The Horse and His Boy

by

C. S. Lewis

Prince Rabadash Character Analysis

Prince Rabadash is the son of the Tisroc and the main villain of the story. He becomes obsessed with marrying Susan and is willing to kidnap her if he has to, leading 200 men across the desert in an attempt to take her. Rabadash tries to present his quest as noble, claiming to have no interest in spilling the blood of Narnians, but he is ultimately selfish and doesn’t care if he starts a war. For his recklessness and selfishness, Aslan punishes Rabadash by turning him into a donkey, and even after regaining human form, Rabadash acquires a reputation in Calormen for making bad decisions. Rabadash represents how selfish motivations can lead people astray.

Prince Rabadash Quotes in The Horse and His Boy

The The Horse and His Boy quotes below are all either spoken by Prince Rabadash or refer to Prince Rabadash. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Freedom and Justice Theme Icon
).
Chapter 5  Quotes

“Yes,” said Tumnus. “And when I supped with the Grand Vizier last night, it was the same. He asked me how I liked Tashbaan. And I (for I could not tell him I hated every stone of it and I would not lie) told him that now, when high summer was coming on, my heart turned to the cool woods and dewy slopes of Narnia. He gave a smile that meant no good and said, ‘There is nothing to hinder you from dancing there again, little goatfoot; always provided you leave us in exchange a bride for our prince.’”

Related Characters: Mr. Tumnus (speaker), Prince Rabadash, Ahoshta, Susan
Related Symbols: Tashbaan
Page Number: 72
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 8  Quotes

“That is why you will never think even in your secret heart that I am the hardest hearted of fathers who thus send my first-born son on an errand so likely to be his death; pleasing as it must be to you who do not love the Prince. For I see into the bottom of your mind.”

“O impeccable Tisroc,” said the Vizier. “In comparison with you I love neither the Prince nor my own life nor bread nor water nor the light of the sun.”

Related Characters: Ahoshta (speaker), The Tisroc (speaker), Prince Rabadash, Susan
Related Symbols: Tashbaan
Page Number: 129
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 9  Quotes

“I think, Ma’am,” said Bree very crushingly, “that I know a little more about campaigns and forced marches and what a horse can stand than you do.”

To this Hwin made no answer, being, like most highly bred mares, a very nervous and gentle person who was easily put down. In reality she was quite right, and if Bree had had a Tarkaan on his back at that moment to make him go on, he would have found that he was good for several hours’ hard going. But one of the worst results of being a slave and being forced to do things is that when there is no one to force you any more you find you have almost lost the power of forcing yourself.

Related Characters: Horse/Bree (speaker), Prince Rabadash, Hwin
Page Number: 145
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 12  Quotes

The trumpets sounded again: a new noise to Shasta, not huge and solemn like the horns of Tashbaan nor gay and merry like King Lune’s hunting horn, but clear and sharp and valiant. The noise was coming from the woods to the East, and soon there was a noise of horse-hoofs mixed with it. A moment later the head of the column came into sight.

Related Characters: Shasta/Cor, Prince Rabadash, Corin, King Lune, Edmund, Lucy
Related Symbols: Tashbaan
Page Number: 188
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 13  Quotes

“Now the ram has started. If I could hear as well as see, what a noise that would make! Stroke after stroke: and no gate can stand it forever. But wait! Something up by Stormness has scared the birds. They’re coming out in masses. And wait again…I can’t see yet…ah! Now I can. The whole ridge, up on the east, is black with horsemen. If only the wind would catch that standard and spread it out. They’re over the ridge now, whoever they are. Aha! I’ve seen the banner now. Narnia, Narnia! It’s the red lion. They’re in full career down the hill now. I can see King Edmund. There’s a woman behind among the archers. Oh!—”

“What is it?” asked Hwin breathlessly.

“All his Cats are dashing out from the left of the line.”

Related Characters: Hwin (speaker), Hermit (speaker), Shasta/Cor, Aravis, Prince Rabadash
Page Number: 202
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 15  Quotes

“You have appealed to Tash,” said Aslan. “And in the temple of Tash you shall be healed. You must stand before the altar of Tash in Tashbaan at the great Autumn Feast this year and there, in the sight of all Tashbaan, your ass’s shape will fall from you and all men will know you for Prince Rabadash. But as long as you live, if ever you go more than ten miles away from the great temple in Tashbaan you shall instantly become again as you now are. And from that second change there will be no return.”

