Assignment Week Seven: His Dark Materials (trilogy) by Philip Pullman (8 points)

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        His Dark Materials (trilogy) by Philip Pullman were the books I have read for this week. I have yet to watch the series and I watched the movie as kid consistently. However, the books while reading have a sense world building that the movie wasn’t able to present to its viewers. The first book explains the world/ dimension of the books and lets us be able to understand and be swept into it. With the soul connections between daemons and people and the corruption of the magisterium are values all three books show to the read.

            Starting with the golden compass, in the book the compass is a truth-telling mechanism that is one of the last ones known in the world. However, the compass is the symbolism for a moral compass, encouraging the children who read these books to maintain a sense of right and wrong. Pullman criticizes the oppression, cruelty, and narrow-mindedness of societies high powers that try to force them onto its subjects, whether they be through the church or government. The books, mostly the first one, has introduced millions of its young readers to ideas of humanism, complex theoretical physics and the cruelty of large political organizations. Having these ideas manifested into a fantasy world, where our souls walk beside us throughout our lives, lets readers learn more serious topics than many other works that are heavy in fantasy.

            During the other books as Lyra starts growing up she engages in a sexual relationship with another character named Will. In doing so we see a correlation with Eve (bible) and Lyra, her choice to express her love for will restores Dust to the world and ensures that the Church will be defeated. After she made her decision, everyone with have the right to mature and make independent decisions. This is very similar to the fall of Adam and Eve, furthering the religious connections with the books. The books are focused on the motifs of destiny, innocence, and physical pleasure. Philip Pullman wrote this trilogy similar to lord of the rings in its construction and morals, but also with a steampunk mechanical world most kids don’t get to experience. His Dark Materials are full of values that many kids will learn or has already known.

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