Like others, I am amused by the role of daemons and how they find their true form when the child becomes an adult. I realize most of my questions should be answered later in the book, but what I find myself thinking about while reading the Golden Compass is the Multiverse hypothesis.
As soon I read about a city hidden in the Northern Lights I immediately thought about this hypothesis. This idea describes that true reality is the juxtaposition of many multiple universes. I had a hard time understanding this concept till my astrophysicist professor described how when two 3D objects (like bubbles) collide a 2D plane is created. Taking that same concept to the next level, when two 4D dimensions collide a 3D world like ours is produced. M-theory asserts that there are as many as 11 Dimensions. These dimensions are then reduced to a lower energy :the 3-Dimensions of space and 1-Dimension of time as we understand.
The word Dust reminded me of a seminar that I recently attended at Hayden Planetarium where the speaker explained how Space is no longer considered just a vacuum, but filled with “dust”. With biologists discovering more and more extremophiles it is becoming increasingly likely that life exists across the entire universe and that planets only need to yield the perfect conditions for life to bloom. It seems that dust can act as a vector for life exchange across the universe. Dust exchange from a now lifeless Mars could have once seeded life on our planet.
P.S. Here is a link for anyone still interested in more Gruesome Fairy Tale Origins
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Lyra's Relationships
Growing up, fantasy, mystery, and fiction books were my favorite to read, so it was no wonder I loved Philip Pullman's works from my junior high school years. When I came across the "His Dark Materials" trilogy, I felt like I had discovered the hidden gold mine in my imagination. The characters, the descriptions, and the conflicts presented in "The Golden Compass," "The Subtle Knife," and "The Amber Spyglass" were both relatable and yet, unimaginable in its presentation at the same time.
As everyone else has already commented, the concept of the daemons and their significance to each human life in the book was something I was struck by when I first read the book years ago. I distinctly remember being jealous of Lyra, wishing I had one of my own-my personal friend and confidante to play with all day long. (Being a total zoophobic person at that time, I have to say the books truly gave me some insight to understanding the relationship pet owners have with their beloved ones).
However, the most interesting part of "The Golden Compass" was not just Lyra's fascinating journey and her heroic quest, but her relationships between kids of her own age, her elders, her uncle, and her "lack of" parents. Brought up under the loose supervision of the Jordan College scholars, acting as a tomboy, and possessing the qualities of a leader and a hero, it was Lyra's motives I always questioned. The absence of her parents was something I picked up on at the beginning, and the way Pullman addresses it (if I remember correctly) at the end of the book is an intriguing aspect of the story.
As everyone else has already commented, the concept of the daemons and their significance to each human life in the book was something I was struck by when I first read the book years ago. I distinctly remember being jealous of Lyra, wishing I had one of my own-my personal friend and confidante to play with all day long. (Being a total zoophobic person at that time, I have to say the books truly gave me some insight to understanding the relationship pet owners have with their beloved ones).
However, the most interesting part of "The Golden Compass" was not just Lyra's fascinating journey and her heroic quest, but her relationships between kids of her own age, her elders, her uncle, and her "lack of" parents. Brought up under the loose supervision of the Jordan College scholars, acting as a tomboy, and possessing the qualities of a leader and a hero, it was Lyra's motives I always questioned. The absence of her parents was something I picked up on at the beginning, and the way Pullman addresses it (if I remember correctly) at the end of the book is an intriguing aspect of the story.
Daemons and Dust
I began to read this book before the semester began and saw the movie over the winter break. There are two elements in the book that I find most fascinating:
1) The "Daemons" (with respect to the children) -- one minute they are adorable, spiritlike creatures who are like shape-shifters; one minute they appear to be like human representatives of the human soul, and the next minute they appear to change with the spectrum of human emotions of the children with they are associated. But, when the children become adults, the Daemons seem to take the shape of some animal form which best expresses the inner qualities of their adult humans -- as though human souls are some type of living extensions of the adults; extensions that are alive and can love, but can also challenge and and betray the human beings. The Daemons also seem to be the gender opposite of their human counterparts.
2) The concept of the "Dust": it seems to provide the essence of human beings -- the idea that human knowledge and human experience are made real (they are no longer abstract essence but physical reality) by the Dust; these are the things that make each human adult an unique entity. Some of the characters seem to revel in the concept of the Dust and realize how powerful it can be; other characters seem to fear the Dust and reject its power. Lyra becomes entangle with her exploration and and understanding of the Dust; her entrenchment with the dust gives her the courage to go on her harrowing journey to find her closest friend -- the Dust directs her to her obvious destiny with her solving the mystery of the missing children.
