Rainy Days, Secret Doors

In dreary, turn-of-the-century London, Digory Kirke and Polly Plummer become fast friends, united by curiosity and the boredom of a rainy summer. Their explorations through attics and secret passageways lead them to Digory's eccentric Uncle Andrew, a self-styled magician dabbling in forbidden arts. When Polly is tricked into touching a mysterious yellow ring, she vanishes, setting in motion a chain of events that will bridge worlds and test the children's courage and character.

Rings and Reckless Magic

Digory confronts Uncle Andrew, who reveals the rings' power to transport wearers to other worlds, a discovery rooted in ancient, dangerous magic. Uncle Andrew, too cowardly to test the rings himself, manipulates Digory into rescuing Polly, sending him on a perilous journey. The children's trust is betrayed, and they are thrust into the unknown, forced to rely on each other as they navigate the consequences of adult ambition and irresponsibility.

The Wood Between Worlds

Digory and Polly reunite in a serene, dreamlike forest filled with countless pools, each a portal to a different world. The Wood Between Worlds is peaceful but soporific, threatening to lull them into forgetfulness. The children realize the rings' true function: yellow brings them to the Wood, green takes them out to other worlds. Their curiosity leads them to test other pools, setting the stage for their greatest adventure.

Ruins of a Dying City

The children arrive in Charn, a city of ancient grandeur now silent and dead under a dying sun. Exploring its ruins, they find a hall of statues—former rulers whose faces progress from noble to cruel. At the end sits a beautiful, terrifying queen. A magical inscription tempts Digory to strike a bell, despite Polly's warnings. The bell's toll awakens the last queen, Jadis, and triggers the collapse of Charn's palace, unleashing a force of evil into the story.

The Deplorable Word

Jadis, the last Queen of Charn, recounts her rise to power and the catastrophic use of the Deplorable Word—a spell that annihilated all life in her world except herself. Her pride and ruthlessness are chilling, and she sees herself above all moral law. The children, horrified, realize the danger she poses. When they attempt to escape, Jadis clings to them, and together they tumble back into the Wood Between Worlds, the Witch now a threat to every world they can reach.

The Witch in London

Jadis, weakened in the Wood, regains her strength in London, where her beauty and power terrify and enthrall. Uncle Andrew, deluded by ambition and infatuation, becomes her unwilling servant. Jadis's arrogance and disregard for human norms lead to mayhem—she assaults Digory's Aunt Letty, steals jewelry, and commandeers a cab horse. The children realize the urgent need to remove her from their world before she causes irreparable harm.

Chaos at the Lamp-post

Jadis's rampage draws police and crowds, culminating in a wild scene at a lamp-post. Digory and Polly, with the help of the cabby and his horse, manage to touch Jadis and use the rings, transporting everyone—Witch, Uncle Andrew, cabby, horse, and themselves—out of London. The lamp-post's iron bar, torn off by Jadis, is inadvertently brought along, setting up a key symbol for Narnia's future.

Into the Nothingness

The group lands in a dark, empty void. As they wait, a majestic Lion's song fills the air, and stars, sun, and land spring into being. This is the birth of Narnia, a world created by Aslan's music. The Witch senses a power greater than her own and flees. Uncle Andrew cowers, unable to comprehend the wonder. The cabby's kindness and courage stand in contrast to the adults' fear and selfishness.

Aslan's Song of Creation

Aslan's song transforms the barren land into a vibrant world. Grass, trees, and flowers burst forth, and animals emerge from the earth. Aslan selects pairs to become Talking Beasts, granting them intelligence and speech. The lamp-post, planted by Jadis, grows into a living, shining tree. The children and cabby witness the awe-inspiring creation, while Uncle Andrew dreams only of exploiting Narnia's magic for personal gain.

Talking Beasts Awaken

The Talking Beasts, fauns, nymphs, and river gods pledge loyalty to Aslan. The cabby and his wife, brought from London, are crowned King Frank and Queen Helen, chosen for their humility and goodness. Aslan warns that evil has entered Narnia through the Witch, and tasks Digory with a quest to protect the land. Uncle Andrew, unable to understand the animals, is treated as a curiosity and eventually put to sleep by Aslan's mercy.

