The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Edmund is cruel to his sister Lucy and selfishly aligns himself with the White Witch. In chapter 11, Aslan has come to Narnia and the Witch's magic is losing its hold. Eternal winter is giving way to spring. She sees a party of talking animals enjoying a meal given by Father Christmas and in anger she threatens to turn them to stone. Edmund protests, but the Witch does it anyway. "And Edmund for the first time in this story felt sorry for someone besides himself." Later, in chapter 17, Edmund is the hero of the battle, having the foresight to attack the Witch's wand and not the Witch herself.
Prince Caspian
In chapter 5 Caspian first meets the talking animals and creatures of old Narnia. Trufflehunter the badger affirms his belief in the ancient tales of the High King Peter, his reign at Cair Paravel, and the lion Aslan. Trumpkin the dwarf responds, "But who believes in Aslan nowadays?" When Aslan appears in chapter 11, he pounces on Trumpkin. "The Lion gave him one shake and all his armor rattled like a tinker's pack and then - hey-presto - the Dwarf flew up in the air. He was as safe as if he had been in bed, though he did not feel so." After offering that proof, Aslan asks, "Son of Earth, shall we be friends?". In chapter 12, when Peter, Edmund and Trumpkin rush in to help Caspian defeat Nikabrik, the hag and the werewolf, it is Trumpkin who makes the introduction to Caspian, "It's the High King, the High King Peter."
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
As the ship sails away from Narnia, Eustace Scrubb is the spoiled brat of the crew. Landing on an unknown island in chapter 5, he selfishly leaves the crew on his own adventure, gets lost and discovers a dying dragon and his treasure. What seemed like a gain turns into a horrible transformation. "He had turned into a dragon while he was asleep. Sleeping on a dragon's hoard with greedy, dragonish thoughts in his heart, he had become a dragon himself." Now miserable and alone, Eustace makes his way back to the ship in dragon form. In chapter 7, after they recognize that the dragon is Eustace, a more important observation is made. "It was, however, clear to everyone that Eustace's character had been rather improved by becoming a dragon. He was anxious to help...The pleasure (quite new to him) of being liked and, still more, of liking other people, was what kept Eustace from despair."
The Silver Chair
On their journey to the underworld, Puddleglum the marshwiggle always sees the worst side of things. He is captive to an absurd pessimism. However, when confronting the witch who has enchanted Prince Rilian in chapter 12, Puddleglum is the only one who's mind is able to withstand her magic because of the pain of his burnt hand. "The pain itself made Puddleglum's head for a moment perfectly clear and he knew exactly what he really thought...'Then all I can say is that, in that case, the made-up things seem a good deal more important than the real ones...That's why I'm going to stand by the play-world.'"
The Horse and His Boy
Shasta and Aravis flee Calormen on their horses, Bree and Hwin, with an urgent message for King Lune of Archenland. In chapter 10, on the last leg of their journey, they are chased by a lion who mauls Aravis's back. Not knowing it is Aslan hastening them on, Shasta turns back to rescue Aravis. This act awakens Aravis to see her mistaken disregard for him. "Shasta was marvelous. I'm just as bad as you, Bree. I've been snubbing him and looking down on him ever since you met us and now he turns out to be the best of us all." At the end of the story, when Shasta's true identity is revealed, Aravis says, "I'm sorry I've been such a pig. But I did change before I knew you were a Prince, honestly I did: when you went back, and faced the Lion."
The Magician's Nephew
In chapter 4, Digory and Polly journey to a new world and discover a room of statues. In the center of the room is hammer and bell with a warning that striking it would bring danger. Polly wants to leave it alone, but Digory selfishly invites the danger and strikes it. This awakens the evil witch Jadis who will someday enslave Narnia. After being reproved by Aslan, in chapter 13 Digory is confronted by the same witch who tempts him to disobey Aslan and take the life-giving apple back to his mother. He is almost enticed, but the witch also suggests that he should abandon Polly "and the meanness of the suggestion that he should leave Polly suddenly made all the other things the Witch had been saying to him sound false and hollow. And even in the midst of all his misery, his head suddenly cleared."
The Last Battle
The final book in the series is all transformation. All Narnia is transformed, along with the Peter, Edmund, Lucy, Eustace, Jill, Digory and Polly (excepting Susan), Tirian the last king of Narnia, Emeth the Calormene, and all the characters we love back to Tumnus the faun. However, Lewis singles out Puzzle the donkey for a special encounter with Aslan. In Chapter 1 Puzzle is weak and gullible, led astray by Shift the ape. After everyone goes through the door to the real Narnia, in chapter 15 Puzzle is the last to make his appearance. "He was himself now: a beautiful donkey", yet ashamed for having dressed up in the lion-skin. He worries "But what I'll do if I really have to meet Aslan, I'm sure I don't know." On the final page of the book, when Aslan makes his appearance, the first person he calls is Puzzle. We aren't told what is said, and Puzzle's first response is shame but then "the ears perked up again." Whatever was said, Aslan welcomes him with grace and encouragement as everyone enters the new and eternal Narnia they were always hoping for.
