The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

“Eustace Clarence liked animals, especially beetles, if they were dead and pinned on a card. He liked books if they were books of information and had pictures of grain elevators or of fat foreign children doing exercises in model schools.”

The narrator continues his humorous and somewhat irreverent description of Eustace Scrubb by first introducing familiar elements with which young readers can easily identify (such as liking animals and books), then twisting those elements into a distinctly unlikable form (such as being cruel to animals and preferring boring books). This early characterization presents Eustace as a distinctly unpleasant character and foreshadows his eventual redemption when his experiences in Narnia finally allow him to find and strengthen his hidden qualities of goodness and courage.

“Peter was working very hard for an exam and he was to spend the holidays being coached by old Professor Kirke in whose house these four children had had wonderful adventures long ago in the war years. If he had still been in that house he would have had them all to stay. But he had somehow become poor since the old days and was living in a small cottage with only one bedroom to spare. It would have cost too much money to take the other three all to America, and Susan had gone.”

In an offhand way, this passage establishes a link between the previous installments in The Chronicles of Narnia series and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. While the first two books focused on all four of the Pevensie children, this novel only includes the youngest ones as well as introducing their cousin Eustace. The narrator thus builds on the reader’s familiarity with the previous Narnia books even as new protagonists and new corners of the world are introduced. This brief mention of Peter, Susan, and Professor Kirke, therefore provides much-needed continuity, as this novel ventures quite far from the familiar stomping grounds of Narnia proper.

“Most of us, I suppose, have a secret country but for most of us it is only an imaginary country. Edmund and Lucy were luckier than other people in that respect. Their secret country was real.”

In this quote, Lewis introduces the idea of Narnia as an imaginary or secret country to create anticipation and wonder, and he also plays on the common desire of both children and adults to happen upon an imaginary land that does indeed turn out to be real. This passage also underlines the role of Narnia as an allegory, with many philosophical parallels to the real world. Accordingly, the protagonists’ adventures in Narnia are often ambiguously described as somewhat real and somewhat dream-like.

“It was a picture of a ship—a ship sailing straight toward you. Her prow was gilded and shaped like the head of a dragon with wide-open mouth. She had only one mast and one large, square sail which was a rich purple. The sides of the ship—what you could see of them where the gilded wings of the dragon ended—were green. She had just run up to the top of one glorious blue wave, and the nearer slope of that wave came down toward you, with streaks and bubbles on it. She was obviously running fast before a gay wind, listing over a little on her port side. (By the way, if you are going to read this story at all, and if you don’t know already, you had better get it into your head that the left of a ship when you are looking ahead, is port, and the right is starboard.) All the sunlight fell on her from that side, and the water on that side was full of greens and purples. On the other, it was darker blue from the shadow of the ship.”

This first description of the Dawn Treader creates anticipation and draws the reader into the story by addressing them directly. The narrator also uses emphatic vocabulary to describe the ship (“gilded, rich, glorious, fast…”), which foreshadows the enticing wonders of Narnia. As the action of the scene accelerates, Lewis employs an almost cinematic writing style to transform the static painting into a living, breathing portal into another world, and just as the characters are transfixed by the sight, so too does the narrator attempt to draw readers in with such lush descriptions, extending an invitation to fall into the world of Narnia along with Edmund, Lucy, and Eustace.

“He thought of course that they were making it all up; and as he was far too stupid to make anything up himself, he did not approve of that.”

In the American edition of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Lewis changed “far too stupid” to “quite incapable” to describe Eustace. While the exact reasons for this change have been debated, Pater Schake, the author of “Imagination and the Arts in C. S. Lewis: Journeying to Narnia and Other Worlds” (2004), comments that “calling a character ‘stupid’ in a children’s book is insensitive and unwise” (37). Whether Lewis made the choice to change the adjective himself or was urged to do so by outside critics, the shift suggests a potential clash between the sensibilities of British versus American culture.

