What Is The Novel "The Silver Chair" About?

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The Silver chair is the fourth book to be published in the Chronicles of Narnia series, written by CS Lewis. Chronologically, it is the sixth book in the series. The book was published in 1953.

This instalment begins with Pevensie children’s cousin, Eustace Stubbs, seeking the help of the lion, Aslan, so that he and a classmate named Jill can escape from some bullies. The two children end up in Asan’s home, known as "Aslan’s Country". When they arrive, Eustace is saved by Aslan after he falls when trying to stop Jill from falling off a cliff edge. He is sent to Narnia and Jill is given the task of helping Eustace seek out Prince Rilian, a Narnian prince who has been missing for ten years. To help the children with their task, Aslan gives Jill four "Signs" and then sends her to Narnia. Once in Narnia, the children see King Caspian and his friend, Trumpkin the Dwarf. The children stay at Cair Paravel.

At Cair Paravel, the children meet Master Glimfeather and his group of talking owls, who inform the children that Prince Rilian was put under a spell after he went missing to seek out a green serpent that caused the death of his mother. The children set out on their quest, accompanied by a frog-type humanoid called Puddleglum, who is a Marsh-wiggle. They pass through many dangerous areas, including the River Shribble, which is not far from where the giants live. After passing through a canyon and a bridge, they meet The Lady of the Green Kirtle, who is also known as The Emerald Queen. She tells them to go to Harfang, which is the home of the Gentle Giants.

The children and Puggleglum rest for the night and the next morning they notice Aslan’s third Sign, which is the words "Under Me". They discover that the giants, who had been preparing for an Autumn Feast, are actually planning to eat them and so they escape by following Aslan’s Sign.

The children and Puddleglum end up in the Underland, where they are captured by gnomes and placed on a boat, where they travel across a subterranean lake known as the Sunless Sea. They arrive in a city that is ruled by The Lady of the Green Kirtle. They meet a young man who is living with her as her protegé. The children discover that the man suffers from psychotic episodes, during which he, by the order of The Lady of the Green Kirtle, must remain tied to a silver chair otherwise he will turn into a green serpent.

Eustace, Jill and Puddleglum watch the man during one of his episodes, as they believe this may help them with their task. During this, the young man pleads with the children and Puddleglum to release him from his torture under the name of Aslan. The children recognise this as being Aslan’s fourth Sign, as Aslan had previously told Jill that the fourth and final Signs would involve something that had to be done under his name. The children and Puddleglum help the young man, who they then discover is the missing Prince Rilian. He destroys the chair and the Lady tries to bewitch the group, but Puddleglum destroys her spell. The Lady then reveals herself to be the green serpent that killed Rilian’s mother. The serpent is killed by Rilian, who then helps the children and Puddglum to escape from the Underworld. The gnomes, who were under a spell by the Lady, help the group by showing them a route out of the underworld.

Rilian returns to Cair Paravel and King Caspian dies. Aslan congratulates the children on completing their task and then asks Eustace to perform a task that will revive Caspian and return him to youth. Caspian returns briefly with the children to their own world. He, along with Aslan, helps to get rid of the bullies who are still seeking out Eustace and Jill as hardly any time has passed in their world. Aslan and Caspian leave and the children return to school.