Eustace Scrubb is a pompous, selfish, ill-mannered brat, who revels in
annoying other people. His cousins, Edmund
and Lucy Pevensie, are
downhearted at having to spend their summer holidays at his
house. As they sit consoling each other one day in Aunt Alberta’s
back bedroom and yearning to return to Narnia, they find themselves
drawn through a painting into that country. Unfortunately,
Eustace is drawn in with them.
Lucy and Edmund are delighted to find themselves on board the Narnian
ship Dawn Treader with their friends King Caspian and Reepicheep, the
mouse. Caspian is fulfilling a vow he made on his coronation day
to
sail beyond the Lone Islands to find the seven friends of his father
whom his wicked uncle Miraz had sent away. Reepicheep hopes to
sail on to the End of the World into Aslan’s country and never return.
Eustace is as obnoxious aboard the Dawn Treader as he was back
home. However, in the middle of the ocean, Caspian is unable to
comply with his request to let him off the ship. Like it or not,
Eustace is there to stay.
This fifth Narnia chronicle is more episodic than the previous
four. Each landfall means a different adventure and Aslan, the
Great Lion, comes and goes. The creatures the voyagers encounter
are more exotic than those in the land of Narnia. The Duffers, in particular,
are very amusing, as are the antics of the ever valiant and
battle-ready Reepicheep.
As always, Lewis is drawing parallels to the Christian journey while
telling a
children’s story. This is particularly true at the end
when the children are invited to a meal by a Lamb, who changes into
Aslan. The concept of doing one’s proper duty is heavily
stressed, as well as the virtue of forgiveness.
The adventures of the Dawn Treader will entertain one and all.
Each episode is fast-paced and interesting, and the characters elicit
sympathy and liking, although in Eustace’s case, it takes some time.