Andrew Ketterley’s Decline

The Magician's Nephew

This flow traces Andrew’s transformation from self-appointed magician to frightened captive and, eventually, a less selfish old man.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

The Self-Appointed Sage The Self-Appointed Sage from "The Magician's Nephew". The Self-Appointed Sage Knowledge as entitlement Andrew believes that exceptional learning frees him from ordinary promises and concern for others.

The Self-Appointed Sage from "The Magician's Nephew". The Self-Appointed Sage Knowledge as entitlement Andrew believes that exceptional learning frees him from ordinary promises and concern for others.

The Self-Appointed Sage Knowledge as entitlement Andrew believes that exceptional learning frees him from ordinary promises and concern for others. He treats guinea pigs as experimental material and considers human consent irrelevant. A high destiny claimed He describes himself as a lonely, superior thinker. Digory sees that this language disguises a simple desire to do whatever he wants without accepting responsibility.

The Experiment Succeeds The Experiment Succeeds from "The Magician's Nephew". The Experiment Succeeds A child used as a subject Andrew sends Polly away through a ring and calls the disappearance a successful experiment.

The Experiment Succeeds from "The Magician's Nephew". The Experiment Succeeds A child used as a subject Andrew sends Polly away through a ring and calls the disappearance a successful experiment.

The Experiment Succeeds A child used as a subject Andrew sends Polly away through a ring and calls the disappearance a successful experiment. His excitement exposes how completely he has separated discovery from the welfare of others. Cowardice exposed He refuses to enter the other world himself and pressures Digory to rescue Polly. The supposed sage depends on a frightened child to face the danger he created.

The Witch’s Servant The Witch’s Servant from "The Magician's Nephew". The Witch’s Servant Submission replaces mastery Andrew imagines he can impress Jadis, but once she is present he becomes afraid.

The Witch’s Servant from "The Magician's Nephew". The Witch’s Servant Submission replaces mastery Andrew imagines he can impress Jadis, but once she is present he becomes afraid.

The Witch’s Servant Submission replaces mastery Andrew imagines he can impress Jadis, but once she is present he becomes afraid. She calls him a servant and orders him to arrange her conquest of the world. Pretence collapses His claim to be a magician offers no protection against Jadis. His dependence on status, wealth, and other people’s risks has left him without genuine authority.

The Beasts’ Captive The Beasts’ Captive from "The Magician's Nephew". The Beasts’ Captive Inability to listen Andrew hears Aslan’s song as mere roaring because he tries to suppress what it awakens in him.

The Beasts’ Captive from "The Magician's Nephew". The Beasts’ Captive Inability to listen Andrew hears Aslan’s song as mere roaring because he tries to suppress what it awakens in him.

The Beasts’ Captive Inability to listen Andrew hears Aslan’s song as mere roaring because he tries to suppress what it awakens in him. When the animals speak, he hears only threatening noises. A comic reversal The beasts mistake him for an unusual creature and plant him in the ground. Their innocent misunderstanding reverses his usual treatment of animals and leaves him dependent on their care.

A Changed Old Age A Changed Old Age from "The Magician's Nephew". A Changed Old Age Magic abandoned Andrew never tries magic again.

A Changed Old Age Magic abandoned Andrew never tries magic again. The adventure has exposed the real danger of his experiments and the limits of his imagined mastery. Improvement without erasure He becomes less selfish as he grows old, though he still boasts about Jadis as a beautiful foreign visitor. His partial change does not erase the harm he caused, but shows that he can learn.

before Polly and Digory discover the study

the day Polly touches a yellow ring

after Jadis arrives in London

during Narnia’s first day

after the adventure, in later life