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Free subscribers can still read weekly columns and any reviews before they move behind the paywall. Normally, as part of the Narnia read-along, free subscribers can see brief summaries of the sections and a significant quote from the chapter. Because I believe this chapter is so important to modern discourse, however, I wanted to make more of it available. So, for this week only, all subscribers will be able to read the entire “Inspiration” section.
Prince Caspian: Chapter 12 “Sorcery and Sudden Vengeance”
Inspiration: Nikabrik gives us an example to avoid. We can see his progression through a pursuit of power and the inevitable destructive end. C.S. Lewis intended for us to see this as a cautionary tale.
Application: Pain and suffering can turn us sour, but it doesn’t have to. The Christian knows they have a sure hope to cling to regardless of their circumstances. The moment when we give in to temptation or despair could be seconds before Jesus intervenes in some way. Don’t lose hope.
Quote: “The help will come,” said Trufflehunter. “I stand by Aslan. Have patience, like us beasts. The help will come. It may be even now at the door.”
Inspiration: “Sorcery and Sudden Vengeance”
If I could require modern Americans, including my fellow evangelical Christians, to read one chapter from The Chronicles of Narnia, it would be “Sorcery and Sudden Vengeance” from Prince Caspian.
This is not my favorite chapter in Narnia; it’s not even my favorite chapter in Prince Caspian. But here, we see Lewis’ insightful perspective on the allure of power and how we justify our embrace of power in contradiction to our values. Similar to how J.R.R. Tolkien uses the one ring to depict the temptations inherent with power, Lewis uses this pivotal moment in his story to showcase how power can subtly warp our perspective and ensnare our thinking.
Both Inkling fantasy writers fought in the trenches of World War I and wrote in the shadow of World War II. Those global conflicts and the leaders behind them gave Lewis and Tolkien an understanding of charismatic leaders wielding unchecked power. They knew this to be a temptation even within Christianity.
Lewis worried about tying faith too closely to politics. He outright rejected the idea that there could ever be a Christian political party. Assigning a party that label embraces a demonic lie. In “Meditations on the Third Commandment,” reprinted in God in the Dock, he wrote:
“The demon inherent in every party is at all times ready enough to disguise himself as the Holy Ghost; the formation of a Christian party means handing over to him the most efficient make-up we can find.”
He took his own advice. In 1951, shortly after Prince Caspian was published, Winston Churchill wanted to recognize Lewis with one of the highest honors in the United Kingdom, Commander of the British Empire, one step removed from knighthood. The famed prime minister wrote a letter to Lewis directly with the news. The next day, however, Lewis wrote to humbly decline because he didn’t want people discrediting his religious writing as political propaganda. He worried it would create an unnecessary stumbling block for those who disagreed with Churchill politically.
As a negative example of what happens when you fully embrace the pursuit of power, Lewis gives us Nikabrik. Within this brief chapter, we see the progression of the Black Dwarf and can see how others or ourselves could be going further than we realized down the dangerous path.
1. Association
Don’t miss the fact that Nikabrik brought these two new people—a hag and a werewolf—to the council. Earlier in chapter 6 “The People That Lived in Hiding,” other Black Dwarfs offered to introduce Caspian to “an orge or two and a hag.” They rejected the offer because those types were opposed to Aslan, but Nikabrik was open to anyone or anything that would drive out the Telmarines. Now, he calls these two his friends. His association with them undoubtedly tainted his perspective on Aslan and the rest of the Old Narnians.
2. False urgency
Nikabrik sees this as a “now-or-never moment.” If something doesn’t change, he may never escape Miraz’s oppression. This, unbeknownst to him, false sense of urgency leads him to miss other potential options. Aslan has not provided help yet. Because he feels they are out of time, he wrongly assumes Aslan will never help. He mocks Trufflehunter saying the badger would wait “till the sky falls” or “Miraz has fed us all to his dogs.” Urgency blinds him to other possibilities.
3. Exaggeration
As Nikabrik begins his case, he overstates what the dwarfs have done in comparison to others. They have suffered and sacrificed, but he asserts they “bore the brunt of the attack” from Miraz. Trumpkin calls him out, saying everyone did their share, especially Caspian. “Tell that tale your own way for all I care,” Nikabrik responds. Truth no longer matters as much as making his point.
4. Hesitation
Before Nikabrik moves too deep, he seemingly has a moment of doubt. Caspian asks him for his actual plan, beyond merely complaining. After a long pause, he began speaking in a much lower voice, “as if he himself did not much like what he was saying.”
5. Avoidance
When Nikabrik finally begins to talk, he aims to discount and undermine the truth. “None of us knows the truth about the ancient days in Narnia,” he says. Before actively embracing his new perspective, he must cast doubt on his former position. This makes it easier to embrace the lie he prefers to the truth he rejects.
6. Pragmatism
As he begins advocating for the White Witch, Nikabrik argues that they need power. It doesn’t matter what type or how it’s obtained. “We want power, and we want a power that will be on our side,” he says. Later, in talking about the Witch’s causing years of winter, he says, “There’s power, if you like. There’s something practical.”
7. Glorification
Again, to help rationalize his embrace of the witch, Nikabrik ignores the wrongs she committed and presents a hagiographical version of the past. He acknowledges things may have been difficult for some, but “she got on all right with us dwarfs.” Like the Israelites reimagining their captivity in Egypt and saying they wanted to go back to (imaginary) pots of meat, he glosses over how she enslaved the dwarfs like everyone else.
8. Isolation
Even within his glorification, he serves to further isolate himself. Nikabrik frequently dismisses critiques by asserting that he is simply standing up for “my people.” It doesn’t matter if the White Witch harmed humans or “stamped out the beavers,” he’s only concerned with what will happen to those who are like him.
9. Passion
When he began, Nikabrik spoke hesitatingly in a low voice and exaggerated the sacrifices of the dwarfs. Now, as his voice rises to a scream, he outright lies about mistreatment directed toward the dwarfs. If for no other reason than to convince himself, he must be passionate about his cause. He can’t have any visible doubts.
10. Rejection
Nikabrik has now fully embraced the evil side. He identifies himself as belonging with the hag and werewolf and rejects Caspian, Trufflehunter, and Cornelius. “There’s three on my side and three on yours,” he says. Unfortunately for Nikabrik, this ends in his death. He wasn’t aware that the help from Aslan he dismissed was right outside the door. His embrace of evil means led to an evil end.
This is the unfortunate result of unchecked ambition. For Nikabrik, the pursuit of power led to his death. For most, the chase will not mean physical death, but it will result in the death of convictions and character. Following the path of power inevitably leads away from truth, beauty, and goodness. When power is the ultimate destination, everything else can only serve as tools to reach that goal.
But we don’t have to start down that path. That road can be avoided. Nikabrik provides us with a cautionary tale if we will only listen.
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