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Chapter 13
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Horse and His Boy, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Freedom and Justice
Bravery vs. Recklessness
Christianity
Gender Roles
Summary
Analysis
Back at the Hermit’s place, the Hermit tells Aravis, Bree, and Hwin that Shasta survived. Hwin is eager to continue on toward Narnia now that the battle is over, but Bree would rather clean himself up first. Aravis asks why Bree is always saying expressions like “By the Lion” or “By the Lion’s Mane.” Bree starts explaining about Aslan, whom he says isn’t really a lion. But as Bree is talking, Hwin and Aravis see an enormous lion jump up and land on a green wall.
Aslan often acts invisibly, but here he reveals himself in order to give Hwin and Aravis faith. This is a yet another part of the novel’s Christian allegory, symbolizing how God provides signs for those looking for them. Bree is so busy talking that he almost misses this particular sign, showing how the humbler Aravis and Hwin are more open to seeing Aslan (who as always, represents God).
Themes
Hwin pleads to the lion not to eat her, but the lion, who is indeed Aslan, promises Hwin that she’ll soon find joy. Aslan then invites Bree to touch him and see that he’s a real lion. Bree apologizes and admits that he’s a fool. Aslan tells them he’ll see them again soon, but before then, they’ll have another visitor.
Joy is an important concept in much of Lewis’s work and reflects his emphasis on the positive aspects of Christianity as opposed to a more scolding, fire-and-brimstone interpretation of religion. Bree’s ability to admit that he was a fool (instead of denying it earlier, when he pretended not to hear Shasta’s order to face the lion) reflects his growth as a character.
Themes
Just then, the Hermit hears that Prince Cor of Archenland has come to seek an audience with Aravis. When the Prince arrives, he bows clumsily. Suddenly, Aravis realizes that it’s Shasta. It turns out Shasta’s real father is King Lune.
Although Shasta was really Prince Cor all along, he only regains his old title after he has been on a long journey to prove that he is worthy of it. This contrasts with Rabadash, who makes no effort to prove that he deserves the power he wields.
Themes
Cor (formerly known as Shasta) tells the story of what happened shortly after his birth. Apparently, a crooked chancellor named Lord Bar was a spy of the Tisroc and heard a rumor that Prince Cor would one day save Archenland from a great danger. To prevent this, Lord Bar kidnapped Cor and took him south on a boat to Calormen. King Lune chased him and killed Lord Bar, but Bar had sent Cor with a knight on a small boat, where Arsheesh eventually found him and renamed him Shasta.
Cor’s story shows how a person’s birth circumstances can set the course of their life, making a prince appear to be a poor boy in a fishing village. This connects to the Christian idea that all people are equal by demonstrating how a lofty prince and a poor fisherman’s boy don’t have to be so different—in this case, they’re the same person.
Themes
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By helping stop Prince Rabadash, Cor fulfilled the prophecy. Having finished his story, Cor adds that King Lune would like Aravis to come live with them, since there have been no ladies in court ever since the death of Cor’s mother. Aravis gladly agrees. Together with Bree and Hwin, whom they no longer ride since Cor has learned people don’t ride Talking Horses in Narnia or Archenland, they all head north.
The prophecy surrounding Cor’s birth is yet another example of God’s will taking mysterious forms. Lord Bar, who tried to stop the prophecy, perhaps accidentally ended up being the one who caused it to happen by sending Cor down south to become Shasta.
Themes
