You Know What

I think that he has a huge role in it...but I think that in this book it shows a significant change in his person from the other books. In LWW he was a kid who started learning about life. In PC he shows a grown up kingly side, but there's so much going on so fast...there isn't enough down time focused on Ed. He's still in Peter's shadow there as well. He is who he is in VODT, but it's tougher to see the depth of his character. However, in VODT I think we see more of why he's called "The Just." He's not afraid of making Eustace take personal responsibility for his actions...especially where Reepicheep is concerned...but he shows he's got more of a grasp of mercy and grace than most people when he talks to Eustace after his little "transformation." He doesn't get a great deal of the attention that Caspian and Eustace get...but that is because his character allows Caspian to be the ruling king (most of the time), and because he's already been changed by Narnia and now it's his cousin's turn. To me, he sets an example for Eustace throughout the book. For Caspian too. It's his turn to be the "big brother." As for my personal opinion, I think the last few pages of the book really highlight why Ed and Lucy are there to begin with. To me the last talk with Aslan is the best and biggest part of the book. If they make VODT into a movie, that's the part I'd hate to see changed at all. Just my 2 cents.
 
it only appears that Edmund didn't have a large role in this book, yet it was his ability to understand the problems and shortcomings of Eustice that allowed him to help Eustice to begin to grown up. His maturity also showed in other ways as did Lucy's.

To me the story also had less to do with Caspian who we know had already matured into a fine king over Narnia. It was Eustice the story seemed to be focused on. The reason being is that we would see much more of Eustice in the books that followed. Like Edmund in LWW, this was a story of Aslan's calling of Eustice to Narnia to grow and mature so that he would be ready for the other tasks in the Silver Chair and The Last Battle that he would be required to do.

We often tend to think of Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy when referring to Narnia, yet I think that Eustice played a huge role in the history and the saving of Narnia overall. At least that's my opinion. Eustice isn't my favorite character in the series, but he certainly is an important one to the books.
 
NightMystic said:
it only appears that Edmund didn't have a large role in this book, yet it was his ability to understand the problems and shortcomings of Eustice that allowed him to help Eustice to begin to grown up. His maturity also showed in other ways as did Lucy's.

To me the story also had less to do with Caspian who we know had already matured into a fine king over Narnia. It was Eustice the story seemed to be focused on. The reason being is that we would see much more of Eustice in the books that followed. Like Edmund in LWW, this was a story of Aslan's calling of Eustice to Narnia to grow and mature so that he would be ready for the other tasks in the Silver Chair and The Last Battle that he would be required to do.

We often tend to think of Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy when referring to Narnia, yet I think that Eustice played a huge role in the history and the saving of Narnia overall. At least that's my opinion. Eustice isn't my favorite character in the series, but he certainly is an important one to the books.
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Well said.
 
I agree with nightmystic. but i don't see why any one would say that he did not have a big part in the story, He was a prominnent player in most of the truely profound sections of the book.
 
Edmund isn't featured as prominently as before, but yes, I'd have to agree that he plays his part in the book. It's really about Edmund growing up, taking Peter's place, and in turn, Eustace taking Edmund's place.
 
Fred Burkle said:
Edmund isn't featured as prominently as before, but yes, I'd have to agree that he plays his part in the book. It's really about Edmund growing up, taking Peter's place, and in turn, Eustace taking Edmund's place.
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And of course, the royal look of things.
Peter (High King) = Edmund (takes over as High King since Peter can't return) = Prince Caspian (now King, because Edmund and Peter were gone) = Prince Rillian (From The Silver Chair) (Now King when Caspian died and Edmund and Peter are not able to journey to Narnia anymore)
 
Those are the important points, maybe, about Edmund in VDT -- he is there without Peter, so he is the leader, but he is also giving way to Eustace, because we discover Edmund can never come back, so the heroic deed in the future fall to Eustace.

Of course for the redemption story, the focus is on Eustance and his transformation. Ed has already been through that, so he is more of a guide for Eustace than a main player.

Simon and Fred, I don't recall seeing you post before. Welcome!
 
inkspot said:
Those are the important points, maybe, about Edmund in VDT -- he is there without Peter, so he is the leader, but he is also giving way to Eustace, because we discover Edmund can never come back, so the heroic deed in the future fall to Eustace.

Of course for the redemption story, the focus is on Eustance and his transformation. Ed has already been through that, so he is more of a guide for Eustace than a main player.

Simon and Fred, I don't recall seeing you post before. Welcome!
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lol, thanks, but I've posted many a time. You probably just have not seen my posts. (INVISIBLE! lol)

Of course, redemption is good.
Also, Lucy makes way for Jill. But, we are talking about Edmund. Of course he is a guide, since his cousin is acting like he once did (except meaner in my view). Something tells me that Eustace and Edmund used to be best friends as cousins because they both had a mean streak.
 
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