Dr. Cornelius is a supporting character who appears in the 2008 Disney/Walden Media adaptation of The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.
Background[]
Personality[]
Cornelius is shown to be wise and intelligent - serving as a mentor to Caspian X, described as being a jovial yet friendly person, making many friends he encounters. He is also shown to give good advice to Caspian - especially when it comes to dangers happening at the castle.
Physical appearance[]
Cornelius is shown to have the traits of many dwarfs who live in Narnia, being diminutive-sized. He is shown to have a long gray beard as well as wearing a pair of glasses.
Role in the film[]
Cornelius is first seen walking across the Telmarine Castle, waking up Caspian where he alerts him that his aunt Prunaprismia gave birth to a newborn son, much to his shock. He later escorts Caspian to help him escape the woods where the Telmarines won't follow him here just before he hands him Susan's Horn, explaining to Caspian that it took many years for him to find this object. He then advises Caspian to avoid using it, except for his greatest need. Caspian asks him if he could seen him again, which Cornelius replies that there is so much more for him to tell. Cornelius explains to Caspian that everything he knows is about to change just before Caspian departs using his horse where he gets past various Telmarine guards to avoid getting caught.
Cornelius is later seen entering his study room where he approaches Miraz, telling him if there is anything particular that he seeks, which Miraz tells him that he already found what he was looking for one of his soldiers. As Miraz asks him of Susan's Horn, Cornelius replies that the Horn was said to be magical to which he states that the Narnians believed it could summon their kings and queens of old as was the superstition and as Miraz asks him of what Caspian knows about this, Cornelius replies to Miraz that he forbade him from mentioning the old tales as Miraz states that it was him. Cornelius tells him that if Caspian does know of the Deep Magic, his lord would have good reason to be nervous just before two guards lock him into the dungeon.
During the siege of Miraz's Castle, Caspian finds Cornelius at the dungeon where he finds out that he was captured, just as he rescues him from the dungeon. Cornelius warns him to avoid underestimating Miraz what his father did must before, just before Caspian approaches Miraz. Cornelius manages to escape the castle siege with several other remaining survivors throughout an ambush occurring throughout the night.
The next day, Cornelius and the surviving Narnians later approach Lucy who is outside Aslan's How alongside the other Narnians return from their battle from last night. Later, Cornelius approaches Caspian who is sitting on top of the How, where he shares his story to Caspian that his mother was a black dwarf from the Northern Mountains (as in a dwarf who worked for the White Witch) where he risked his life in the past so that Caspian might be a better king compared to his predecessors at the Telmarine castle, just as Caspian tells him that he failed him, while Cornelius tells him that everything he tells him was only because he believes in him. Cornelius gives Caspian an opportunity to become the most noble contradiction in history: the Telmarine who saved Narnia; he and Caspian enter the How and interrupt, just as Caspian tells the survivors to stand up against Miraz.
After the Telmarine army was defeated, causing them to surrender to the Narnians, Cornelius is seen amongst the other Narnians and Telmarines arriving at the Castle of Caspian where he was present during Caspian's coronation. He is last seen standing next to Trumpkin watching the Pevensies leave for the real world.
Video game appearances[]
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian[]
In the console versions of Prince Caspian, Cornelius is first encountered in the "Miraz's Castle Infiltration" level where he is captured and placed in a cage. The player must lure in two giants to smash the pillars that hold the cage, causing Cornelius' cage to drop and break, freeing him. Once done so, Cornelius follows the heroes on their way to infiltrate the castle, making him a playable character. Seeing that the exit to the castle entrance is protected by two guards, the player must have Trumpkin go through the tunnel to distract the guards, triggering a cutscene of Cornelius throwing a magical potion on the guards to put them to sleep just before Caspian, the Pevensies, and Trumpkin escape and encounter Reepicheep.
Cornelius later appears in the "Miraz's Castle Assault" level where he was captured in the stable by the Telmarines, leading the player to find and rescue him. Just as they attempt to rescue Cornelius, they must deal with a stable guard who confronts them in battle to which upon defeating him, Cornelius thanks Caspian and Glenstorm for rescuing him from the chieftain, planning to escort him out of the stable. With Cornelius rescued, he explains that after being freed, he can put the stable guards to sleep with his magic potion. Like in the previous level, Cornelius becomes a playable character after being rescued where he helps Caspian find a way out of the stables.
Trivia[]
- According to the audio commentary of Prince Caspian, the part where Cornelius first appears was filmed in Prague where it was Vincent Grass' first day being filmed.[1]
- Cornelius' name was never mentioned in the film and was simply only referred to as "Professor" in the film's dialogue.
- Adam Adamson, the director of Prince Caspian, compared the relationship between Cornelius and Caspian to Aristotle and Alexander the Great from Ancient Greece.
References[]
- ↑ The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian Audio Commentary (Blu-ray/DVD)
External links[]
