The Magician's Nephew

C. S. Lewis

54 pages 1-hour read

C. S. Lewis

The Magician's Nephew

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1955

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Digory is a young boy who recently moved from the country to London to live with his strict aunt and erratic uncle. His life is currently overshadowed by his mother's terminal illness, leaving him emotionally vulnerable and desperate for a cure. Though he possesses a strong sense of justice and recognizes right from wrong, his impulsive curiosity and stubbornness occasionally lead him to make poor choices when exploring new environments.

Key Relationships

Friend of Polly Plummer

Son of Mabel Kirke

Nephew of Uncle Andrew

Nephew of Aunt Letty

Supplicant to Aslan

Polly is a practical and observant girl living next door to Digory in London. She enjoys inventing adventures and exploring the dark attic tunnels connecting their row houses. She functions as a moral compass, showing more caution and common sense than Digory when dealing with unknown magic, though her initial fascination with shiny objects accidentally pulls her into danger.

Key Relationships

Friend of Digory Kirke

Victim of Uncle Andrew

Uncle Andrew is a tall, thin man with a sharp nose and bushy gray hair who views himself as a powerful magician above ordinary moral rules. He studies mysterious dust inherited from his godmother, using it to fashion magical yellow and green rings. Despite his grandiose claims of hidden wisdom, he is highly cowardly and prefers to send children into the unknown rather than risk his own safety.

Key Relationships

Uncle of Digory Kirke

Manipulator of Polly Plummer

Brother of Aunt Letty

Jadis is the strikingly beautiful, seven-foot-tall final monarch of the dead world of Charn. She possesses immense physical strength and a terrifying command of destructive magic, having eradicated all life in her own world to maintain her throne. Viewing herself as entirely exempt from common rules, she expects absolute obedience and easily resorts to violence against anyone who obstructs her desires.

Key Relationships

Awakened by Digory Kirke

Abuser of Polly Plummer

Master of Uncle Andrew

Enemy of Aslan

Aslan is a massive, shaggy, bright lion whose vocalizations possess raw creative magic. He sings the world of Narnia into existence, pulling flora, fauna, and light out of nothingness. He radiates a terrifying but majestic authority, demanding truth and accountability while also demonstrating deep empathy for the sorrow of others.

Key Relationships

Supporting Characters

Frank is a London cab driver with a working-class background and a kind, steady demeanor. He maintains his composure during bizarre and frightening situations, prioritizing the safety of others and the well-being of his horse. He holds deep religious faith, allowing him to appreciate miraculous events with awe rather than terror.

Key Relationships

Husband of Queen Helen

Owner of Strawberry/Fledge

Chosen by Aslan

Strawberry is a London draft horse who previously lived in the country before being sold into exhausting city work. He is easily frightened by the chaos in London but quickly finds peace, renewed youth, and greater purpose upon entering the newly created world of Narnia.

Key Relationships

Transport for Digory Kirke

Transformed by Aslan

Aunt Letty is Digory's strict, practical aunt who manages the household in London. She cares for Digory's dying mother and displays a no-nonsense attitude toward her brother Andrew's erratic behavior, remaining completely unfazed by threats of magic or intimidation.

Key Relationships

Aunt of Digory Kirke

Sister of Uncle Andrew

Caretaker for Mabel Kirke

Mabel is Digory's mother, who is suffering from a terminal illness that necessitates their move to London. Her declining health is the central source of Digory's emotional distress and motivates his desperate search across different worlds for something that might cure her.

Key Relationships

Mother of Digory Kirke

Sister-in-law of Aunt Letty

Helen is the Cabby's wife, a working-class London woman. She is summoned to a new world to stand beside her husband, trading her difficult city life for a position of royalty and responsibility over a newly created land.

Key Relationships

Called by Aslan