslan, “and you must begin to come close to your own world now.”
“It isn’t Narnia, you know,” sobbed Lucy. “It’s you. We shan’t meet you there. And how can we live, never meeting you?”
“But you shall meet me, dear one,” said Aslan.
“Are - are you there too, Sir?” said Edmund.
“I am,” said Aslan. “But there I have another name. You must learn to know me by that name. This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there.”
Such a sad scene, but so powerful. Do you know why you were brought to Narnia?
My blog posts on The Chronicles of Narnia series:
Narnia would be a nice place to visit. Had no idea there was another book.
Yep, seven books in all about the land of Narnia. Highly recommended!
Great connections. I just finished reading the Dawn Treader last night. I got chills as I saw the lamb turn to the lion and tell the children, “I Am.”
I love studying those two words. One thing I learned recently is that “I Am” in our language is a verb . . . a helping verb. He wants to help us if only we will let him. He provides atonement . . . or maybe better said, “At One Ment.”
Matt, thank you for your research into the Narnia Chronicles.
Glad you appreciated it Jared. “I am” has huge meaning. Yahweh, the One God of Israel made that claim - ???? ??? ???? - “I am who I am” - later telling Moses that “I am” sent him, He is the one that Is. When Jesus came around he said “??? ????” (an emphatic form of ???? - I am). John 8:58 - “Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.”" Jesus’ claim to divinity was no ordinary one, it was the claim to be the One, Israel’s God Yahweh. ??? ???? is a huge claim!
I love the book its like my altime favourite!If your going to read it your going to love the book!!!!
It is quite a good book, thanks for coming by Bethany!
I loved this book, but i having trouble coming up with a clear theme, do you know one?
I think transformation is one big theme and the lesson with the Duffers is pretty important as well.
I just finished reading this book and I thought it was very GREAT and I love the way C.S Lewis related this story to the bible. It’s so honest and true. I’d honestly pick it up and read it again if I had the time.