“He called Edmund and Lucy their Majesties because they and Peter and Susan had all been Kings and Queens of Narnia long before his time. Narnian time flows differently from ours. If you spent a hundred years in Narnia, you would still come back to our world at the very same hour of the very same day on which you left. And then, if you went back to Narnia after spending a week here, you might find that a thousand Narnian years had passed, or only a day, or no time at all.”

This passage provides background information about Narnian time and history for readers who may be unfamiliar with the series. Once again, Narnia is presented as a magical and semi-imaginary place since it does not conform to the same laws of nature as the real world, and although the novel is best enjoyed as part of the larger series, it can also stand alone quite capably, given Lewis’s attention to detail when it comes to contextualizing the most important elements of the characters’ past history and relationships to one another.

“She felt quite sure they were in for a lovely time.”

Lucy’s certainty at the end of the first chapter characterizes her as hopeful and eager, but it implies that before the adventure is concluded, the characters will face many unknown obstacles during their journey. Therefore, this lighthearted belief of Lucy’s stands as a prime example of situational irony, because the upcoming excitement and danger contrast with Lucy’s innocent optimism about the nature of the voyage.

“‘Loyal as a badger, Ma’am, and valiant as—as a Mouse,’ said Drinian. He had been going to say ‘as a lion’ but had noticed Reepicheep’s eyes fixed on him.”

Throughout the Narnia series, lions are often used as a symbol of strength, morality, and bravery because of their connection to Aslan. In this example, Drinian amends his words to appease Reepicheep, whose pride is only rivaled by his courage. This connection between Reepicheep and Aslan characterizes him as a faithful follower of Narnia’s ruler and adds to the theme of Bravery and Honor.

“‘Well,’ said Caspian, ‘that’s rather a long story. Perhaps you remember that when I was a child my usurping uncle Miraz got rid of seven friends of my father’s (who might have taken my part) by sending them off to explore the unknown Eastern Seas beyond the Lone Islands.’

‘Yes,’ said Lucy, ‘and none of them ever came back.’

‘Right. Well, on my coronation day, with Aslan’s approval, I swore an oath that, if once I established peace in Narnia, I would sail east myself for a year and a day to find my father’s friends or to learn of their deaths and avenge them if I could. These were their names: the Lord Revilian, the Lord Bern, the Lord Argoz, the Lord Mavramorn, the Lord Octesian, the Lord Restimar, and—oh, that other one who’s so hard to remember.’

‘The Lord Rhoop, Sire,’ said Drinian.”

This passage offers further background information and establishes the motive force of the plot: the pragmatic reason that drives Caspian’s journey to the east. The introduction of a quest also serves to establish the traditional structure of the hero’s journey, characterizing Caspian as loyal and brave and setting the expectation that any characters who are less than loyal or not-quite-brave (i.e., Eustace) will have the opportunity to gain such qualities through their experiences during the quest.

“Where sky and water meet,

Where the waves grow sweet,

Doubt not, Reepicheep,

To find all you seek,

There is the utter East.”

This verse, told to Reepicheep by a dryad when he was young, acts as a prophecy in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. This creates suspense during the quest and foreshadows Reepicheep’s fate at the end of the world. It also frames the characters’ collective fate as inevitable, implying that it has already been predetermined by Aslan’s divine will. Thus, the prophetic verse contributes to the recurring theme of Fate and Divine Intervention.

“August 7^th. Have now been twenty-four hours on this ghastly boat if it isn’t a dream. All the time a frightful storm has been raging (it’s a good thing I’m not seasick). [...] All the others pretend to take no notice of this, either from swank or because Harold says one of the most cowardly things ordinary people do is to shut their eyes to Facts. It’s madness to come out into the sea in a rotten little thing like this. Not much bigger than a lifeboat. And, of course, absolutely primitive indoors. No proper saloon, no radio, no bathrooms, no deck-chairs. [...] I tried to tell [Caspian] what real ships are like, but he’s too dense. [...] They call him a King. I said I was a Republican but he had to ask me what that meant! He doesn’t seem to know anything at all. Needless to say I’ve been put in the worst cabin of the boat, a perfect dungeon, and Lucy has been given a whole room on deck to herself, almost a nice room compared with the rest of this place. C. says that’s because she’s a girl. I tried to make him see what Alberta says, that all that sort of thing is really lowering girls but he was too dense.”

