The second to last book in the Chronicles of Narnia takes Eustace, known to readers of "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" and his classmate Jill on a perilous quest. Prince Rilian, the son of King Caspian, has been missing for years and must be found before the king dies.
As most of the books in the Narnia series, this one also begins and ends in the prosaic world of England, more specifically in a "progressive" school (that the narrator openly derides) attended by Eustace. Eustace has definitely improved after his adventures in Narnia, and while he helps his schoolmate Jill escape from a gang of bullies, the two of them suddenly discover a door that leads into Narnia. The boy and the girl soon become separated, and Jill has to overcome her fears when she encounters a lion, who of course turns out to be Aslan. Aslan sends them to search for Prince Rilian, the only son of the now aged King Caspian (as we know from previous books, time flows at a different rate in Narnia) and gives Jill certain instructions and clues, which she unfortunately will not always remember.
During their journey, the two are accompanied by another of Lewis’ memorable and odd characters, Puddleglum the Marshwiggle (a kind of froglike man), who despite his innate pessimism turns out to be a true friend. They encounter the mysterious Lady of the Green Kirtle who directs them to the City of Giants. Let it just be mentioned that they are supposed to play a rather peculiar role at a great feast there…In the last chapters of this heavily allegorical book, the protagonists descend into an underworld, meet Prince Rilian who has been obviously bewitched and have to overcome the danger of materialism when they are pressured to deny the existence of Aslan and the “overworld”. Only then can they defeat the incarnation of evil and reascend into Narnia.
“The Silver Chair” is not one of the best books in the Chronicles of Narnia. Readers of the other volumes will find certain events rather predictable. Eustace and Jill never become the rounded characters that Peter, Edmund, Susan and Lucy were. Only the strange Marshwiggle shows some of Lewis’ old creativity in creating odd and memorable creatures.
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