Steimer | Narnia Post 1 | 12/6 | The Magician's Ethics

So far, we have discussed, through various lenses, that a good story requires the reader to interpret the “other world” through their own life story. 

Many ethical issues revealed in the Magician's Nephew are conveyed through Andrew’s decisions. In the book he uses the term “Ignorant people”, saying that Mrs. Lefay, before her death, had come to dislike them. For the purpose of this writing, we can define Ignorant people as those who don't know certain things. When we treat someone as if they don't know, we commit unethical acts, a grievance against the person. 


Digory is the character who interacts with Andrew in a dialog that lets us uncover Andrew's true nature as Digory himself comes to realize it. After Andrew tells him about Mrs. Lefays box and how he didn't burn it against her wishes, Digory says that this act is “downright” rotten. 


Andrew appears to be puzzled by this name calling. He insists that people like him are above regular social rules or acts. He claims that people like himself possess a “certain wisdom”. The morals that out him as immoral, to him, are for lessers. He is held to a different ethic. Digory is able to see this difference when he is reminded of his uncle's actions when Polly disappeared. He talks of experimenting with guinea pigs and reveals that he's willing to sacrifice others in the name of science. The reader, applying what they know of themselves, is able to interpret the ill actions of Andrew and return Reality with a better understanding. 


Andrew’s Ethics are parroted by the Which and later Digory himself. Multiple times throughout the book the reader comes into contact with these ethics and must make a choice. Do we take what we encounter in this secondary world into the primary? If yes, we might come away with a new understanding of how we interact with people. We might find ourselves about to assume the role of Andrew, placing ourselves before others. In this moment, because our self reflection is catalyzed by what we take in from the second world, we recognize this and are able to change and evolve the self. 


“We must be solely concerned with our own story, and be there to listen to others.” 

-Redick (I think)

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