Prince Caspian

Prince Caspian is the nephew of Narnia’s tyrannical ruler, King Miraz, and one of the main characters. His journey follows a hero arc, as he develops from a somewhat naive boy into a thoughtful young man who accepts his moral responsibility to defend others.

Caspian is presented as an outsider in his own family, as his personality, interests, and values differ from his uncle’s and aunt’s. Caspian does “not care much for his uncle and aunt” (449), who are unkind to him and controlling of others. The author establishes Caspian’s curiosity and compassion early in the story by describing Caspian’s interest in the legends of Old Narnia. Unlike his uncle, Caspian is intrigued by those different from himself, such as the talking creatures and other sentient beings from Narnia’s past. When Caspian learns that it was his own ancestors, the Telmarines, who killed many of these Old Narnians, his reaction solidifies his rejection of his family’s values, as he wishes that the tragedy had never occurred.

While Caspian wants to help the Old Narnians overthrow his uncle, he is too humble to picture himself on the throne. Lacking this ambition is another way in which Prince Caspian rejects his uncle’s domineering example.