Jonathan Strange: Okay, where DID the magic go? SPOILER WARNING

Cafe Society
1

At the very beginning of the novel *Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell * by Susanna Clarke, Mr. Segundus royally miffs a number of members of the Learned Society of York Magicians by asking why magic is no longer practiced in England. As far as I can tell, by the end of the book, we NEVER learn the answer to this question.

I’ve re-read the novel a number of times, and cleared up a number of points to my satisfaction in doing so, but I have never found the answer to Mr. Segundus’ original question: Why did the practice of magic die out in England in the first place? Is answer in the novel? If you agree with me that the answer is NOT in the novel, feel free to speculate about an answer of your own, but please clearly note that it is your own speculation and not an answer found in the text.

Thanks!

2

From what I remember, they never really address the question. If I remember correctly, there was a prophecy regarding the two magicians. Did the prophecy say anything about them being the only ones? If so, then maybe the magic HAD to go away to fulfill the prophecy. Of course, that just shifts the question of why the prophecy was made in the first place, but it’s a start.

3

I think it had something to do with the withdrawal from English affairs of John Uskglass, the Raven King, and fairies in general – but why they all retreated to Fairie is never explained.

4

Well, I have nothing to contibute dirctly to the discussion, as it has been a while since I read the book last, but inspired by this discussion, I dug up Clarke’s website, JonathanStrange.com (poor Norrell–even in cyberspace, his pupil outshines him) and found the following tidbit:

5

Thanks for the responses. So far, what you all say is in keeping with my impressions – no real explanation whatsoever, except for the apparent implication that it had to do with John Uskglass removing himself from affairs in some fashion. But, once again, we are not told WHY, as far as I could tell.

(I asked the question because I found the book a little vague on some points, which I only came to really understand on re-reading. The rationale behind Strange taking the “mouse tincture,” for example, had me stumped for my first several read throughs. With that in mind, I thought that perhaps I was missing something.

6

Maybe all the mana got used up.