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Chapter 11
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Last Battle, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Belief, Deception, and False Prophets
The Value of Friendship
Redemption and Forgiveness
The End of the World
Summary
Analysis
Because Jill is farther back than most, she makes it to the white rock first. From there, she can see a Calormene soldier throwing Eustace into the stable. Although Tirian and Jewel attempt to help Eustace, they are too late by the time they arrive. As the Narnians regroup, the dwarves begin firing upon the Calormenes. Because they are out for themselves, the dwarves want to make sure they help out whichever side is losing, so they do not end up outnumbered at the end of the battle. However, because the Calormenes are well-armored, the dwarven arrows are not as effective. Furthermore, because he has the numbers on his side, Rishda is able to order several of his men to advance on the dwarves. The Calormenes begin throwing as many dwarves as they can into the stable.
Jill, Eustace, Tirian, and Jewel embody all of the noble qualities Aslan would expect from them, yet still they are in danger of falling to the Calormenes. Although the selfishness of the dwarves ironically aids them, their final stand at the white rock looks doomed to fail before it begins. Although the dwarves are momentarily helpful, their willingness to fire at whoever is currently winning the battle exemplifies senseless violence, which is done selfishly and immediately punished once Rishda figures out what they are doing.
Themes
At the white rock, Poggin voices his fear that they all might end up in the stable. Seeing that Jill is afraid, Jewel tries comforting her by suggesting the stable might take them to Aslan’s country. The Calormene troops advance on the Narnians at the white rock, who fight desperately for their lives. Tirian does his best to take out as many Calormenes as he can, though he knows he will fall eventually. Mid-fight, he sees one of the Calormenes carrying Jill toward the stable. He also notices that the entire Calormene force is attempting to direct him toward the stable as well.
The Narnians continue to fight in the name of Aslan and for one another, but they continue to fall and fail. While Jewel wants Jill to place her faith in Aslan, Aslan has not appeared throughout the entire novel. Instead, death and destruction have continued to consume Narnia, making it difficult to keep one’s faith. Nonetheless, Tirian and Jewel keep fighting, even after the children—who were supposed to be help from Aslan—end up in the stable.
Themes
Tirian decides to willingly allow the Calormenes to drive him toward the stable. Then, when he gets close, Tirian grabs Rishda and pulls him into the stable. As they enter, the earth shakes and the same shrieking noise that they heard before pierces the air. Tirian looks up to see Tash, who grabs Rishda. Before Tash can do anything to Tirian, a powerful voice commands Tash to depart in the name of Aslan.
In an act of self-sacrifice, Tirian finally gives in, but only because he thinks he can take Rishda with him. Tash, who knows Rishda has invoked his name, immediately goes after him, while Tirian is a secondary concern. Additionally, the invocation of Aslan’s name is the first positive sign Tirian has witnessed in quite some time.
Themes
Tash disappears and, in his place, Tirian sees seven kings and queens of Narnia, the same seven he saw in his dream while he was tied to the tree. Although it takes him a moment, he realizes that two of the figures are Jill and Eustace, who are now clean and wearing nice clothes. High King Peter steps forward and introduces Tirian to King Edmund, Queen Lucy, Lord Digory, and Lady Polly. Tirian greets them all and then asks why Susan is not among them. Peter explains that Susan is no longer a friend to Narnia and acts as though it does not exist. Instead, Susan spends her time acting like she is a young woman, which Lady Polly thinks is foolish. Then, Peter invites Tirian to eat from the fruit trees, which now surround them. Tirian looks around and thinks about how strange the night has become.
The appearance of the seven kings and queens of Narnia suggests that all hope is not lost after all. Although Jill and Eustace did not think of themselves as kings and queens of Narnia, their deeds on the battlefield earned them their right to stand next to the others, a fate that seemed to await them all along, given the nature of Tirian’s vision earlier in the novel. Meanwhile, Susan’s absence suggests that she has abandoned the spiritual richness of Narnia for the empty materialism of the modern world, a choice Lady Polly believes she will come to regret.
Themes
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