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Chapter 14
Themes
and Colors
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Horse and His Boy, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Freedom and Justice
Bravery vs. Recklessness
Christianity
Gender Roles
Summary
Analysis
King Lune happily welcomes Aravis when she arrives at his court. She tells the King about how Cor saved her life from a lion. At the castle, Edmund and some lords discuss what to do with Prince Rabadash and agree not to kill him. Lucy goes further, saying that Rabadash should have a chance to go free if he promises to repent for his actions and agree not to do anything like that again.
The Narnians show mercy for their enemies, contrasting yet again with the Calormenes. Although Rabadash promised to kill as few Narnians as possible in his attack, this was a selfish promise based on strategic calculations. What Edmund and Lucy suggest here is true mercy for Rabadash, again showing how the Narnians embody Christian values.
Active
Themes
At his trial, Prince Rabadash is defiant, and Corin taunts him. All of a sudden everyone rises, and Cor realizes that Aslan himself has appeared. Aslan warns Rabadash that he will soon be doomed unless he changes his ways. But Rabadash just curses Aslan as a demon. At last, Aslan says the time has come, and all of a sudden, Rabadash starts turning into a donkey. He loses the ability to talk like a human and suddenly just brays.
Rabadash refuses to act repentant at his trial, showing how unlike Bree, he is unable to learn from his mistakes. Rabadash also contrasts himself with Cor, who is able to overcome his initial fear of Aslan and understand that Aslan is ultimately a benevolent figure. Rabadash proves that he is evil because he has a chance to redeem himself but rejects it, which is why Aslan punishes him.
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Themes
Aslan says there is mercy for Rabadash—if he goes to the temple of Tash, he can be healed, but he can never go more than 10 miles from the temple, or else he’ll be turned back into a donkey forever. With that, Aslan leaves. King Lune promises to send Rabadash back to Tashbaan in comfort.
Rabadash gets restored to human form, and after the death of the old Tisroc, Rabadash becomes the most peaceful Tisroc that Calormen has ever seen (since he can’t go outside his 10-mile radius and doesn’t want any potential rivals to achieve glory in war). Because everyone remembers that Rabadash was a donkey, people privately call him Rabadash the Ridiculous, even after his death.
Active
Themes
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Back at Anvard, shortly after Rabadash is sent off, a feast begins. At the feast, King Lune tells Cor that he is next in line for the throne. Cor would rather Corin get the crown, but King Lune insists that because Cor is 20 minutes older, he is the only lawful successor. Corin himself is glad to never have the responsibility of being king.
Active
Themes
As Cor and Corin grow up, they fight like brothers often do, with Corin usually winning, but Cor is stronger on the battlefield. They each achieve a reputation for their feats in battle. Aravis and Cor also quarrel sometimes, but when they’re older, they get married. After King Lune’s death, the two of them become King and Queen of Archenland. Bree and Hwin also get married, but not to each other. They live in Narnia but often come back to visit Anvard.
