Themes and Characters
Pullman has clearly outlined his vision for the trilogy. He describes it as "A rewriting of Milton's Paradise Lost," tailored for young adults. The first book centers on Lyra's journey. The second book introduces a new central character, and the third book brings them both together in a grand conflict. In this series, the virtuous characters, like Lyra and her companions, align with the fallen angels and humans, opposing the entrenched educational, governmental, and religious institutions of her world. Pullman even refers to Lyra as "The New Eve," whose quest for knowledge is crucial for the autonomous and fulfilling lives of all humans.
Lyra embarks on her journey at the age of eleven and does not turn twelve by the end of the first book. The narrative captures her transition from innocence to experience, depicting her fall from the unselfconscious bliss of childhood to the deliberate actions of adulthood. Despite her growth, Lyra remains very much a child at the conclusion of the initial novel. She undergoes several significant rites of passage, starting with her bewilderment when the Master of Jordan College attempts to poison her "uncle," Lord Asriel, then gives her a precious gift from him, the Alethiometer. She is puzzled when he instructs her to hide it from Mrs. Coulter without explaining its purpose or usage.
Lyra is further disillusioned when she realizes she must distrust the glamorous Mrs. Coulter, her newly discovered mother, who dazzles her with luxurious clothes and a sophisticated social life but plans to use her to capture children for the sinister "Oblation Board" and their experiments. She learns that the gyptians, whom she once viewed as social outcasts, are her true allies and will assist her with her father. Lyra also discovers that the church, which she always considered a familiar part of her social fabric, is becoming an institution that exploits children for its purposes and keeps the populace ignorant to maintain control. Rapidly, she learns to trust her judgment more, while also recognizing its fallibility.
One emblem of her innate elegance and "pre-fallen" state is her proficiency with the Alethiometer, a small, golden mechanical device adorned with symbols. She swiftly learns to enter a meditative state to "operate" the device, a compass-like instrument covered with symbols and an arrow that points to them. She soon realizes it can guide her on the true nature of others, suggest potential outcomes of current actions, and uncover hidden truths that might elude even adults, let alone a young girl. Pullman further emphasizes her innocence by showing that Lyra is oblivious to the sexual undertones among the adults around her, such as Mrs. Coulter and her associates, as well as the witches and the gyptians.
Despite her unconscious grace, Lyra is neither naive nor unwise. In fact, her skill in deception, lying, and steering conversations to her advantage is crucial to her success throughout the adventure. These abilities not only save her life but also help her and her friends escape from the Oblation Board and rescue her loyal bear companion, Iorek Byrnison. Throughout the novel, Lyra acts with independence and creativity, driven by a strong sense of loyalty and responsibility. She adeptly navigates numerous complex social and personal situations without hesitation about her role in them.
When she discovers that the Master is attempting to poison her father, she intervenes without questioning which man is in the right, labeling the Master's act as attempted murder. Upon learning that her mother is involved with the Oblation Board, which has kidnapped her friend Roger and many other children to sever them from their daemons, she...
(This entire section contains 1619 words.)
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flees from her mother and sets out on a mission to stop this atrocity, never doubting the righteousness of defying established authorities. She endeavors to save a severed boy, assists Iorek the bear in escaping his bondage, challenges the authorities at the Bolvangar institution where severing occurs, and strives to rescue her father.
In each of these instances, Lyra reevaluates authority figures that should have dictated her actions. This series of events endears her to young readers who often feel restricted by adult limitations, while also signaling to adult readers her unique status, prompting them to seek the underlying moral order guiding her actions.
The most compelling and fascinating symbol in this novel is the daemon, closely followed by the bears of Lapland. From the beginning of the story, Pullman explores the evolution of external souls, distinguishing Lyra's world from our own. This inventive concept wasn't part of the original idea for the novels, but once it was introduced, its versatility as a literary device became evident. Daemons can symbolize various aspects of individual character and collective strangeness. Their symbolic uses, in a technical sense, will be detailed below. Their thematic significance is also noteworthy. They suggest a level of determinism, although Pullman disputes this interpretation. When asked, he linked the daemon to essential nature and innate talent. He said:
The concept doesn't determine outcomes; it suggests a nature. But then that's just a picture of what we are like. We're not all gifted in the same way ... but the things we can do something about still remain within our path.
