The Magician's Nephew: Difference between revisions

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The sixth book written in ''[[The Chronicles of Narnia]]'' series, and the first one chronologically, [[Prequel|its events taking place before]] ''[[The Lion the Witch And The Wardrobe]]''.
The sixth book written in ''[[The Chronicles of Narnia]]'' series, and the first one chronologically, [[Prequel|its events taking place before]] ''[[The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe]]''.


In this prequel, two [[The Edwardian Era|Edwardian]] children, Digory Kirke and Polly Plummer, accidentally visit the dead world of Charn, where Digory falls for [[Schmuck Bait]], waking the [[Sealed Evil in A Can|Empress Jadis]]. She boasts about how she destroyed all life on her world, and forces the children to take her to London, where she [[Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking|causes a public disturbance]]. Eventually Jadis, the children, Digory's wicked Uncle Andrew, and a cabbie and his horse get a front row seat for the creation of Narnia by Aslan. Jadis is exiled to the far North, the cabbie and his wife (who gets transported there by Aslan) becomes king and queen, and the children and Uncle Andrew are returned home.
In this prequel, two [[The Edwardian Era|Edwardian]] children, Digory Kirke and Polly Plummer, accidentally visit the dead world of Charn, where Digory falls for [[Schmuck Bait]], waking the [[Sealed Evil in a Can|Empress Jadis]]. She boasts about how she destroyed all life on her world, and forces the children to take her to London, where she [[Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking|causes a public disturbance]]. Eventually Jadis, the children, Digory's wicked Uncle Andrew, and a cabbie and his horse get a front row seat for the creation of Narnia by Aslan. Jadis is exiled to the far North, the cabbie and his wife (who gets transported there by Aslan) becomes king and queen, and the children and Uncle Andrew are returned home.
{{tropelist}}
{{tropelist}}
* [[Above Good and Evil]]: Both Jadis and Uncle Andrew think this way. "Ours is a high and lonely destiny."
* [[Above Good and Evil]]: Both Jadis and Uncle Andrew think this way. "Ours is a high and lonely destiny."
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* [[Depopulation Bomb]]: The magical incantation by the white witch Jadis is this. After ruling her home planet of [[Meaningful Name|Charn]] as a cruel and capricious tyrant with a [[Zero-Percent Approval Rating]] and on the eve of defeat by her own subjects, Jadis out of pure spite uttered the deplorable word, resulting in ''[[Omnicidal Maniac|the instant death of every living thing in that universe]]'' except herself.
* [[Depopulation Bomb]]: The magical incantation by the white witch Jadis is this. After ruling her home planet of [[Meaningful Name|Charn]] as a cruel and capricious tyrant with a [[Zero-Percent Approval Rating]] and on the eve of defeat by her own subjects, Jadis out of pure spite uttered the deplorable word, resulting in ''[[Omnicidal Maniac|the instant death of every living thing in that universe]]'' except herself.
** Though the war was against her sister, implied to have been almost as evil, at least if the wax figures presenting the last members of the imperial house are anything to go by, as they all appear cruel and miserable.
** Though the war was against her sister, implied to have been almost as evil, at least if the wax figures presenting the last members of the imperial house are anything to go by, as they all appear cruel and miserable.
* [[The Disease That Shall Not Be Named]]: We are never told what is killing Digory's mum, but cancer claimed both [[CS Lewis (Creator)|CS Lewis]]' mother and his wife in [[Real Life]]. Justified since ''The Magician's Nephew'' is set in the Edwardian Era, before cancer diagnosis and treatment were commonplace.
* [[The Disease That Shall Not Be Named]]: We are never told what is killing Digory's mum, but cancer claimed both [[C. S. Lewis|CS Lewis]]' mother and his wife in [[Real Life]]. Justified since ''The Magician's Nephew'' is set in the Edwardian Era, before cancer diagnosis and treatment were commonplace.
* [[Does This Remind You of Anything?]]: The Deplorable Word. This book was written during the cold war.
* [[Does This Remind You of Anything?]]: The Deplorable Word. This book was written during the cold war.
* [[Don't Touch It, You Idiot!]]: Polly's reaction to Digory’s going after the [[Schmuck Bait]].
* [[Don't Touch It, You Idiot!]]: Polly's reaction to Digory’s going after the [[Schmuck Bait]].
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* [[Einstein Hair]]: Uncle Andrew.
* [[Einstein Hair]]: Uncle Andrew.
* [[Evil Cannot Comprehend Good]]: How Jadis makes her mistake when tempting Digory in the climax.
* [[Evil Cannot Comprehend Good]]: How Jadis makes her mistake when tempting Digory in the climax.
* [[Evil Is Cool]]: Subverted with Jadis. Did you expect [[CS Lewis (Creator)|CS Lewis]] not to?
* [[Evil Is Cool]]: Subverted with Jadis. Did you expect [[C. S. Lewis|CS Lewis]] not to?