This passage is an excerpt from Eustace’s journal and explores his thoughts right after he arrives in Narnia. It is an example of dramatic irony, because although Eustace believes that he is acting responsibly and morally, according to the stodgy and rigid standards by which he was raised, the reader understands that he is in fact being rude and condescending to his companions. Additional irony is found in the reality that he has been transported to a fantastical land in which all the rules of society are different, and therefore, every time he accuses his companions of “shut[ting] their eyes to Facts,” he is himself guilty of that very thing, for he does not want to believe the inescapable fact that he is no longer in the world that he believes he understands so well.

“(By the way, I have never yet heard how these remote islands became attached to the crown of Narnia; if I ever do, and if the story is at all interesting, I may put it in some other book.)”

The narrator’s comment on the Lone Islands serves to establish a sense of verisimilitude, for Lewis acts as though the Lone Islands are indeed a real place rather than an imaginary one, and his promise to put stories about it “in some other book” imply that The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is therefore more of a historical text than a fantastical one. By alluding to deeper lore about Narnia’s history, Lewis enhances the sense of wonder that surrounds the characters’ explorations and frames himself as merely a storyteller relating what he has heard from other sources. This narrative choice lends credibility to The Chronicles of Narnia and makes Narnia appear more real and mysterious.

“If Caspian had been as experienced then as he became later on in this voyage he would not have made this suggestion; but at the moment it seemed an excellent one.”

This quote is an example of the narrator directly offering his personal opinion to the reader. As a more overt and heavy-handed example of foreshadowing, this statement also creates suspense while reinforcing the idea that the narrator is merely an objective chronicler, rather than the person crafting the story.

“Made a few miles eastward with part of the sail, set on what Drinian calls the jury-mast—that means the bowsprit set upright and tied (they call it ‘lashed’) to the stump of the real mast.”

This excerpt from one of Eustace’s journal entries reveals that, although his opinion about his companions has not improved, his scornful attitude is very slowly starting to change. He is learning about the workings of the ship despite his initial aversion to all things Narnian, and in this particular passage, his mundane liking of books about information in the real world is also reflected in the astute way in which he observes the minutiae of the Narnian ship, implying that beneath his unimaginative exterior is an active mind. Once his character growth is accelerated by his encounter with Aslan on Dragon Island, his agile intelligence will allow him to transform into a much more useful and likable character.

“But he didn’t enjoy himself, or not for very long. He began, almost for the first time in his life, to feel lonely. At first this feeling grew very gradually.”

This passage is set after Eustace walks away from the group to shirk his duties and just before his life-changing experience with the dragon. It signals the beginning of his emotional transformation, as he is experiencing loneliness “for the first time in his life.” Although the narrator mentions in the first chapter that Eustace does not have friends, the boy is not affected by loneliness until this moment, which reveals that he has bonded with the Pevensies and the ship’s crew and come to have a greater respect and regard for people other than himself.

“Most of us know what we should expect to find in a dragon’s lair but, as I said before, Eustace had read only the wrong books. They had a lot to say about exports and imports and governments and drains, but they were weak on dragons.”

In this quote, the narrator encourages the reader to align with his perspective that dry, informative books are the “wrong books” to read as a child, as opposed to fiction and adventure books. This statement humorously frames Eustace’s lack of imagination and playfulness as a fundamental character flaw, given that he is now unexpectedly at the mercy of a fantastical world that operates according to fantastical rules that he never bothered to study or learn, as the Pevensie children have in their more fanciful reading habits.

