By: Olivia Carroll
Summary:
The first book in Phillip Pullman’s epic trilogy His Dark Materials tells the story of a young girl named Lyra and her dæmon Pantalaimon. The two live in a mystical universe where children have dæmons, which are animal-like creatures that are physical manifestations of the child’s inner self. Dæmons can also assume any shape, real or imaginary until sometime during the child’s maturity when their dæmon “settles” into a final form that is the final true representation of the child’s character.
The story unfolds at Lyra’s residence with her currently absent uncle Lord Asriel who is a scholar at the prestigious research institute, Jordan College. Lyra is swept into an adventure after her best-friend is kidnapped by someone in the Magistrate that she believes is conducting experiments on children and their dæmons. Along the way she learns about Lord Asriel’s scientific research into a mysterious substance called “dust”. The Magistrate, which is a theocratic government, aimed to repress any scientific discoveries that strayed away from religious truths. The Magistrate, fearing “dust” , impeded any further exploration into its properties with force. Lyra, along with several companions, fight family and foe as they embark on their journey to save the stolen children with the few willing to defy The Magistrate.
Themes:
Phillip Pullman intended the story’s underlying message to be a commentary on the corruption of Church and State, and the disastrous consequences if they are kept together. With obvious similarities to the Christian Church in the book, many church members were aggravated by how Phillip Pullman had seemingly portrayed the Church as an evil entity. If Northern Lights the first book in the His Dark Materials trilogy is truly read and analysed the story does not disapprove of faith or god. Rather the story insinuates that blind faith and trust in theological doctrine can be dangerous as power corrupts.
Furthermore, Phillip Pullman has consistently expressed that in reference to any corruption in a church, it is not aimed at the faith, but rather the inherent nature of corporations and institutes to utilize faith to control and gain power over a population. Phillip Pullman stated in an interview that: “Whenever you get a political structure, with ranks and hierarchies, you get corruption,” he argued, “you get people who are more interested in progressing through those ranks than in doing good. Power corrupts.”
Another major theme is the idea of getting free through the pursuit of knowledge and the unknown. Lyra is constantly challenged by adults in positions of power, rather than adhere to society, she breaks free by escaping the limitations on information that The Magistrate imposed.
Challenge History:
The passages in reference have been appended to the back.
In 2008, the His Dark Materials trilogy came second for one of the most banned books. Many of the concerns were brought up by members of the clergy or parents that had expressed their belief that the true meaning of the story was anti-god. It is interesting to note the contentions caused by Pullman’s books usually claim to be in the defense of religion. Phillip Pullman has stated that the true intended meaning is not an attack on faith or the people who truly believe in the faith, but those who are using faith for their own benefit. Pullman declared that “In my view, belief in God seems to be a very good excuse, on the part of those who claim to believe, for doing many wicked things that they wouldn’t feel justified in doing without such a belief.”
In the third novel in the His Dark Materials trilogy, The Amber Spyglass, the US released edition was censored and large segments were removed from paragraphs. In a scene where Lyra is expressing sexual maturity as well as new and different physiological reactions, the US edition removes parts of Lyra’s experience and how she feels. Another removed scene depicted Father Gomez taking out his rifle and watching Lyra and Will through the scope as they engage in a sexual act. The US edition removes any details that go into further detail about his thoughts. It is unclear why these were removed other than the description of how Father Gomez watches the two of them can be interpreted in a sexual nature.
While not necessarily a challenge to the book series, the original movie adaption of the book, The Golden Compass, was a massive film flop. The reason for the movie’s flop is attributed to the mishandling of religious protestors attempting to stop the production, as well as select directorial choices that ended in a film that barely contained any of the book’s original meaning. The final released film ignored the aspects that critiqued religion in order to appease any backlash that came with the books. Without the main aspects of the message in the book, the movie lost any of its deeper meaning and audience.
Book Publication and Award History:
His Dark Materials Trilogy:
Northern Lights (US edition: Golden Compass):
Published: 1995
The Subtle Knife:
Published: 1997
The Amber Spyglass:
Published: 2000
Book and Author Awards:
1996 Carnegie Medal
2006 Carnegie of Carnegies (selected from past 70 years of Carnegie Medal winners)
Guardian Children’s Book Award
Whitbread Book of the Year Award (first time in history given to children’s books)
2002 recipient: Eleanor Farjeon Award for children’s literature
About The Author:
Phillip Pullman is an English author best known for His Dark Materials, and a fantastical biography of Jesus. After college and teaching, Pullman has been a full time author and writer. Pullman’s first children’s book was titled Count Karlstein and was released in 1982. In 2017, Pullman released a prequel to Northern Light set 12 years before. After many years writing fantastic pieces, Phillip Pullman has acquired many awards. Currently Phillip Pullman is the current President of the famed Society of Writers, an extraordinarily high honor for authors in England. Pullman has also been very vocal about his stance on people who challenge his books, especially those who oppose learning and knowledge. After the Catholic Leagues President William Donohue boycotted and called Pullman’s trilogy, “atheism for kids” Pullman responded aptly: “Why don’t we trust readers? Oh, it causes me to shake my head with sorrow that such nitwits could be loose in the world.”
Censorship Examples
The Amber Spyglass: Chapter 33, “Marzipan” – US EDITION
“As Mary said that, Lyra felt something strange happen to her body. She felt as if she had been handed the key to a great house she hadn’t known was there. A house that was somehow inside her, and as she turned the key, she felt other doors opening deep in the darkness, and lights coming on. She sat trembling as Mary went on…”
The Amber Spyglass: Chapter 33, “Marzipan” – UK EDITION
“As Mary said that, Lyra felt something strange happen to her body. She felt a stirring at the roots of her hair: she found herself breathing faster. She had never been on a roller-coaster, or anything like one, but if she had, she would have recognized the sensations in her breast: they were exciting and frightening at the same time, and she had not the slightest idea why. The sensation continued, and deepened, and changed, as more parts of her body found themselves affected too. She felt as if she had been handed the key to a great house she hadn’t known was there, a house that was somehow inside her, and as she turned the key, deep in the darkness of the building she felt other doors opening too, and lights coming on. She sat trembling, hugging her knees, hardly daring to breathe…”
The Amber Spyglass: Chapter 35, “Over The Hills and Far Away” – US EDITION
“…Father Gomez found himself praising God for his mission, because it was clearer than ever that the boy and the girl were walking into mortal sin.
He watched them go in among the trees. They hadn’t looked back once since coming over the top of the ridge, but he still kept low, moving down the stream at a crouch, holding the rifle in one hand, balancing with the other.
He was so close to success…”
The Amber Spyglass: Chapter 35, “Over The Hills and Far Away” – UK EDITION
“…Father Gomez found himself praising God for his mission, because it was clearer than ever that the boy and the girl were walking into mortal sin.
And there it was: the dark-blonde movement that was the girl’s hair. He moved a little closer, and took out the rifle. There was a telescopic sight: low-powered, but beautifully made, so that looking through it was to feel your vision clarified as well as enlarged. Yes, there she was, and she paused and looked back so that he saw the expression on her face, and he could not understand how anyone so steeped in evil could look so radiant with hope and happiness.
His bewilderment at that made him hesitate, and then the moment was gone, and both children had walked in among the trees and out of sight. Well, they wouldn’t go far. He followed them down the stream, moving at a crouch, holding the rifle in one hand, balancing with the other.
He was so close to success…”
Further Reading:
Banned Instances of His Dark Materials