* [[Fantastic Nuke]]: The "Deplorable Word": a magic word that, if spoken, instantly [[Kill'Em All|kills all life forms in the world]] except [[Omnicidal Maniac|the speaker]]. Lewis makes the nuclear allegory pretty transparent, especially in the description of the burned-out remains of Charn and the [[Aesop]] that Aslan [[Some Anvils Need to Be Dropped|delivers at the end]]:
* [[Fantastic Nuke]]: The "Deplorable Word": a magic word that, if spoken, instantly [[Kill'Em All|kills all life forms in the world]] except [[Omnicidal Maniac|the speaker]]. Lewis makes the nuclear allegory pretty transparent, especially in the description of the burned-out remains of Charn and the [[Aesop]] that Aslan [[Some Anvils Need to Be Dropped|delivers at the end]]:
{{quote| ''"It is not certain that some wicked member of your race will not find out a secret as evil as the Deplorable Word and use it to destroy all living things. And soon, very soon, great nations in your world will be ruled by tyrants who care no more for joy and justice and mercy than the [[Evil Sorcerer|Empress Jadis]]."''}}
{{quote| ''"It is not certain that some wicked member of your race will not find out a secret as evil as the Deplorable Word and use it to destroy all living things. And soon, very soon, great nations in your world will be ruled by tyrants who care no more for joy and justice and mercy than the [[Evil Sorcerer|Empress Jadis]]."''}}
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* [[Portal Network]]: The Wood Between the Worlds.
* [[Portal Network]]: The Wood Between the Worlds.
* [[Portal Pool]]: Many in "The Wood Between the Worlds".
* [[Portal Pool]]: Many in "The Wood Between the Worlds".
* [[Prequel]]: To ''[[The Lion the Witch And The Wardrobe]]''.
* [[Prequel]]: To ''[[The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe]]''.
* [[Schmuck Bait]]: In verse, no less:
* [[Schmuck Bait]]: In verse, no less:
{{quote| ''Make your choice, adventurous stranger<br />
{{quote| ''Make your choice, adventurous stranger<br />
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Or wonder 'till it drives you mad<br />
Or wonder 'till it drives you mad<br />
What would have followed if you had.'' }}
What would have followed if you had.'' }}
* [[Sealed Evil in A Can]]: Jadis, in the aforementioned [[Nice Job Breaking It, Hero]] moment.
* [[Sealed Evil in a Can]]: Jadis, in the aforementioned [[Nice Job Breaking It, Hero]] moment.
* [[Statuesque Stunner]]: Jadis.
* [[Statuesque Stunner]]: Jadis.
* [[Suicidal Cosmic Temper Tantrum]]: Jadis wiped out all the living things in Charn because her sister won the civil war.
* [[Suicidal Cosmic Temper Tantrum]]: Jadis wiped out all the living things in Charn because her sister won the civil war.
* [[This Is Something He's Got to Do Himself]]: Digory had to retrieve the apple himself. Had a Narnian taken it, it would have been for themselves and eventually caused Narnia to turn bad. However, if an outsider like Digory took it, it would have been taken for the sake of others.
* [[This Is Something He's Got to Do Himself]]: Digory had to retrieve the apple himself. Had a Narnian taken it, it would have been for themselves and eventually caused Narnia to turn bad. However, if an outsider like Digory took it, it would have been taken for the sake of others.
* [[Tsundere]]: Polly.
* [[Tsundere]]: Polly.
* [[Wake Up, Go to School, Save The World]]: After our heroes accidentally bring Jadis back to Earth, the book keeps shifting between domestic and cosmic. Most notably is when Polly remembers she's mad at Diggory, and tells him she's going home.
* [[Wake Up, Go to School, Save the World]]: After our heroes accidentally bring Jadis back to Earth, the book keeps shifting between domestic and cosmic. Most notably is when Polly remembers she's mad at Diggory, and tells him she's going home.
* [[We Can Rule Together]]: Jadis tempts Digory to eat the Apple of Youth so the two of them can rule the world as king and queen forever.
* [[We Can Rule Together]]: Jadis tempts Digory to eat the Apple of Youth so the two of them can rule the world as king and queen forever.
* [[What You Are in The Dark]]: Jadis tempts Digory to take the apple back to Earth for his mother instead of giving to Aslan. While she was already having trouble convincing him, she shoots herself in the foot by suggesting that he leave Polly behind in order to ensure nobody could tell on him. Polly has her own way home, but even if she didn't it would never have even occurred to Digory to abandon her; the suggestion makes him realize that if Jadis cares nothing for Polly, there's no reason for her to care about his mother either and there must be a catch in her proposal.
* [[What You Are in the Dark]]: Jadis tempts Digory to take the apple back to Earth for his mother instead of giving to Aslan. While she was already having trouble convincing him, she shoots herself in the foot by suggesting that he leave Polly behind in order to ensure nobody could tell on him. Polly has her own way home, but even if she didn't it would never have even occurred to Digory to abandon her; the suggestion makes him realize that if Jadis cares nothing for Polly, there's no reason for her to care about his mother either and there must be a catch in her proposal.
* [[Wish Fulfillment]]: Arguably, when {{spoiler|Aslan gives Digory the means to save his mother}}. Note that Lewis lost his own mother at a young age to a long illness, probably cancer.
* [[Wish Fulfillment]]: Arguably, when {{spoiler|Aslan gives Digory the means to save his mother}}. Note that Lewis lost his own mother at a young age to a long illness, probably cancer.
* [[World Tree]]: Several of them, each a significant plot point.
* [[World Tree]]: Several of them, each a significant plot point.
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