“He is the great Lion, the son of the Emperor-beyond-the-Sea, who saved me and saved Narnia.”

Edmund’s introduction of Aslan’s titles establishes a firm sense of reverence where the lion is concerned and reinforces Aslan’s position as the divine ruler of Narnia. Indeed, Aslan’s role as a savior and the son of a mysterious, godlike authority reveal the Christian undertones of Lewis’s work. Indeed, the Emperor-beyond-the-Sea, whose magic and worldbuilding are established as sacrosanct throughout the series, is never encountered directly, only through the figure of Aslan, and this dynamic also mirrors the nature of Christian ideology.

“It would be nice, and fairly nearly true, to say that “from that time forth Eustace was a different boy.” To be strictly accurate, he began to be a different boy. He had relapses. There were still many days when he could be very tiresome. But most of those I shall not notice. The cure had begun.”

This passage reveals that although Aslan has initiated Eustace’s character growth, his full development has not yet been completed and must take place over a long period of time. Development is the result of experience and hard effort, and even with such divine intervention working on his behalf, Eustace will have to make his own attempts to improve before his new attitude truly becomes a way of life for him. This makes the change in his behavior more impactful and significant and conveys to the reader that growing is a life-long commitment.

“When Lucy woke up next morning it was like waking up on the day of an examination or a day when you are going to the dentist.”

Throughout the novel, the narrator uses similes to compare Narnia to the real world. By associating fantastical details with more commonplace elements, the story creates a sense of familiarity for the reader as well as a humorous effect. As a result, Narnia is made to feel intimate and comfortable despite being mysterious and fantastical.

“‘I will say the spell,’ said Lucy. ‘I don’t care. I will.’ She said I don’t care because she had a strong feeling that she mustn’t.

But when she looked back at the opening words of the spell, there in the middle of the writing, where she felt quite sure there had been no picture before, she found the great face of a lion, of The Lion, Aslan himself, staring into hers. It was painted such a bright gold that it seemed to be coming toward her out of the page; and indeed she never was quite sure afterward that it hadn’t really moved a little. At any rate she knew the expression on his face quite well. He was growling and you could see most of his teeth. She became horribly afraid and turned over the page at once.”

This passage reveals Aslan’s role as a spiritual guide throughout The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Despite being one of the most faithful characters, Lucy Pevensie temporarily falters here and almost gives in to her vanity. However, Aslan sends her a vision to lead her away from temptation, which underlines the Christian symbolism in the novel.

“‘But what manner of use would it be plowing through that blackness?’ asked Drinian.

‘Use?’ replied Reepicheep. ‘Use, Captain? If by use you mean filling our bellies or our purses, I confess it will be no use at all. So far as I know we did not set sail to look for things useful but to seek honor and adventure. And here is as great an adventure as ever I heard of, and here, if we turn back, no little impeachment of all our honors.’”

This passage, set just before the ship enters the cloud of darkness where dreams come to life, illustrates Reepicheep’s Bravery and Honor. His bravery, however, is defined not merely by facing his fears, but also by seeking out danger for honor’s sake. This is what drives him to paddle over the edge of the world to find Aslan’s country at the end of the book.

“‘You can’t know,’ said the girl. ‘You can only believe—or not.’”

Ramandu’s daughter’s words to Edmund Pevensie and his companions are a symbolic test of their faith. They must choose between being brave and having faith in Aslan’s plan, or being cautious and turning down the young woman’s invitation to eat. As they decide to trust her, they are ultimately rewarded with a feast and a path to their ultimate goal.

“Why, every man that comes with us shall bequeath the title of Dawn Treader to all his descendants, and when we land at Cair Paravel on the homeward voyage he shall have either gold or land enough to make him rich all his life.”

Caspian’s words to his crew echo the novel’s title. He promises to bestow the name of Dawn Treader to the men who follow him, thus elevating the name of their ship to an honorific title and offering narrative closure.