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[Closed] Caspian going to the world's end

wild rose
(@wild-rose)
Member Moderator Emeritus

I was wondering in the book VDT Caspian want to sail with Edmund, Lucy, Eustace and Reepicheep to the world's end/Aslan's country. Everybody says he can't (or shouldn't) and there is a whole scene about this

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader:
"Lower the boat," cried Caspian, "and then call the men aft. I must speak to them."
"What's he going to do?" whispered Eustace to Edmund. "There's a queer look in his eyes."
"I think we probably all look the same," said Edmund.
They joined Caspian on the p**p and soon all the men were crowded together at the foot of the ladder to hear the King's speech. "Friends," said Caspian, "we have now fulfilled the quest on which you embarked. The seven lords are all accounted for and as Sir Reepicheep has sworn never to return, when you reach Ramandu's Land you will doubtless find the Lords Revilian and Argoz and Mavramorn awake. To you, my Lord Drinian, I entrust this ship, bidding you sail to Narnia with all the speed you may, and above all not to land on the Island of Deathwater. And instruct my regent, the Dwarf Trumpkin, to give to all these, my shipmates, the rewards I promised them. They have been earned well. And if I come not again it is my will that the Regent, and Master Cornelius, and Trufflehunter the Badger, and the Lord Drinian choose a King of Narnia with the consent-"
"But, Sire," interrupted Drinian, "are you abdicating?"
"I am going with Reepicheep to see the World's End," said Caspian.
A low murmur of dismay ran through the sailors.
"We will take the boat," said Caspian. "You will have no need of it in these gentle seas and you must build a new one in Ramandu's island. And now-"
"Caspian," said Edmund suddenly and sternly, "you can't do this."
"Most certainly," said Reepicheep, "his Majesty cannot."
"No indeed," said Drinian.
"Can't?" said Caspian sharply, looking for a moment not unlike his uncle Miraz.
"Begging your Majesty's pardon," said Rynelf from the deck below, "but if one of us did the same it would be called deserting."
"You presume too much on your long service, Rynelf," said Caspian.
"No, Sire! He's perfectly right," said Drinian.
"By the Mane of Aslan," said Caspian, "I had thought you were all my subjects here, not my schoolmasters."
"I'm not," said Edmund, "and I say you can not do this."
"Can't again," said Caspian. "What do you mean?"
"If it please your Majesty, we mean shall not," said Reepicheep with a very low bow. "You are the King of Narnia. You break faith with all your subjects, and especially with Trumpkin, if you do not return. You shall not please yourself with adventures as if you were a private person. And if your Majesty will not hear reason it will be the truest loyalty of every man on board to follow me in disarming and binding you till you come to your senses."
"Quite right," said Edmund. "Like they did with Ulysses when he wanted to go near the Sirens."
Caspian's hand had gone to his sword hilt, when Lucy said, "And you've almost promised Ramandu's daughter to go back."
Caspian paused. "Well, yes. There is that," he said. He stood irresolute for a moment and then shouted out to the ship in general.
"Well, have your way. The quest is ended. We all return. Get the boat up again."
"Sire," said Reepicheep, "we do not all return. I, as I explained before -"
"Silence!" thundered Caspian. "I've been lessoned but I'll not be baited. Will no one silence that Mouse?"
"Your Majesty promised," said Reepicheep, "to be good lord to the Talking Beasts of Narnia."
"Talking beasts, yes," said Caspian. "I said nothing about beasts that never stop talking." And he flung down the ladder in a temper and went into the cabin, slamming the door.
But when the others rejoined him a little later they found him changed; he was white and there were tears in his eyes.
"It's no good," he said. "I might as well have behaved decently for all the good I did with my temper and swagger. Aslan has spoken to me. No - I don't mean he was actually here. He wouldn't fit into the cabin, for one thing. But that gold lion's head on the wall came to life and spoke to me. It was terrible his eyes. Not that he was at all rough with me - only a bit stern at first. But it was terrible all the same. And he said - he said - oh, I can't bear it. The worst thing he could have said. You're to go on - Reep and Edmund, and Lucy, and Eustace; and I'm to go back. Alone. And at once. And what is the good of anything?"
"Caspian, dear," said Lucy. "You knew we'd have to go back to our own world sooner or later."
"Yes," said Caspian with a sob, "but this is sooner."
"You'll feel better when you get back to Ramandu's Island," said Lucy

However in the movie we see Caspian in a boat going to Aslan's country. It seems nobody had anything against it, even though there is a possibility that he would not return. That really annoyed me, that scene in the book was one of my favorite, I guess I thought it sort of showed that even if you are a king doesn't mean you can always have your way and you have to be willing to listen to the advice of others.
What did you think of Caspian going to the world's end/Aslan's country
(Mods if there already is a topic like this, then please close this one :) )

always be humble and kind

Topic starter Posted : February 9, 2011 7:42 am
MinotaurforAslan
(@minotaurforaslan)
NarniaWeb Junkie

I suspect they moved it just for budget and time reasons. It would be one less scene with Aslan that they would have to film/edit into a two hour time frame.

Posted : February 9, 2011 9:42 am
wild rose
(@wild-rose)
Member Moderator Emeritus

Well actually Aslan doesn't appear in the scene, Caspian only says that he saw him. I guess I am just annoyed because in the book there is a big deal of why Caspian can't go, while in the movie he just takes off, and there is nothing about it.

always be humble and kind

Topic starter Posted : February 9, 2011 11:24 pm
Conina
(@conina)
NarniaWeb Junkie

If he goes (*and doesn't return) he leaves Narnia with no king and no heir. A kingdom without a king would mean chaos as various factions vied for power. Caspian was considering a selfish thing in leaving with Reepicheep. This is another instance in the book when one person's selfish desires come into conflict with the good of the crew and Narnia. I wish they had emphasized that theme in the movie more. I can see the budget and time constraints but even just a few extra lines in the right place could have helped.

*edit

"Reason is the natural order of truth; but imagination is the organ of meaning." -C.S. Lewis

Posted : February 10, 2011 4:37 am
Narnian_Archer
(@narnian_archer)
NarniaWeb Junkie

They did it for the simple reason of completing Caspian's arch in the movie, which is supposedly something about him feeling incapable of being a king, something about his father....????? A bunch of clobylosh if you ask me! No offense, but Caspian had no business running off to the end of the world. He's a king, and king is a responsibility.
Agreed Conina, a few extra lines in the right place would have been enough.


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Posted : February 10, 2011 7:44 am
Reepicheep775
(@reepicheep775)
NarniaWeb Junkie

This scene is a great example of Aslan's tameness in this movie.

In the book Aslan reprimands Caspian for walking away from his duty- ruling over Narnia as sanctioned by Aslan. Although Caspian wants more than anytthing to go to Aslan's Country, Aslan tells him he can't because he has a job to do. It would be selfish.

In the movie, Aslan gives him the choice. Caspian still acknowledges his duty, but Aslan should not give him the choice. Here Aslan isn't the King above all High Kings, he is a fortune cookie. A tame lion.

Posted : February 10, 2011 8:24 am
Liberty Hoffman
(@liberty-hoffman)
NarniaWeb Master

I really don;t mind this part. it actually made me cry more. and I love it! and that way Caspian gets to see Aslan in real life instead of just on the wall of the cabin! :D


NW sister - wild rose ~ NW big sis - ramagut
Born in the water
Take quick to the trees
I want all that You are

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EADBC57vKfQ

Posted : February 10, 2011 9:23 am
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