The Magician's Nephew | Chapter 13: An Unexpected Meeting

Chapter Summary:

Fledge, Digory, and Polly awaken the next day, eat breakfast (the toffee they planted has grown into a tree), and continue on their flight. Soon, they arrive at the top of the green hill where Aslan said the apple could be found. Digory sees that it is an enclosed, private garden, and senses that he must enter alone. A poem at the gates to the garden warns of entering the garden only through the gate, and never taking the fruit inside for oneself.

Digory enters the garden and takes one giant silver apple. As he is leaving, he encounters the Witch (who is eating a silver apple), who chases him out of the garden and tempts him: First, the Witch points out that Digory could eat the apple in his hand and become immortal. Digory easily resists this temptation.

Then, the Witch points out that the solution to Digory's mother's ailment is in Digory's hand, and could be used to heal her immediately. Digory battles with the choice, but when the Witch suggests that Digory leave Polly in Narnia to return to his mother, Digory's head clears and his decision is made. 

Polly, who has been silent throughout, tells Digory he has made a good choice. Digory, Polly, and Fledge fly away and make the return trip to Aslan.

Reflection:

It's Adam and the Serpent--I mean--Digory and the Witch--in a conversational battle in the Garden of... Silver Apples. It is clear when reading this conversation between Digory and the Witch that a lesson has been learned. And we know this especially because the Witch pulls out all the stops. Jadis appeals to Digory's greatest weakness--his desire to heal his mother's ailment and make her well again. But Jadis makes two mistakes--her first is similar to the one that Lord Voldemort makes--she underestimates the power of a mother's influence. Even while still making the decision, Digory contemplates that even his mother, in her state, would tell Digory not to bring her the apple, because he made a promise to bring the apple back to Aslan.

Jadis's second (and critical) mistake comes because she doesn't realize that Digory has learned a lesson. Here is where the tide turns. (The first "she" is Digory's mother.)

"'But she need never know,' said the Witch... 'You wouldn't tell her how you'd got the apple. Your Father need never know. No one in your world need know anything about this whole story. You needn't take the little girl back with you, you know'" (p. 64).

Recall that in Charn, Digory is cruel to Polly--forcing her hand away from her magical ring while simultaneously striking the bell that awakened Jadis. Later, Digory admits that he is sorry for this act, and Polly tells Aslan that she has forgiven him.

Jadis's mistake here, then, is that she is offering Digory a situation that he now sees as undeniably cruel. Perhaps before striking the bell and receiving forgiveness, Digory might have been swayed in the other direction. Instead, Digory might have very well made a decision even more important than his (unwise) decision to strike the bell--it is entirely possible that Digory's action saved all of Narnia.