The Magician's Nephew, By C. S. Lewis

In his book, Why I Write, George Orwell states that there are “four great motives for writing,” the fourth of which is a “desire to push the world in a certain direction, to alter other peoples’ idea of the kind of society that they should strive after” (5). C. S. Lewis certainly exhibits no exception to that rule in The Magician’s Nephew. Written in the 1950s, The Magician’s Nephew addresses a generation poised on the cusp of an era encouraging a revolutionary new way of thinking—pursue self-gratification without regard to anything other than fulfillment of personal desire. Lewis employs the responses of the characters in his book to encourage his readers to understand the importance of weighing choices carefully and to recognize the potential

Glasner recognizes that many literary scholars claim The Magician’s Nephew is symbolic of the biblical account of Genesis, traditionally understood to be the beginning of human history, however she claims Lewis’ “version relates to the biblical story not from the point of view of the beginning of Human History, but rather from that of the beginning of knowledge…a sequence of deeds that includes deceit and temptation” (Glasner 59). The sequence to which she refers is certainly seen as Andrew’s willfully committed deeds of deceit and temptation lead to Polly’s foolish decision and culminate with Digory’s choice to attempt the rescue of his

Laura Miller explores the villainy of the queen in The Magician’s Book: A Skeptic’s Adventures in Narnia. Miller asserts that Jadis “invokes Digory’s grief and fear not because she sympathizes…but because she knows that his love for his mother is his greatest weakness” (44). Digory’s battle is apparent. He longs to make the self-gratifying choice—reject his responsibility to right his wrong and go to his mother. Yet, he understands the need for self-sacrifice—the fate of an entire race rests on his return to Aslan. Lewis clearly intends for his readers to grasp the concept that with great choices come great consequences.
With enormous effort, Digory recognizes the witch’s schemes and makes the arduous trek back to Aslan. The lion plants the tree that restores Narnia, for a time, to its intended state. The lion makes it clear that had the boy chosen to steal the apple, not only would Narnia suffer, the healing his mother would have gained would bring no joy and that she would eventually say “it would have been better to die in that illness” (Lewis 191). As a direct result of Digory’s honorable choice, Aslan sends the children safely home with a healing apple from the new