Daemons also allow Pullman to explore subjectivity, representing enigmatic aspects of human character and enabling readers to examine facets of personality that may seem incongruous. Pullman's well-developed concept of maturation is embodied in daemons, but they are so captivating that one cannot consider adulthood in this society without feeling profound sadness. Book cover for The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman.
As one considers the functions of daemons, it becomes evident that their existence would fundamentally transform society at all levels. People would gain self-awareness earlier in life. They would have at least one close companion, making them paradoxically more secure about themselves during adolescence while also more susceptible to manipulation by others who could instantly discern key aspects of their character. Those around you would know when you had reached puberty, and although this might be embarrassing for young teenagers, it would be a common knowledge for everyone. We would each have someone to consult about our most challenging decisions, which would influence our need for external friendships. This is just one suggestion from a long list of potential differences, and Pullman himself has not fully explored them even throughout the entire series. In his novels, daemons oscillate between being a fantastic construct, akin to a beloved pet, and a mere symbol of the character evaluations we all make of each other, sometimes at a subconscious level.
Daemons are a crucial element in the intricate plot, adding another layer of significance to their presence. While Lyra's innocent escapades in Oxford provide an engaging narrative, the author gradually deepens our understanding of their importance. For instance, in Chapter Three, we follow her spirited adventures in the crypts of Jordan College. We discover that daemons vanish when people die, but Lyra finds coins with daemon images wedged into the skulls of deceased scholars. When she rearranges them, she is visited by ghosts who demand she return the coins to their original places. This hints to both Lyra and the reader that daemons and their humans may still have some connection to the living.
The daemon is such an integral part of each person's existence that Lyra is immediately and deeply horrified to learn that the Oblation Board is separating children from their daemons. This revelation drives much of her actions throughout the novel. This intimacy, foreshadowed by the episode with the deceased scholars, is continually reinforced within the story. For example, she encounters a severed boy on the way to Bolvangar who has adopted a dead fish in place of his "ratter." She also observes that the Bear-King Iofur Raknison has a human-shaped stuffed toy because he lacks a "real" daemon. To her, this implies she might deceive him, unlike the more "natural" bears like her cherished Iorek.
Pullman's perspective on original sin is closely tied to Lyra's transition from innocence to experience. This transition is complex, and his message is clear: many adults falter, prioritizing power, status, and wealth over moral responsibility to others. He views original sin as the best thing that happened to humanity, symbolizing our evolution into human beings. The entire trilogy critiques the rise of fundamentalist religions that threaten societies worldwide. As he states on the Scholastic Authors and Books website,
I think fundamentalist religion is one of the greatest dangers we have ever faced. And so if there is a source of wickedness in the book, you can place it there. But when institutional religion tells us what to believe, and punishes us for believing something different, then it's time to ring the alarm bells.
Magic and science are intertwined in this narrative. Lyra's mother, her mother's acquaintances, the Master of Jordan College, Lord Asriel, the Oblation Board, and other church institutions are more focused on comprehending and controlling "dust" than they are on their children. Conversely, Lyra's fascination with this enigmatic substance drives her actions throughout the trilogy, but it never blinds her to the needs of those around her. Time and again, she uncovers the horrific deeds of her elders because she is trying to save her friends and family. Her loyalty to loved ones, determination, and bravery in the face of daunting challenges set her apart from the many adults who should know better, raising questions about morality and innocence.
Throughout her journey, Lyra matures, enabling her to use her numerous talents to assist "good" people like Farder Coram, John Faa, Ma Costa, and her son Tony of the gyptians, Roger from the Jordan College kitchens, Iorek Byrnison, and the many children abducted by the Oblation Board, whom she liberates at Bolvangar.
