Summary
The novel begins in an alternate world that is similar to Earth. Lyra Belacqua, a young girl who has been given shelter by the scholars at Jordan College at Oxford University, and her “daemon,” Pantalaimon. Later, mysterious kidnappers whom Lyra and her friends call “Gobblers” take Lyra’s best friend, an Oxford boy named Roger Parslow. Lyra wants to go look for Roger, but before she can, a woman named Mrs. Coulter, who appears initially to be some kind of benefactress, spirits her away to London. Before Lyra leaves Oxford, the Headmaster gives her a golden compass called an alethiometer, which Lyra does not know how to use.
Arriving in London, Lyra is at first enchanted by Mrs. Coulter, but Lyra’s rebellious nature, as well as her suspicions about Mrs. Coulter’s vicious daemon, lead her to flee Mrs. Coulter’s house. Lyra wants to go north to save Roger and learn more about a mysterious dust. Before she can, however, she falls in with the Costas, a family that is part of a clan of people known as Gyptians, who live in boats and travel on the rivers. Lyra convinces these Gyptians to take her north with them on their quest to recover the captured children. On the way there, Lyra learns how to use the alethiometer—a device that allows her to see into the past, present, and future.
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On their way to the north, where the Gobblers work, a menacing clan known as the Tartars attack Lyra and the Gyptians. The Tartars steal Lyra and bring her to Bolvanger, where the Gobblers keep the children they have kidnapped. Here, Lyra finds Roger and also discovers the sinister secret of the Gobblers: they cut daemons and children apart in a process known as intercision. Furthermore, Lyra learns that Mrs. Coulter is in charge of the activities at Bolvanger. In response, she leads the children to freedom, but Mrs. Coulter is in constant pursuit of her.
Major Themes
Companionship: In this alternate universe, dæmons accompany characters throughout their lives and even into the afterlife.
Perspective: Telling the story through the eyes of Lyra, Pullman is able to depict the true innocence of children. Authoritative Religion: Throughout the entire novel the overseeing government goes by the name of "'The Church", it later becomes apparent that power and religion don't mix well. |
Favorite QUote
"This was her world. She wanted it to stay the same forever and ever, but it was changing around her"(pg. 60).
Is the fear of change what we are truly afraid of? As seen in the protagonist Lyra, I believe that it is being in a state of discomfort – Living in the unknown, that sparks this feeling of negative emotion. The same concept is seen in the world around us, through schooling and jobs, and whatever else is in constant need of diversity. Although, this feeling that people tend to avoid is what causes growth and maturity.