The Silver Chair Themes

The antagonist of The Silver Chair, the Queen of the Underland, is a figure who relies on deception and illusions to grant her power. The first time she meets Jill, Scrubb, and Puddleglum, she sends them to Harfang, which she claims is a castle of friendly and welcoming giants, though in reality she believes the giants will kill and devour the children. In part, her trickery works because she disguises…

The Silver Chair suggests that freedom is a state of being that is worth striving for at all costs, in part because of how difficult it is to regain after losing it. Prince Rilian’s enslavement is the most direct example of this idea, as the Queen of the Underland’s enchantment causes him to lose his identity and become a participant in his own captivity. Although Prince Rilian believes he is free, in reality…

The Silver Chair presents courage as a vital virtue in the face of adversity. What’s more, courage in the narrative is portrayed not just as physical bravery but also as moral and emotional fortitude, which is essential for overcoming the trials faced by the novel’s characters. One of the most prominent displays of courage is in the journey of the protagonists, Jill and Scrubb. Thrust into a daunting mission to rescue Prince Rilian from…