Temptation in the Garden

Aslan sends Digory, Polly, and the now-winged horse Fledge to a distant garden to retrieve a magical apple that will protect Narnia. In the garden, Digory is tempted by Jadis, who has already eaten an apple and gained immortality at a terrible cost. She urges Digory to steal an apple for himself or his dying mother, but he resists, remembering his promise and his mother's values. The Witch's selfishness and Digory's integrity are starkly contrasted.

The Planting of Protection

Digory returns the apple to Aslan, who plants it, and a great tree springs up, its scent repelling the Witch. Aslan explains that the apple's power, when taken selfishly, brings only misery, as Jadis will discover. Digory is rewarded for his obedience: Aslan gives him an apple to heal his mother, ensuring that the gift is one of grace, not theft. The coronation of Narnia's first king and queen cements the new world's order.

Healing and Farewell

Back in London, Digory gives the magical apple to his ailing mother, who is miraculously healed. The children bury the rings and the apple core, ensuring the magic cannot be misused again. Uncle Andrew, chastened by his experiences, reforms. The children's friendship endures, and Digory's family prospers, moving to a country estate. The adventure's end brings healing, closure, and hope for the future.

Burying the Magic

Digory and Polly, understanding the dangers of unchecked magic, bury the rings in a circle around the growing apple tree. This act symbolizes the end of their magical journeys and a commitment to responsibility. The tree flourishes, a living reminder of their adventure and the lessons learned about temptation, sacrifice, and the right use of power.

The Tree and the Wardrobe

Years later, the apple tree is felled in a storm, and Digory, now Professor Kirke, has its wood made into a wardrobe. This wardrobe becomes the portal for future journeys to Narnia, linking the events of this story to those of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. The magic endures, but now it is hidden, waiting for new seekers and new stories.

Lessons of Power and Choice

The narrative closes with Aslan's warning: the misuse of power can destroy worlds, as in Charn, and humanity must beware repeating such mistakes. The children's choices—resisting temptation, acting selflessly, and accepting responsibility—stand as a model for readers. The story's end is also a beginning, as the seeds of future adventures and moral lessons are sown.

Characters

Digory Kirke

Digory is the emotional heart of the story, a boy torn between grief for his dying mother and the lure of magical adventure. His journey is one of moral growth: he begins impulsive and self-centered, but through trials—especially his temptation in the garden—he learns self-sacrifice, integrity, and the weight of responsibility. His relationship with Polly is both a source of support and a mirror for his own flaws. Digory's choices shape not only his fate but the fate of worlds, and his eventual transformation into the wise Professor Kirke links him to the broader Narnian saga.

Polly Plummer

Polly is Digory's steadfast companion, often the voice of caution and reason. Her grounded nature balances Digory's impulsiveness, and her loyalty is unwavering even when she is wronged. Polly's courage is quiet but firm—she stands up to the Witch, supports Digory in his darkest moments, and helps ensure the magic is safely buried. Her friendship with Digory is deepened by shared adversity, and she emerges as a model of sensible bravery.

Uncle Andrew (Andrew Ketterley)

Uncle Andrew is a cautionary figure: a man whose pursuit of forbidden knowledge and power leads to disaster. He manipulates children, shirks responsibility, and is ultimately out of his depth in the face of true magic. His inability to perceive Aslan's song or the Talking Beasts reflects his spiritual blindness. Yet, by the story's end, he is humbled and reformed, a warning against the dangers of pride and unchecked ambition.

Jadis, the Witch

Jadis is the last Queen of Charn, a being of immense power and beauty corrupted by absolute pride. Her use of the Deplorable Word to destroy her world marks her as a cautionary symbol of unchecked power. In Narnia, she is both a tempter and a threat, offering Digory forbidden knowledge and immortality. Her immortality, gained through selfishness, becomes a curse. Jadis's presence introduces evil into Narnia, setting up the central conflict for future stories.

Aslan

Aslan is the divine Lion whose song creates Narnia and whose wisdom guides its first inhabitants. He is both awe-inspiring and compassionate, embodying justice, mercy, and sacrificial love. Aslan's interactions with Digory are both challenging and healing, leading the boy to maturity. Aslan's presence is a source of hope and a reminder of the higher moral order that governs the universe.

