The Chronicles of Narnia, #1
The Magician's Nephew
by C. S. Lewis
Contents
TWO: DIGORY AND HIS UNCLE
Overview
Digory confronts Uncle Andrew, who reveals the rings’ origins in Atlantean dust from another world. Yellow rings send travelers away; green rings return them. Having tricked Polly into leaving without a return ring, Uncle Andrew manipulates Digory into rescuing her. Digory resolves to go and takes a yellow ring.
Summary
Digory screams as Polly vanishes, but Uncle Andrew silences him by invoking Digory’s sick mother. Uncle Andrew then boasts that his experiment has worked: the yellow ring sent Polly out of the world. Digory demands answers.
Uncle Andrew recounts inheriting a secret box from his godmother, Mrs. Lefay, refusing to burn it as promised, and discovering it was Atlantean. Inside was dust from another world. After years of dangerous studies and failed guinea-pig trials, he forged magic rings: yellow to send a traveler away, green—he believes—to bring them back.
Pressed on why he did not go himself, Uncle Andrew admits he would not risk it and defends using “subjects.” Digory calls him a coward and a wicked magician. Uncle Andrew reveals Polly has no green ring; she can return only if someone follows with two greens—one for each of them.
Seeing the trap, Digory resolves to rescue Polly despite anger and fear. After briefly worrying about his mother, he accepts two green rings in his right pocket, then picks up a yellow ring for himself, determined to follow Polly.
Who Appears
- Digory KirkeFurious and frightened, confronts Uncle Andrew and decides to rescue Polly by using the rings.
- Uncle Andrew (Andrew Ketterley)Boasts of Atlantean dust and magic rings, refuses to go himself, manipulates Digory into retrieving Polly.
- Polly PlummerVanished by a yellow ring; absent but in peril and the reason for Digory’s decision to follow.
- Mrs. LefayUncle Andrew’s godmother; left him the Atlantean box of otherworldly dust.