Caspian’s Fatherhood

The Silver Chair

Caspian’s grief over Rilian’s disappearance, final voyage, and restored meeting with his son form a family story within the larger quest.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

A Family in Mourning A Family in Mourning from "The Silver Chair". Shared Bereavement A queen lost Caspian X and Rilian mourn the queen after the serpent’s sudden attack.

A Family in Mourning from "The Silver Chair". Shared Bereavement A queen lost Caspian X and Rilian mourn the queen after the serpent’s sudden attack.

Shared Bereavement A queen lost Caspian X and Rilian mourn the queen after the serpent’s sudden attack. The family’s grief becomes the background to Rilian’s later fixation on the northern woods. Father and son The prince’s distress is visible to his father, who cannot foresee the danger approaching. Their bond is tested first by bereavement and then by separation.

The Empty Years The Empty Years from "The Silver Chair". A Father Without an Heir Loss without an answer Rilian vanishes, and neither Caspian X nor Narnia learns where he has gone.

The Empty Years from "The Silver Chair". A Father Without an Heir Loss without an answer Rilian vanishes, and neither Caspian X nor Narnia learns where he has gone.

A Father Without an Heir Loss without an answer Rilian vanishes, and neither Caspian X nor Narnia learns where he has gone. The king’s continuing grief is joined to concern over succession. Hope carried eastward Caspian X seeks Aslan’s counsel on a final voyage. His departure expresses both longing for guidance and the persistence of hope for his son.

A Friend’s Confession A Friend’s Confession from "The Silver Chair". Drinian’s Guilt Silence after the warning Drinian had suspected the green woman was evil but did not tell Caspian X.

A Friend’s Confession from "The Silver Chair". Drinian’s Guilt Silence after the warning Drinian had suspected the green woman was evil but did not tell Caspian X.

Drinian’s Guilt Silence after the warning Drinian had suspected the green woman was evil but did not tell Caspian X. After Rilian disappears, he confesses that silence may have cost the king his son. Mercy preserves the bond Caspian X raises an axe, then casts it aside and embraces Drinian. The king refuses to answer grief by destroying another lasting relationship.

A Reunion at the Quay A Reunion at the Quay from "The Silver Chair". Father and Son Meet Again The heir waits ashore Rilian arrives at Cair Paravel as Caspian X’s ship enters the river.

A Reunion at the Quay from "The Silver Chair". Father and Son Meet Again The heir waits ashore Rilian arrives at Cair Paravel as Caspian X’s ship enters the river.

Father and Son Meet Again The heir waits ashore Rilian arrives at Cair Paravel as Caspian X’s ship enters the river. The king is carried down from the ship too weak to stand. A final blessing Caspian X raises his hand to bless Rilian before dying. Their reunion is brief but resolves the years of unanswered separation.

A Meeting Beyond Death A Meeting Beyond Death from "The Silver Chair". Grief Given a Second Form The dead king seen again Jill and Eustace find Caspian X lying in the stream at the Mountain of Aslan.

A Meeting Beyond Death from "The Silver Chair". Grief Given a Second Form The dead king seen again Jill and Eustace find Caspian X lying in the stream at the Mountain of Aslan.

Grief Given a Second Form The dead king seen again Jill and Eustace find Caspian X lying in the stream at the Mountain of Aslan. Aslan’s tears make clear that death is mourned even in this country. Father restored Eustace drives the thorn into Aslan’s paw, and Caspian X rises young again. The reunion becomes an encounter beyond earthly succession and time.

After the queen’s death

From Rilian’s disappearance to Caspian’s final voyage

The night Rilian disappears

When Caspian’s ship returns to Narnia

At the Mountain of Aslan