The Cabby (King Frank)

The cabby is an ordinary Londoner whose decency and humility make him the ideal first King of Narnia. His practical wisdom, fairness, and love for his wife, Helen, are rewarded by Aslan, who crowns them King and Queen. Frank's transformation from cabby to monarch underscores the story's theme that true nobility lies in character, not birth.

Queen Helen

Helen, the cabby's wife, is brought to Narnia by Aslan's call and becomes its first Queen. Her kindness and common sense complement Frank's leadership, and together they establish a just and loving rule. Helen's presence emphasizes the importance of partnership and family in the founding of a new world.

Fledge (Strawberry)

Originally a London cab horse, Fledge is transformed by Aslan into a winged horse, embodying the theme of redemption and new beginnings. Fledge's loyalty and strength help the children on their quest, and his joy in flight represents the liberation that comes from embracing one's true nature.

Aunt Letty

Aunt Letty is Digory's no-nonsense guardian, providing stability and a moral compass. Her skepticism and firmness contrast with Uncle Andrew's folly, and her care for Digory's mother grounds the story's emotional stakes. Though a minor character, she represents the everyday goodness that stands against chaos.

Digory's Mother

Though bedridden for most of the story, Digory's mother is the motivation for his actions and the symbol of hope and love. Her miraculous healing by the apple from Narnia is the story's emotional climax, affirming the power of selfless love and faith.

Plot Devices

Magic Rings as Portals

The yellow and green rings, crafted from ancient Atlantean dust, are the central plot device, allowing characters to move between worlds via the Wood Between Worlds. Their use is fraught with danger and moral consequence, symbolizing the double-edged nature of power and curiosity. The rings' function—yellow to enter the Wood, green to exit—mirrors the choices the characters must make between exploration and return, temptation and safety.

The Wood Between Worlds

This tranquil forest of pools serves as a nexus between realities, a place of potential and forgetfulness. It represents the in-between state of moral choice, where characters can pause, reflect, and decide which path to take. The Wood's soporific effect warns against complacency and the loss of purpose.

The Deplorable Word

Jadis's use of the Deplorable Word to destroy Charn is a chilling example of absolute power wielded without restraint. It foreshadows the potential for similar destruction in our world, serving as a warning against the pursuit of power for its own sake. The Word's legacy haunts the narrative, shaping the characters' understanding of good and evil.

Aslan's Song and Creation

Aslan's singing brings Narnia into existence, illustrating the creative power of joy, harmony, and love. This act of creation stands in stark contrast to Jadis's destruction, highlighting the story's central moral dichotomy. The song's lingering magic imbues Narnia with vitality and wonder.

Temptation and Moral Testing

Digory's temptation in the garden echoes biblical themes, presenting a test of character and obedience. The Witch's offer of immortality and healing for Digory's mother is a subtle, personal temptation, forcing him to weigh his desires against his promises and the greater good. The outcome shapes not only his fate but the fate of Narnia.

Symbolic Objects: Apple, Tree, Wardrobe

The magical apple, the tree grown from it, and the wardrobe made from the tree's wood serve as symbols of continuity, transformation, and the enduring impact of choices. They connect the events of this story to the larger Narnian mythos, ensuring that the lessons learned are not forgotten.

Analysis

The Magician's Nephew is both an origin story for Narnia and a meditation on the nature of good and evil, choice and consequence. Through vivid characters and archetypal plot devices, C.S. Lewis explores the dangers of unchecked ambition (Uncle Andrew, Jadis), the necessity of moral courage (Digory, Polly), and the redemptive power of selfless love (Aslan, the cabby, Digory's mother). The narrative draws on biblical motifs—the creation, the fall, the forbidden fruit—while grounding its lessons in the everyday struggles of children and adults alike. The story warns against the misuse of power, the seduction of easy answers, and the temptation to place personal desire above duty. Yet it is ultimately hopeful: healing, forgiveness, and new beginnings are possible for those who choose rightly. The legacy of Narnia, embodied in the tree and the wardrobe, is a reminder that the choices we make echo through worlds and generations, shaping destinies in ways we cannot foresee.

Last updated: May 11, 2025