In the previous chapter, "the Lady" that our three travellers meet after they crossed the bridge, said:
SC.p73, my edition wrote:...I'll be free with mine [counsel]. I've often heard of the giantish City Ruinous, but never met any who would tell me the way thither. This road leads to the burgh and castle of Harfang, where dwell the gentle giants. They are as mild, civil, prudent, and courteous as those of Ettinsmoor are foolish, fierce, savage, and given to all beastliness. And in Harfang you may or may not hear tidings of the City Ruinous, but certainly you shall find good lodgings and merry hosts. You would be wise to winter there.....
And now, in this chapter 7 we are about to arrive at Harfang, itself. I wonder how truthful is LOTGK's advice to our three travellers....
For example, I wonder how does LOTGK know about the Ettinsmoor giants, to compare them to the Harfang ones? Does she know for sure, that Jill, Eustace and Puddleglum must have met Ettinsmoor giants? And if so, how does she know?
1. Why is Jill willing to consider Puddleglum’s dire predictions about creatures in the trench but not about the Knight or the danger of Harfang? Good question! It seems that Jill has been overawed by LOTGK's beauty and her television-style presentation of the "Harfang Homestead Inn" she has been advertising. She and Eustace are so longing for hot baths, warm, comfortable beds and good, square meals, that they don't want to listen to anything Puddleglum says, even his views about what the strange trenches might represent. By now, she has long ago stopped repeating the signs, and can't really remember what comes next. But I doubt that is all that troubles Jill, if neither she nor Eustace will listen to what Puddleglum has said.
It seems that after her experiences with Scrubb's fear of heights, Jill Pole might be nursing a few fears herself, that she doesn't want to admit to, let alone face up to. We saw a preview of this in the
Parliament of Owls chapter when she was less than delighted that her flight ended in a black hole of an owlish hideout. The BBC TV production of SC has her screaming as Glimfeather enters the place where the Parliament is to be held.
As a matter of interest, if Puddleglum had said nothing about giant earth-worms, giant beetles or dragons being associated with trenches like the ones she and Eustace explored, would she have been more comfortable, say, with camping overnight in those trenches, which did at least offer protection against the weather? Or would she have been a bit more ready to consider Puddleglum's misgivings about going to Harfang? It wasn't as if anything really happened to her whilst she was in the trenches.
2. What strikes you most of the description of the land they travel over in this chapter? In contrast to the mountains the travellers have been crossing, the land seems to have changed drastically. Trees seem to be left behind, but not necessarily the boulders and stones. The land has flattened out somewhat, the road has deteriorated and its surface is in considerably more disrepair. On each side there seems to be huge walls and what looks like factory chimneys. The place where Jill falls into a trench seems to be on a flat-topped hill between the end of the road and where they can all see Harfang, ahead on a crag. They even have climbed up what looks like some stairs to get to the top of this hill. The weather is terrible out in the open, but the children, at any rate, are anxious to reach Harfang before the gates close.
3. What do you think of the conversation Jill, Eustace, and Puddleglum have after Jill and Eustace investigate the trench?A somewhat heated conversation. Puddleglum tries to draw their attention to what their surroundings look like, despite the poor visibility, but Jill doesn't want to know. Puddleglum asks what the next sign is, but Jill flies into a temper, because she has forgotten to repeat the signs, is not sure herself what the next one is and feels uncomfortably guilty. Eustace is not much better, asking "is this the time to admire the scenery"? Both of them really want to get out of the miserable weather, and the three of them have the most serious row that they have had up to date. Puddleglum, though reminding them again of the dangers of Harfang, feels obliged to go with them, especially as they aren't listening.
4. What does it say about Puddleglum that he is the first one to speak at Harfang? Of the three travellers it is Puddleglum who is the most brave by being the first to speak. After all, he didn't want to go there, and is not deluded by LOTGK's claims, unlike Jill and Eustace. It must have taken courage of the first order to ring that doorbell and talk to the porter. How "mild, civil, prudent, and courteous" are these Harfang giants really, when compared to the Ettinsmoor ones? Do we really know yet?
However, the porter seems ok. He sends a youngster over to the main part of the building to notify the giantish leaders and meanwhile Jill and Eustace thaw out beside the fire whilst Puddleglum gets to sample a giantish version of the same nasty-tasting beverage he, himself, has taken along with him. The trouble is, though Puddleglum might be persuaded into believing he is sampling something he should be used to, the giantish version might be far more alcoholic per salt-shaker container than the substance Puddleglum normally drinks. So what he drinks may well affect him rather more drastically.
5. What was your reaction to Puddleglum getting drunk?To be honest, I feel I don't want to judge him for getting drunk after what he has had to put up with up to then. But though it might ease Puddleglum's state of mind for the moment, his drunken state puts him out of action for some time. Despite his insistence on his respectability, he is somewhat comical, and it is ironic that when the three of them are summoned to the throne room, that reshpeckabiggle Puddleglum is carried off unceremoniously and dumped down in the main hall, looking not unlike one of the creepy crawlies he had warned Jill might be lurking in those trenches, but which weren't there.
And now let the fun begin....