Blogs - The Point
April 15, 2011
Eustace and Reepicheep
"His name was Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it..."
His name was Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it...
Some of C.S. Lewis' best characters are found in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, like Eustace and my favorite, Reepicheep the mouse.
Eustace is a spoiled little elitist child who thinks he's smart but is clearly a fool. If you're familiar with another Lewis book The Abolition of Man, you'll recognize Eustace. He's the product of the education Lewis is critiquing, one that teaches facts, but not moral imagination. Eustace is the boy without a chest.
Then there's Reepicheep, this mouse Eustace hates. Reepicheep, never lacks courage but he's also developed wisdom and compassion. He's the picture of developed virtue: he knows what's right, practices it -- and he admits when he's wrong.
Once Eustace finds redemption, he loves Reepicheep. And the mouse helps Eustace develop a bigger chest.
We need courage to face the moral challenges of our culture. Come to ThePointRadio.org to find a brand new resource that will help.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
C. S. Lewis | Amazon.com
Doing the Right Thing