Lord Drinian
Encyclopedia
Lord Drinian is a fictional character in C. S. Lewis
C. S. Lewis
Clive Staples Lewis , commonly referred to as C. S. Lewis and known to his friends and family as "Jack", was a novelist, academic, medievalist, literary critic, essayist, lay theologian and Christian apologist from Belfast, Ireland...
's The Chronicles of Narnia
The Chronicles of Narnia
The Chronicles of Narnia is a series of seven fantasy novels for children by C. S. Lewis. It is considered a classic of children's literature and is the author's best-known work, having sold over 100 million copies in 47 languages...
. In The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is a fantasy novel for children by C. S. Lewis. Written in 1950, it was published in 1952 as the third book of The Chronicles of Narnia...
he is the captain of the Dawn Treader
Dawn Treader
The Dawn Treader was a Narnian ship in the fictional world of The Chronicles of Narnia. It was built by King Caspian X and is featured primarily in the book The Voyage of the Dawn Treader...
and a close friend of King Caspian X. In The Silver Chair
The Silver Chair
The Silver Chair is part of The Chronicles of Narnia, a series of seven fantasy novels written by C. S. Lewis. It was the fourth book published and is the sixth book chronologically. It is the first book published in the series in which the Pevensie children do not appear. The main characters are...
, he has remained a trusted advisor of the king, and has also become a close friend of his son prince Rilian
Rilian
In C. S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia fictional series, Rilian is the son of King Caspian and the grandson of Ramandu the star. Rilian appears in two of the seven books, The Silver Chair and The Last Battle.- In The Silver Chair:...
.
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
In The Voyage of the Dawn TreaderThe Voyage of the Dawn Treader
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is a fantasy novel for children by C. S. Lewis. Written in 1950, it was published in 1952 as the third book of The Chronicles of Narnia...
, one of the first new characters to be introduced is Lord Drinian, the captain of the Dawn Treader
Dawn Treader
The Dawn Treader was a Narnian ship in the fictional world of The Chronicles of Narnia. It was built by King Caspian X and is featured primarily in the book The Voyage of the Dawn Treader...
. He is described as a dark-haired young man who loyally serves Caspian
Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth by area, variously classed as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. The sea has a surface area of and a volume of...
on his voyage to the end of the world. Although the seafaring trade in Narnia was severely limited by King Miraz
Miraz
Miraz is a fictional character from C. S. Lewis's fantasy series The Chronicles of Narnia. He is the main antagonist in the second book Prince Caspian, and is the uncle of the book's protagonist....
's fear of the sea, Caspian, through his influence as the king, resurrects Narnia's interest in navigation and sailing. As a result, Drinian is one of a few Narnians with a vast knowledge of seafaring. Armed with these skills and his friendly sense of humor, Drinian greatly aids Caspian and his crew in their search for the seven lost lords.
Though Drinian is one of the most experienced sailors from Narnia, even he is occasionally surprised throughout the course of their journey. For example, when they reach the island that they later rename Dragon Island, they encounter a creature that most of the crew has never seen before: a dragon. Skeptical, Drinian asserts that dragons, like crocodiles, cannot be trusted and refuses to let his guard down. In fact, it is only upon discovering the dragon's identity (Eustace
Eustace
Eustace is the rendition in English of two phonetically similar Greek given names:*Εὔσταχυς meaning "fruitful", "fecund"; literally "abundant in grain""; its Latin equivalents are Fæcundus/Fecundus...
) that Drinian is able to trust it.
This cautiousness proves useful on another occasion. As they near the end of their journey, Drinian spots an odd rock formation that he correctly identifies as a sea serpent. Surviving the sea serpent's attack, Drinian and the ship head for a welcome respite in an approaching harbor. When Caspian suggests that they anchor in a different section of the harbor, Drinian obeys patiently but with a little reluctance at having his own choice for their resting place denied.
As they near the edge of the world, Lucy
Lucy
Lucy is an English and French feminine given name derived from Latin masculine given name Lucius with the meaning as of light . Alternative spellings are Luci, Luce, Lucie...
spots a fantastic view of merpeople who are unlike those she had seen in Narnia. Drinian realizes the possible danger they pose to his crew, as any of the men might fall in love with a mermaid or even in love with the world under the water itself and fall overboard; as a result, he orders Lucy to ignore the merpeople and act as if she had not seen them. When Reepicheep
Reepicheep
Reepicheep is a fictional character from C.S. Lewis', Chronicles of Narnia series. He appears in Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, and also in The Last Battle. He is a large, talking mouse who carries a rapier, and wears a red plume tucked in his golden circlet...
falls overboard, Drinian berates him out of worry because he fears for both Reepicheep's safety as well as the possibility that the crew may discover the merpeople.
After Reepicheep
Reepicheep
Reepicheep is a fictional character from C.S. Lewis', Chronicles of Narnia series. He appears in Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, and also in The Last Battle. He is a large, talking mouse who carries a rapier, and wears a red plume tucked in his golden circlet...
, Lucy
Lucy
Lucy is an English and French feminine given name derived from Latin masculine given name Lucius with the meaning as of light . Alternative spellings are Luci, Luce, Lucie...
, Eustace
Eustace
Eustace is the rendition in English of two phonetically similar Greek given names:*Εὔσταχυς meaning "fruitful", "fecund"; literally "abundant in grain""; its Latin equivalents are Fæcundus/Fecundus...
