Just re-read some Chronicles of Narnia. I started with one that is in a 7-way tie for my favorite, The Silver Chair. Actually this would probably be my second favorite after The voyage of the Dawn Treader, because they both have my favorite character in them, Eustace Scrubb. His character is so much like humanity. Before meeting and getting to know the followers of Aslan, and finally Aslan himself, he is a treacherous slug. The person whom you cheer for to get beat up severely. You absolutely despise him for many chapters in the Treader. I will not get into that book now, but you should know that he eventually decides for Aslan over self and becomes my favorite character in the seven books. By the time we get to The Silver Chair, the following book, he is a Narnian vet with a new outlook on life and others. Anywho...The Chair reads like the life of saint. First the calling of Jill Poll and Eustace Scrubb, which saves them from the certain dangers of this world, yet asks them to face far graver dangers of another world. Poll is given a set of instructional signs which to follow whilst on their quest. These signs told to her by Aslan himself, will guide them to the finding want they need to find. Yet what I love is that never does Aslan promise that following the signs will ensure a safe completion of the quest. By following the signs they may indeed bring about theirs and others death. Like all humans, Poll and Scrubb struggle with following their Lord's signs and instructions mostly because of the desire for creature comforts and fear. Yet, they are provided with a conscious and protector. They travel into the wasted north of Narnia with one of the most beloved persons of Narnia, Puddleglum the Marshwiggle. He is the most despairing and positively negative creatures. Yes I meant to write that. He sees the absolute worst in every situation, but no matter what he sees, he is always determined to face the worst is need be. There is nothing so dangerous to the powers of evil than a pessimist who is to stubborn to listen to himself. This is what Puddleglum is.
I do not want to ruin the book for readers who have not finished this book so I will try to be vague. A thought that permeated my mind alot when I read this book is the question of destiny and will. The trio miff following the signs frequently yet it seems that by not following them they still end up finding their desired destination. God's/Aslan's will will always trump our mistakes. His plan will be accomplished. We can choose to follow the signs and instructions or not. We are called to follow to seemingly carry out His plan, yet when we stumble, the plans do not go array, we will just not be following what He calls us to. So our the signs for us? Are they just invitations to participate in His cosmic plans? Will what He wants be carried out by someone or something, or will He permit our mistakes to alter things? What if going to the House of Harfang resulted in the trio's death? Would the Prince and Narnia be saved by someone or something else or would the Queen's plan be carried out? Maybe it would have and then some other children would have been called into Narnia to thwart her reign similar to The Lion, the Witch and the wardrobe. This is the mystical knot in which i find myself entwined when I read this book and I love it.
P.S. For those who know this book, I believe the world of Bism to be the literary manifestation of Lewis' belief in aliens. Me to.
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