Literary Paper on the Magician's Nephew
In the novel "the Magician 's Nephew", C.S. Lewis uses experiences from his own childhood to form the character of Digory in his own likeness. C.S. Lewis replicates much of his autobiographical information, regarding where he lived, his personality, and his own adventures, to create a character that is both believable and dynamic.
Throughout the novel, “The Magician’s Nephew”, much of the personal information regarding Digory, closely resembles that of the author C.S. Lewis. Digory and Lewis were both confronted with the death of their mothers at an early age, both were sent to live in a place they had no desire to be and both went long periods of time without seeing their fathers. We find out early on in the novel that Digory’s mother is very ill and not expected to live much longer. The novel begins with Digory meeting Polly when he climbs over a wall and is brought face to face with her. The Author writes, “The face of the strange boy was very grubby. It could hardly have been grubbier if he had first rubbed his hands in the earth, and then had a good cry, and then dried his face with his hands.” (The magicians Nephew p.2) This beginning already has the reader intrigued as to why a boy would be crying. The chapter later goes on to say that his “mother was ill and was going to…die.” (p.4) C.S Lewis was about the same age as Digory when his mother took ill. In the program “Questions of God” Lewis says
“When my mother became ill, there were voices and comings and goings all over the house. Our whole existence changed into something alien and menacing, as the house became full of strange smells and midnight noises.”
Times like these would bring any boy to tears. C.S Lewis was no different, and he gave to his character Digory the same hardships as himself. Not only was Digory tormented with the looming death of his mother but he was also forced to live in a place he had no desire to be, amidst people he had no desire to be around. After Polly had vocalized
Throughout the novel, “The Magician’s Nephew”, much of the personal information regarding Digory, closely resembles that of the author C.S. Lewis. Digory and Lewis were both confronted with the death of their mothers at an early age, both were sent to live in a place they had no desire to be and both went long periods of time without seeing their fathers. We find out early on in the novel that Digory’s mother is very ill and not expected to live much longer. The novel begins with Digory meeting Polly when he climbs over a wall and is brought face to face with her. The Author writes, “The face of the strange boy was very grubby. It could hardly have been grubbier if he had first rubbed his hands in the earth, and then had a good cry, and then dried his face with his hands.” (The magicians Nephew p.2) This beginning already has the reader intrigued as to why a boy would be crying. The chapter later goes on to say that his “mother was ill and was going to…die.” (p.4) C.S Lewis was about the same age as Digory when his mother took ill. In the program “Questions of God” Lewis says
“When my mother became ill, there were voices and comings and goings all over the house. Our whole existence changed into something alien and menacing, as the house became full of strange smells and midnight noises.”
Times like these would bring any boy to tears. C.S Lewis was no different, and he gave to his character Digory the same hardships as himself. Not only was Digory tormented with the looming death of his mother but he was also forced to live in a place he had no desire to be, amidst people he had no desire to be around. After Polly had vocalized
Cited: Lewis, Clive Staples.The Magician 's Nephew. New York: Collier Books--Macmillan Publishing Co., 1955. The Question of God, September 15, 2004 and September 22, 2004.