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  • Essay / Digory Kirke Analysis of Heroic Characteristics

    In 1955, CS Lewis wrote and published The Magician's Nephew, a high fantasy adventure story set in early 20th century England, a prequel to the other Chronicles stories of Narnia. In the story, Digory Kirke, a young boy, travels to a strange world to save his friend, Polly Plummer, who Digory's uncle has sent to experiment with his magic. Digory rings a bell, unaware that his actions will cause the awakening of Jadis, an evil witch, who follows them to England. In order to remove Jadis from her own world, Digory tricks her and sends her to a new world, putting him in danger. He then travels to the depths of the new world, Narnia, to help save it. All agree that every hero demonstrates courage, selflessness, humility, patience, and caring, but the reader is left wondering whether or not Digory achieves these qualities. Because he displays the characteristics of a hero, Digory's actions force readers to view Digory Kirke as a hero; the three main virtues of the five, including courage, selflessness and caring. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay. Digory shows courage throughout the story. After Polly disappears from England and into the New World, Digory also takes a teleportation ring, even though Uncle Andrew cannot keep her safe. Later in the story, when Digory is having trouble getting Jadis out of her world, he grabs her leg. Jadis, seven feet tall, powerful and strong as an Olympic weightlifter, possesses the power to crush Digory with a single kick. So, without knowing what to expect from the dangerous new world, Digory agrees to help the prodigious creator of the world, Aslan, and to venture into the depths of the world. "'You must bring me the seed from which this tree must grow.' “Yes, sir,” said Digory. He did not know how it was to be done, but he was now quite sure that he would be able to do it” (Lewis, 1955, pp. 142-143). Digory displays selflessness throughout the story. After bringing Jadis back to London, there is a chance that Digory will respond in the same way as Polly, who says: "It's all up to your uncle now" (Lewis, 1955, p. 73). Instead, Digory tries to help his uncle in this feat. In the garden where Aslan's requested fruit resides, Digory again demonstrates altruism, by not eating the fruit after Jadis misleads him into thinking of power and wealth. Eventually, Digory threw away the apple, even after Aslan told him that it had the power to heal his sick mother. "'Throw the apple towards the river bank where the ground is soft.' Digory did as he was told, everyone became so quiet you could hear the slight thud where he fell in the mud” (Lewis, 1955, p. 166-167). Digory shows care throughout the story. During her brief time in London, Jadis injured many people. One of these people is Aunt Letty, an elderly woman who Digory wastes no time helping after Jadis throws her across the room. Once several characters first enter Narnia, Uncle Andrew offers to abandon them to escape Jadis, but Digory refuses out of concern for the others, so if they wish to return home, they have a way to do so. TO DO. Finally, Digory Kirke provides extreme care to his mother, in a cherubic scene, by bringing her the apple that possesses the power of health and removing her from her deathbed. “Oh, darling, how beautiful,” said Digory’s mother. "You're going to eat it, aren't you?" Please," said Digory. "I don't know :.