The Magician’s Nephew: Chapter 14 Summary & Analysis

“Well done!” Aslan tells Digory in an earth-shaking voice. Though the story of Digory’s deed will be passed down for generations in Narnia, Digory doesn’t think about that. He just feels content in Aslan’s approval. Aslan instructs Digory to toss the apple onto the soft ground along the riverbank, and he does so.

Now it’s time for the coronation of King Frank and Queen Helen. The children notice the rich robes that the two are wearing; dwarfs and river-nymphs walk in their train. Their faces have changed even more than their clothes. Frank no longer looks like a quarrelsome London cabby; he looks kind and brave. It's hard to tell if it’s Narnia or Aslan that have made the difference.

Aslan tells the animals to undo a kind of cage that they’ve made out of the tangled branches of four trees. In the cage are three things: a golden tree, a silver tree, and a muddy Uncle Andrew. Uncle Andrew’s furious protests had persuaded the animals to dig him up from the ground where they’d “planted” him, so they’d secured him in the cage until Aslan could decide what to do with him. The animals have become fond of this “pet” and have kept trying to offer him the food they like best—thistles, nuts, worms, and a whole honeycomb filled with bees. But Uncle Andrew just kept making noise. The animals decided to call him “Brandy” because they kept hearing him make that noise.

Aslan tells the animals to bring Uncle Andrew to him. Polly asks Aslan to “unfrighten” Uncle Andrew and convince him never to return to Narnia. Aslan tells Polly that he can’t comfort Uncle Andrew, because Uncle Andrew can’t hear his voice; he only hears “growlings and roarings.” Therefore, the only gift Aslan can offer him is sleep. He sadly says that the sons of Adam “cleverly […] defend yourselves against all that might do you good.”

Meanwhile, Aslan tells the Dwarfs to make crowns for the new King and Queen. Eagerly, they use the Golden Tree and the Silver Tree (which sprang up from the coins in Uncle Andrew’s pocket) to create beautiful, delicate crowns with precious stones set in them. Aslan crowns Frank and Helen as they kneel before him, blessing them and charging them to rule with justice and mercy. The animals cheer in their varying voices.

Just then, everyone notices that a sweet-smelling tree laden with silver apples has quietly spring up. Aslan charges the Narnians to guard this tree, which is their shield from the Witch. The Witch has fled into the north, where she is growing stronger in dark magic. But as long as the tree flourishes, she won’t come near, because its joyous, life-giving smell reeks of death and despair to the Witch.

Polly speaks up to explain that the Witch has already eaten one of the apples from the tree. Aslan explains that this is why the Witch now finds the tree repellent: “this is what happens to those who pluck and eat fruits at the wrong time and in the wrong way.” She will still live endlessly, but because her heart is wicked, her days will be filled with misery.

Digory confesses that the Witch tempted him to eat an apple, too. Aslan says that the same fate would have befallen Digory—and that if he had taken the apple home unbidden for his mother, then both he and his mother would have lived to regret that day, even if she had been healed.

Digory weeps, believing that there’s no hope left for his mother, but trusting Aslan’s words. But Aslan quietly gives Digory permission to pluck another apple. It will not give his mother endless life, but it will heal her for now. Digory can’t understand for a moment, but soon he’s walking to the tree while the Narnians cheer him. After plucking an apple, he asks Aslan if he and Polly may go home now.