The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

With the adventurers’ arrival at Coriakin’s island, Lewis once again displays his skill at manipulating perceptions and expectations, for although the narrative first depicts the Duffers as threatening, the narrative soon adds a dash of humor by characterizing them as absentminded and naive. This apparent contradiction creates a sense of mystery and anticipation, especially as the protagonists themselves are confused about their hosts’ true nature and intentions. Similarly, when Lucy climbs upstairs to find the Magician’s book and lift the spell of invisibility, Lewis crafts an oppressive, ominous atmosphere that seems to harbor a hidden menace, and this vibe intensifies as she flips apprehensively through the powerful spells depicted in the magical tome. However, once Aslan appears and the Magician explains the Duffers’ situation, she realizes that there was never any cause for fear. This sudden shift in perception from danger to safety reflects Lewis’s views on the real world as well, for the entire passage implies that the unknown can often seem threatening until it is clearly seen and understood. Thus, the lifting of the spell of invisibility represents the natural transition from ignorance to understanding, and the sense of certainty and relief that often results.

In accordance with this shift from ignorance to understanding, Lewis also points out the dangers of seeking information to which one is not entitled. Thus, The Magician’s Book symbolizes Lucy’s struggle to resist temptation. Throughout this novel and the series as a whole, she and the other protagonists are often presented with moral and spiritual tests, since in Lewis’s world, morality and faith are the very building blocks upon which the country of Narnia is built. In this instance, just as in life, Lucy’s eventual success in passing the test does not come without a few failures along the way. Although she resists the urge to make herself more beautiful than her sister, thus rejecting vanity and jealousy, she does give in to her desire to know what her friends are saying behind her back and is hurt to learn that her friend Marjorie is “getting tired” (87) of her.

Thus, as Aslan later points out, she experiences the spiritual consequences of seeking to know things that she should not, but even in the midst of his admonishment, Aslan offers her consolation and a different interpretation of her friend’s actions. In true Christ-like fashion, he encourages her to be selfless and show compassion for Marjorie. Aslan’s lessons for the human protagonists, while infinitely loving, are also delivered with a bit of an edge. His richly nuanced wisdom and calm encouragement are often wrapped in gentle admonitions: a pairing of acceptance and critique which, while seemingly contradictory, perfectly encapsulates the essence of Christian morality that pervades the tale.

Even after the adventurers leave Coriakin’s island, this section of the novel continues to focus primarily on Lucy’s heroism and her unique connection with Aslan. Lucy and Aslan have a close relationship throughout The Chronicles of Narnia, for she is one of the first to discover Narnia and always remains one of his most fervent believers, even when her companions succumb to doubt or darkness. Indeed, the very origin of her name is the Latin word for “light,” and accordingly, she often serves as a source of inspiration to her companions in difficult moments. Because Lucy is young and morally pure, she also represents the idealized innocence that is typically valued in Christian ideology. For example, when the group is trapped in the waters around the Dark Island, Lucy is the one who prays for Aslan to save them, crying out, “Aslan, Aslan, if ever you loved us at all, send us help now” (106). Her steadfast faith is rewarded when a beam of light appears, from which something that “at first [looks] like a cross” (106) and is then revealed to be an albatross guides them out of the dark cloud. This occurrence marks yet another reference to the Christian symbolism of dark versus light and contributes to the ongoing theme of Fate and Divine Intervention.

Additionally, Coriakin’s island can be interpreted as a miniature Christian kingdom, whose inhabitants are in various stages of redemption. Ramandu later explains that Coriakin is a fallen star whom Aslan tasked with “govern[ing] the Duffers [as] a punishment” (118). The Duffers’ unruliness, naivety, and inability to govern themselves may be read as a humorous caricature of human follies and shortcomings in the real world. By extension, the relationship between Coriakin and the Duffers likewise implies that humans need to be shepherded by a higher authority and safeguarded from the damage that their own foolishness can cause, just as the Duffers seemingly need Coriakin’s guidance to survive. Symbolically, this interpretation further intensifies the theme of Fate and Divine Intervention.