Hwin

Did You Know?

• Hwin's name brings to mind the word 'whinny', a sound that horses make.
• Primarily, 'Hwin' is a contraction of 'Hwinhynym', which, spelled 'Houyhnhnm', is the name of the race of noble horses from Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels.

Biographical summary

Hwin was born in Narnia but captured as a foal and sold into slavery in Calormen, becoming the property of Aravis Tarkeena. During her years in slavery, she did not speak to hide her Narnian origin. Not long before the events of The Horse and His Boy, Hwin revealed her nature as a talking horse to Aravis while intervening to prevent Aravis from killing herself to avoid an arranged marriage, persuading her to escape together to Narnia. In the story, Hwin and Aravis first appear driven together with Bree and Shasta by roaring lions.

Hwin looks up to Bree as a noble war horse and prefers his assistance and protection, though she defends her right to compare escape stories with him. Hwin and Bree discover they know the same places in Narnia and are possibly distantly related. Hwin plays a vital role in their escape through Tashbaan, but her plan of disguising themselves fails when King Edmund mistakes Shasta for Prince Corin and Aravis is recognized by a friend. The group eventually reunites and heads to Archenland.

Hwin remains friends with Bree, Shasta (later revealed to be Prince Cor of Archenland) and Aravis throughout her life, and it is mentioned that she later marries, though not to Bree.

Personality

Hwin's logical thinking and humility serve as a counter to Bree. She is generally clear-thinking and reasonable, and though she seems shy at times, her advice is usually the smartest of the group's; she devises the best plan for getting through Tashbaan. Her wisdom contrasts with Bree, who is less sensible and more concerned with what others think of him, while Hwin enjoys rolling in the grass and does not care what others think.