TLC Forum

We see very little of the Hermit in HHB. We know that he had lived more than one hundred years "in this world" and that he had a beard nearly to his knees. We also know he had some form of magic, that he referred to as his "art."

My question is: who is he? Who could he possibly be?

In Voyage of the Dawn Treader, we meet two retired stars. They're old (waaaaaaaaaaaaay older than 109, I know, but could "in this world" possibly be more of the world of the stars and world of Narnians? perhaps?), and they're wise, and magicians. Is the Hermit just possibly a retired star?

Any thoughts?

His origin does seem to be a tricky subject. I've always associated him with Ramandu and Coriakin for some odd reason. Maybe Lewis wanted us to assume that he too is a star? It would make sense since he wrote HHB after VDT which would give the reader and idea of retired star "qualities" and "characteristics" before encountering him in the later book. Definitely something to ponder.

I always just figured he was an Archenlander that lived a long time because of his lifestyle, and was wise because of his age.

I don't think I've really thought much about his origins. The possibility of his being a star, I think, is plausible. But, as hobbit mentioned, he may well be just an ordinary old man, possibly destined to stick around till a certain point in time (a la Simeon, the old man in the temple when Jesus was dedication).

My guess is that he is a man who has just lived a long time. Maybe he originally lived in Narnia, ran away to escape Jadis, and started calling himself a hermit.
If that's the case, there could still be Narnians around that he knew from his younger days because they had been turned to stone all that time.

That is a fascinating thought, Hermit!

Whoever he is in the story, the role of hermit is obviously taken over from those extreme monks who do not live in monasteries with other monks, but alone with animals and plants - and God.