Related Characters: Aslan (speaker), Prince Rabadash, Tash
Related Symbols: Tashbaan, Lion
Page Number: 236
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire The Horse and His Boy LitChart as a printable PDF.
The Horse and His Boy PDF

Prince Rabadash Quotes in The Horse and His Boy

The The Horse and His Boy quotes below are all either spoken by Prince Rabadash or refer to Prince Rabadash. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Freedom and Justice Theme Icon
).
Chapter 5  Quotes

“Yes,” said Tumnus. “And when I supped with the Grand Vizier last night, it was the same. He asked me how I liked Tashbaan. And I (for I could not tell him I hated every stone of it and I would not lie) told him that now, when high summer was coming on, my heart turned to the cool woods and dewy slopes of Narnia. He gave a smile that meant no good and said, ‘There is nothing to hinder you from dancing there again, little goatfoot; always provided you leave us in exchange a bride for our prince.’”

Related Characters: Mr. Tumnus (speaker), Prince Rabadash, Ahoshta, Susan
Related Symbols: Tashbaan
Page Number: 72
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 8  Quotes

“That is why you will never think even in your secret heart that I am the hardest hearted of fathers who thus send my first-born son on an errand so likely to be his death; pleasing as it must be to you who do not love the Prince. For I see into the bottom of your mind.”

“O impeccable Tisroc,” said the Vizier. “In comparison with you I love neither the Prince nor my own life nor bread nor water nor the light of the sun.”

Related Characters: Ahoshta (speaker), The Tisroc (speaker), Prince Rabadash, Susan
Related Symbols: Tashbaan
Page Number: 129
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 9  Quotes

“I think, Ma’am,” said Bree very crushingly, “that I know a little more about campaigns and forced marches and what a horse can stand than you do.”

To this Hwin made no answer, being, like most highly bred mares, a very nervous and gentle person who was easily put down. In reality she was quite right, and if Bree had had a Tarkaan on his back at that moment to make him go on, he would have found that he was good for several hours’ hard going. But one of the worst results of being a slave and being forced to do things is that when there is no one to force you any more you find you have almost lost the power of forcing yourself.

Related Characters: Horse/Bree (speaker), Prince Rabadash, Hwin
Page Number: 145
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 12  Quotes

The trumpets sounded again: a new noise to Shasta, not huge and solemn like the horns of Tashbaan nor gay and merry like King Lune’s hunting horn, but clear and sharp and valiant. The noise was coming from the woods to the East, and soon there was a noise of horse-hoofs mixed with it. A moment later the head of the column came into sight.

Related Characters: Shasta/Cor, Prince Rabadash, Corin, King Lune, Edmund, Lucy
Related Symbols: Tashbaan
Page Number: 188
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 13  Quotes

“Now the ram has started. If I could hear as well as see, what a noise that would make! Stroke after stroke: and no gate can stand it forever. But wait! Something up by Stormness has scared the birds. They’re coming out in masses. And wait again…I can’t see yet…ah! Now I can. The whole ridge, up on the east, is black with horsemen. If only the wind would catch that standard and spread it out. They’re over the ridge now, whoever they are. Aha! I’ve seen the banner now. Narnia, Narnia! It’s the red lion. They’re in full career down the hill now. I can see King Edmund. There’s a woman behind among the archers. Oh!—”

“What is it?” asked Hwin breathlessly.

“All his Cats are dashing out from the left of the line.”

Related Characters: Hwin (speaker), Hermit (speaker), Shasta/Cor, Aravis, Prince Rabadash
Page Number: 202
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 15  Quotes

“You have appealed to Tash,” said Aslan. “And in the temple of Tash you shall be healed. You must stand before the altar of Tash in Tashbaan at the great Autumn Feast this year and there, in the sight of all Tashbaan, your ass’s shape will fall from you and all men will know you for Prince Rabadash. But as long as you live, if ever you go more than ten miles away from the great temple in Tashbaan you shall instantly become again as you now are. And from that second change there will be no return.”

Related Characters: Aslan (speaker), Prince Rabadash, Tash
Related Symbols: Tashbaan, Lion
Page Number: 236
Explanation and Analysis: