C.S. Lewis week: "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader"

Another year has passed since Edmund and Lucy’s second trip to Narnia. Now they are spending the summer with their cousin Eustace who loves to bully them. One day all three are in Lucy’s room looking at a picture of a ship which appears to be Narnian when all three are suddenly pulled into the picture and into the world of Narnia. The ship is called The Dawn Treader and on board they find King Caspian of Narnia who is on a quest to find the seven Narnian lords his wicked uncle Miraz banished years before.

The children join Caspian on his voyage to the eastern end of the world; along the way they stop at many different islands and have many adventures.  At first Eustace does not want to be there and makes life miserable for everyone. On one island he is turned into a dragon and his behavior begins to change for the better especially after Aslan comes and changes him back into a boy.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is the third book written by C.S. Lewis of “The Chronicles of Narnia” series, though chronologically it is the fifth book. Of the seven books it is my third favorite, mainly because it contains my favorite scene of all seven books where Aslan changes Eustace back into a boy. (To see this scene watch the video below.)

In some ways Dawn Treader can be seen as a metaphor for a person’s life, and each of the islands as an event in their life. Just as we get older we are heading towards the end of our life on earth and Heaven they are heading towards the end of the world and Aslan’s country. This book also contains a picture of salvation, when Eustace is turned into a dragon he desperately wants to be a boy again and tries to do it himself but he cannot, Aslan has to do it for him. We can do nothing to save ourselves Christ has to save us, and we are never the same again, just as Eustace is changed by his experience.

Note: This week I am highlighting the books from “The Chronicles of Narnia” to read the highlights on each the books click on their title: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, The Silver Chair, The Horse and His Boy, The Magician's Nephew, and The Last Battle.

If there is a book you would like reviewed please write it in the Comments section.

Soli Deo Gloria!