1) The "Daemons" (with respect to the children) -- one minute they are adorable, spiritlike creatures who are like shape-shifters; one minute they appear to be like human representatives of the human soul, and the next minute they appear to change with the spectrum of human emotions of the children with they are associated. But, when the children become adults, the Daemons seem to take the shape of some animal form which best expresses the inner qualities of their adult humans -- as though human souls are some type of living extensions of the adults; extensions that are alive and can love, but can also challenge and and betray the human beings. The Daemons also seem to be the gender opposite of their human counterparts.
2) The concept of the "Dust": it seems to provide the essence of human beings -- the idea that human knowledge and human experience are made real (they are no longer abstract essence but physical reality) by the Dust; these are the things that make each human adult an unique entity. Some of the characters seem to revel in the concept of the Dust and realize how powerful it can be; other characters seem to fear the Dust and reject its power. Lyra becomes entangle with her exploration and and understanding of the Dust; her entrenchment with the dust gives her the courage to go on her harrowing journey to find her closest friend -- the Dust directs her to her obvious destiny with her solving the mystery of the missing children.
Lyra's family
I'm enjoying the book so far, but I have one major question. Where is Lyra's family? I know her Uncle is there, but where is the rest of her family? Is she an orphan? And if not, where are they?
Daemons
The daemons in the story are fascinating. I like that they are initially able to change form and color, but eventually settle into one form(which says a lot about the human). I have many questions about the story so far, but only because I haven't finished the book. I'm sure most of my questions will be answered once I finish. One question I keep asking myself is, if I had a daemon, what kind of animal would it be? We can all ask ourselves that question.
Golden Compass and Setting
I'm in the process of reading the book now and even though I really love it so far I can't seem to understand the setting of the novel. It's so strange. I get that its set in England, I guess somewhere arond Oxford in Jordan College. But the magical elements and the time setting seem so out of place, and yet perfectly in place, that I don't really know where I am. It's so everlasting, internal and yet external from the real England that we know. Why is that so and why is it so confusing?
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
The Golden Compass & The Church
I, personally, started The Golden Compass earlier then necessary and I just finished it last week. I found it to be an amazing book, definitely one of the great stories that we don't see too often nowadays... but there was something that I never really understood. Although it was mentioned in class, the thing I want to question is the role religion plays in the text.
There was so much hype about religious institutions urging people not to see the movie when it came out because of the "anti-religious" status of the book. My sister, who attends a Catholic private school, was told by the school counselor (a nun) that it was satanic and would earn them a trip to Hell. It seems funny, but it was something that roused my curiosity: why?
I remember when The DaVinci Code came out there was this same media attention. I read that book and, just like with The Golden Compass, I couldn't understand why. For The Golden Compass: YES, the church plays quite a villainous role in the book - but, to me, the church wasn't really the church. Instead, I saw it as a political institution that had power and used it; in a way, it reminded me of the Roman Catholic Church's role during the Inquisition. Maybe a dark comparison, but my point stands. In fact, I don't even think the church in the book was specified as the Roman Catholic Church (though, considering, it could very possibly be).
So, overall, one thing I would like to discuss in class is the role of the church in this story: what is it? Why is it used? Pullman could've easily used another political institution... is it for shock value? Or is there a deeper meaning? Like the daemon and the concept of "Dust," I think the church is something that can be really deeply explored.
There was so much hype about religious institutions urging people not to see the movie when it came out because of the "anti-religious" status of the book. My sister, who attends a Catholic private school, was told by the school counselor (a nun) that it was satanic and would earn them a trip to Hell. It seems funny, but it was something that roused my curiosity: why?
I remember when The DaVinci Code came out there was this same media attention. I read that book and, just like with The Golden Compass, I couldn't understand why. For The Golden Compass: YES, the church plays quite a villainous role in the book - but, to me, the church wasn't really the church. Instead, I saw it as a political institution that had power and used it; in a way, it reminded me of the Roman Catholic Church's role during the Inquisition. Maybe a dark comparison, but my point stands. In fact, I don't even think the church in the book was specified as the Roman Catholic Church (though, considering, it could very possibly be).
So, overall, one thing I would like to discuss in class is the role of the church in this story: what is it? Why is it used? Pullman could've easily used another political institution... is it for shock value? Or is there a deeper meaning? Like the daemon and the concept of "Dust," I think the church is something that can be really deeply explored.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)