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Chapter 4
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Bravery
Christianity
Growing Up and Selflessness
Temptation
Summary
Analysis
Although the crew members of the Dawn Treader are all sad to leave Bern and his people, the next few days traveling on the ocean are pleasant. Lucy plays chess with Reepicheep. These pleasant days come to an end, however, when all of a sudden, a storm starts to brew.
The pleasant weather represents the rewards that Caspian and the others receive for helping the residents of Bern’s island. Still, the brewing storm is a reminder that life continues to present challenges.
Themes
On September 3rd, after a hurricane that lasts for almost two weeks, Eustace writes about it in his diary. He complains about how Caspian and Edmund forced him to work after the ship’s mast fell, even though Eustace was feeling sick. Eustace complains about low rations and how no one takes his navigation advice.
Eustace’s diary is full of petty complaints, contrasting humorously with the dangerous, potentially life-threatening events that the crew of the Dawn Treader survive. Eustace believes that because he feels sick, he shouldn’t have to contribute to helping on the boat. He fails to grasp (or simply doesn’t care) that everyone’s life is at stake during such a severe storm.
Themes
Eustace adds more short diary entries for the next couple days, continuing to complain about heat, his health, and the low rations. On September 6th, Eustace tries to steal extra water, but Reepicheep catches him. A few days later, the Dawn Treader arrives at an island, and Eustace forgets about his diary for a long time.
Eustace’s attempt to steal water shows how selfish he is. He puts his own comfort and survival above that of everyone else on the ship, potentially even putting his shipmates’ lives in danger. The way that Eustace abruptly stops his diary shows how he is still immature and doesn’t stick with things.
Themes
The island that the Dawn Treader arrives at is full of tall mountains. Everyone is grateful to find a river with freshwater. As Eustace hears everyone talking about all the hard work they have ahead of them to repair the Dawn Treader, he gets the idea that maybe he should run away.
Similar to when he tried to steal the water, here Eustace puts his own wants above everyone else’s needs. This island provides a chance for Eustace to test his theory that he would be better off on his own.
Themes
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But as Eustace goes off on his own into the foggy mountains, he realizes that for the first time in his life, he feels lonely. He fears that Caspian and the others will leave him behind. He hurries through the fog, thinking he’s going back toward the ship, but when the fog clears, he realizes he’s in a valley he’s never seen before.
The fog represents ignorance and how as soon as Eustace goes off on his own, he has to confront how little he really knows about survival. Eustace’s strategy is just to rush through and pretend that he knows where he’s going, but this backfires and leaves him more lost than before. He finally realizes that, whether he likes it or not, he must rely on Caspian and the others.
Themes
