The Last Battle Irony

The Last Battle Irony

Puzzle Seeing Through Shift

Puzzle is not an assertive donkey and therefore believes Shift when he tells him that he is rather a dimwit. This belief seems to be shared by the other Narnians with whom Puzzle is acquainted. This is ironic because Puzzle actually realizes what Shift is up to far sooner than his fellow Narnians and rejoins Tirian, proving that he is not as much of a dimwit as universally believed.

Ginger In The Stable

Ginger is a great believer in his own intelligence and is engaging in treachery that he has hidden from the others. When he offers to go into the stable it is because he knows nothing is really in there to harm him and also because he does not believe in either Aslan or Tash. This is ironic because when he goes into the stable Tash is actually there and renders him literally speechless, proving him wrong in all of his beliefs.

Mice's Faith Keeping Them In Shift's Power

The mice tell Tirian that they only continue to believe Shift because he says that all he is doing is at the behest of Aslan; if it was not Aslan's wish that they believe him they would mutiny. This is ironic because it is this very faith that is actually causing them to believe in Shift's authority when the ape himself doesn't even believe Aslan exists and has been using a fake Aslan to enforce his authority.

Mouse Mutiny

Whilst Tirian is tied to a tree the mice wait until it is dark and then bring him food and water. They also tell him that they dare not mutiny because Shift is ruling by Aslan's authority. This is ironic because by bringing a prisoner food and water they are already mutinying they just don't realize it.

Serving Aslan

Aslan explains that although the good young Calormene has been living a righteous life and doing good things to help his people with the purpose of honoring Tash, he has still been bringing honor to Aslan. This is ironic because the young man thinks that the deeds are irrelevant and the person in whose name they were performed is what matters, when in reality it is impossible to honor Tash with a good deed and impossible to act in Aslan's name with a bad one.

Ape Shift

The Ape Shift appears in the first chapter of the story; he is one of few Talking Beasts and is considered “the cleverest, ugliest, most wrinkled Ape one can imagine”. The irony built on the contrast os words cleverest and ugliest gives the most vivid description of the Shift’s character. He is not in any way clever, but really smart and can make other do what he wants, especially his friend donkey called Puzzle, who is more like a servant for Shift than a friend.

Tired animals

Shift proves to be a selfish and not very thoughtful friend. When Puzzle came back from a long walk to the town market he was very tired and wanted to have a rest, Shift just blamed him for a lack of concern, as Shift has been sewing a coat for the donkey all the day long and wanted him to try it on at once. He said “all day long while you have been having a lovely refreshing walk I have been working hard to make you a coat”. Shift calls Puzzle’s walk lovely and refreshing, but it was simply exhausted, and it looks like a mockery.

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