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Chapter 1
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Silver Chair, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Deception and Illusion
Freedom and Imprisonment
Temptation
Courage
Summary
Analysis
Without looking at Jill, the lion blows one last gust of air and then walks back into the forest. Jill tries to convince herself that she is dreaming, but she quickly decides this cannot be the case. She thinks again about Scrubb falling over the cliff and breaks down crying. After some time, Jill pulls herself together, and perks up when she realizes she is listening to the sound of running water. Jill is incredibly thirsty, so she stands up and cautiously makes her way toward the sound.
Here, Jill has to take a moment to accept the reality of her circumstances, which proves to be too much for her. She realizes that she is in way over her head and that she is responsible for Scrubb falling over the cliff. Although Jill’s circumstances are overwhelming, at least the lion does not appear to be a threat, as it leaves her alone after blowing gusts of air at Scrubb.
Themes
Before long, Jill finds a stream and is eager to drink from it. However, she stops short when she sees the lion from the cliff lying down next to it. Immediately, the lion spots Jill, which paralyzes her. The lion looks at Jill and tells her to drink from the stream if she is thirsty. It takes Jill a minute to realizes that the words have come from the lion. She recalls Scrubb telling her that animals speak in Narnia, but the first time she witnesses it is still startling.
Folk and fairy tales are a major influence on the Narnia series, which can be seen in its use of talking animals. In fairy tales, lions are often representations of courage and wisdom, though occasionally they are dangerous and violent beasts. At this point, it is unclear what kind of lion this one will turn out to be.
Themes
When Jill does not immediately move toward the stream, the lion asks her whether she is thirsty. Jill tells the lion she is dying for a drink, but she is worried he might try to eat her. When she asks him directly if he eats girls, the lion responds, “I have swallowed up girls and boys, women and men, kings and emperors, cities and realms.” In response, Jill decides to go look for another stream, but the lion warns her that she will not find one.
The lion’s response suggests there is far more to him that meets the eye and readers of previous Narnia books will likely recognize his rhetoric as that of Aslan. However, Jill has yet to make the connection between the lion in front of her and the one Scrubb told her about back in the schoolyard. At the moment, fear has paralyzed her, and she cannot think straight.
Themes
Seeing that she has no other choice, Jill drinks from the stream, worrying the whole time that the lion will attack her. When she is done drinking, the lion asks Jill to approach him, and she does as he asks. Then, the lion asks Jill what happened to Scrubb. Jill admits that Scrubb fell off the cliff because she was showing off. The lion says that Jill answered his question well and that he has an important task for her.
Deception is an important theme in the novel, though, despite Jill’s concern, it is nothing she needs to worry about here. After she is done drinking, Jill is honest with the lion about her shortcomings, which the lion appears to appreciate. Had she answered differently, she may not have been offered the lion’s important task.
Themes
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Jill wonders if the lion has her confused with another person and explains how she arrived in Narnia. The lion explains that she would not have been able to enter Narnia if he had not called to her. Then, the lion explains Jill’s task, which he expects her to undertake with Scrubb. There is an old king in Narnia who is without an heir because someone stole his only son. The lion wants Jill and Scrubb to find the lost prince and return him to his father. As the lion talks, Jill remembers what Scrubb told her back in the schoolyard and realizes the lion must be Aslan.
Although Jill feels she has come to Narnia under her own volition, Aslan’s response suggests that Jill may be less in control of her fate than she realizes. In the world of Narnia, Aslan is a god-like figure, who watches over the realm and possess supernatural abilities. Throughout the Narnia series, he gives the various protagonists tasks, which simultaneously allow them to better themselves and aid Narnia.
Themes
Aslan tells Jill about a series of four signs that she must look out for in order to find the prince. First, he asks Jill to ensure that Scrubb speaks to an old friend as soon as he arrives in Narnia. Second, Jill must find a ruined city that once belonged to giants to the north of Narnia. Third, she must obey the writing she finds on the stone in the giant city. Fourth, Jill will know the prince when she finds him because he will ask her to do something in Aslan’s name.
Aslan’s instructions imply that, wherever Jill currently is, she is not in Narnia. Otherwise, she would have already failed Aslan’s first instruction. Although Aslan does not clarify Jill’s current location, his instructions appear fairly straightforward, though accomplishing them is another story.
Themes
Once Aslan is sure Jill has memorized the signs, he tells her that he will send her to Scrubb using his breath. Then, they walk together back to the cliff. Before sending Jill on her way, Aslan urges her once again to remember the signs he gave her. Then, he blows her off the cliff in the direction of Scrubb. It takes a moment for Jill to realize what is happening, and although she is momentarily terrified, she quickly calms down. Her journey in the air takes a long time, and she spends it repeating Aslan’s signs to herself and sleeping. Finally, she gets low enough to the ground that Narnia’s topography becomes visible. Eventually, she lands on a riverbank just a few feet away from Scrubb.
Jill’s memorization of Aslan’s signs will become an important aspect of the novel, as it demonstrates her dedication to the task at hand. Jill’s trip to Narnia gives a clearer sense of where she was before Aslan sent her away. Aslan lives on some sort of land that sits high above Narnia. His position far above Narnia indicates that he watches over the land and acts as a god-like figure. The length of Jill’s journey—as well as her reaction when looking over the cliff—indicates that Aslan’s land exists in a space beyond normal human comprehension.
Themes