, and Edmund
Edmund
-People known only as Edmund:*Edmund I , King of England from 939 to 946*Edmund Ironside , also known as Edmund II, King of England in 1016*St. Edmund the Martyr , king of East Anglia*St...
continue on their journey to the very edge of the world, Drinian successfully returns Caspian and the crew safely home to Narnia.
The Silver Chair
In The Silver ChairThe Silver Chair
The Silver Chair is part of The Chronicles of Narnia, a series of seven fantasy novels written by C. S. Lewis. It was the fourth book published and is the sixth book chronologically. It is the first book published in the series in which the Pevensie children do not appear. The main characters are...
, Lord Drinian has remained a good friend and trusted advisor of King Caspian X. Though Caspian is depicted as being significantly older in this work than in the previous one, Drinian is not described in the same manner. In fact, Drinian has even become a close friend of Caspian's son Rilian
Rilian
In C. S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia fictional series, Rilian is the son of King Caspian and the grandson of Ramandu the star. Rilian appears in two of the seven books, The Silver Chair and The Last Battle.- In The Silver Chair:...
. After the mysterious and unfortunate death of Caspian's wife, Rilian engages in highly enigmatic activities which he reveals to no one. Drinian speaks to Rilian, however, and convinces him to divulge his secret. When Rilian leads Drinian to the very place where the queen died, Drinian discovers the source of Rilian's behavior: a beautiful but, in Drinian's opinion, evil woman. Although Drinian puzzles over the obsessive attraction Rilian has for this woman, he also, against his better judgment, succumbs to his friendship with Rilian, and allows him to continue visiting the woman. Rilian rides out the next day without anyone accompanying him but he never returns. Lamenting his grave mistake, Drinian approaches Caspian. When Drinian presents his knowledge of Rilian's disappearance to Caspian, he begs Caspian to condemn him as a traitor, for he has allowed the son of his good friend to disappear. Though Drinian implores Caspian for death as punishment for his treachery, Caspian is unable to kill him, and the two mourn the loss of Rilian as friends.
Ten years later, when Eustace Scrubb
Eustace Scrubb
Eustace Clarence Scrubb is a fictional character in C. S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia. He appears in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair, and The Last Battle. In The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, he is accompanied by Edmund and Lucy Pevensie, his cousins...
and Jill Pole
Jill Pole
Jill Pole is a major character from C. S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia series. She appears in The Silver Chair and The Last Battle.-Prior story:Very little is known about Jill's family or her life before she becomes friends with Eustace...
arrive in Narnia, Drinian accompanies Caspian as he voyages through the seas explored in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader seeking the help of Aslan
Aslan
Aslan, the "Great Lion," is the central character in The Chronicles of Narnia, a series of seven fantasy novels for children written by C. S. Lewis. He is the eponymous lion of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and his role in Narnia is developed throughout the remaining books...
in deciding the heir to the Narnian throne. Fortunately for the aging king, that voyage is disrupted by Aslan before they reach the end of the world, who explains to Caspian that he must return home to Narnia. When Caspian is reunited with his lost son Rilian, Drinian is there to rejoice in the efforts of Eustace and Jill. He is also at Caspian's side when the king dies.
Film Adaption
In the 1989 BBC miniseries presentation of The Voyage of the Dawn TreaderThe Voyage of the Dawn Treader
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is a fantasy novel for children by C. S. Lewis. Written in 1950, it was published in 1952 as the third book of The Chronicles of Narnia...
, Drinian is played by John Hallam while, in the 1990 BBC miniseries presentation of The Silver Chair
The Silver Chair
The Silver Chair is part of The Chronicles of Narnia, a series of seven fantasy novels written by C. S. Lewis. It was the fourth book published and is the sixth book chronologically. It is the first book published in the series in which the Pevensie children do not appear. The main characters are...
he is played by Roy Boyd. In the 2010 Walden/Fox film, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is a fantasy novel for children by C. S. Lewis. Written in 1950, it was published in 1952 as the third book of The Chronicles of Narnia...
, he is played by Gary Sweet.
Conception
When he was at school in his younger days, C.S. Lewis studied classic Greek works including the OdysseyOdyssey
The Odyssey is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is, in part, a sequel to the Iliad, the other work ascribed to Homer. The poem is fundamental to the modern Western canon, and is the second—the Iliad being the first—extant work of Western literature...
. One of the iconic scenes from the Odyssey is repeated in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, in which Drinian fears his crew's sanity and safety when Lucy
Lucy
Lucy is an English and French feminine given name derived from Latin masculine given name Lucius with the meaning as of light . Alternative spellings are Luci, Luce, Lucie...
discovers merpeople (although Drinian does not resort to using wax on his crew to block out their noise like Odysseus
Odysseus
Odysseus or Ulysses was a legendary Greek king of Ithaca and the hero of Homer's epic poem the Odyssey. Odysseus also plays a key role in Homer's Iliad and other works in the Epic Cycle....
). Indeed, Dawn Treader follows in the same sea saga as the Odyssey, with the crew encountering mythical creatures and mysterious islands. Although Drinian is highly proficient in nautical expertise, he is not depicted as being noble or as having an inextinguishable desire for glory and, as a result, does not exhibit any other trait similarities with Odysseus. Similar to the mythology and archaic material within the Greek works, Lewis also enjoyed Arthurian myths. Lastly, Lewis suggested that he was greatly influenced by dreams when creating the characters and situations within his works. In conclusion, Drinian is a compilation of Odysseus from the Odyssey and the heroes of the Arthurian myths.