The Magician's Nephew

Digory is the protagonist, a young boy who recently moved to London from the country to live with his aunt and uncle so that his aunt can care for his dying mother. He is a round and dynamic character who changes significantly over the course of the story. He is introduced as a miserable boy who hates his circumstances and is overwhelmingly aware of his mother’s illness. This grief implicitly motivates many of Digory’s actions throughout the book. Though he quickly warms to Polly, his mother’s situation creates distance between them; she is simply too innocent to fully understand what he is going through. He also continues to be stubborn and argumentative for much of the book.

Sometimes Digory’s stubbornness is beneficial, as it allows him to stand up to his uncle: He has a strong sense of right and wrong and calls out Uncle Andrew’s manipulation and selfishness repeatedly. Similarly, Digory refuses to leave Polly alone and bravely follows her to the Wood between the Worlds. Elsewhere, Digory’s stubbornness leads him to make poor decisions and ignore wise counsel. Digory’s biggest flaw is his inability to resist temptation. His adventurous spirit and curiosity overcome his common sense and he eagerly explores other worlds without thinking of the danger.