Demons in Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials are external representations of the soul, inextricably linked to a single person with whom they share an intimate bond. They have their own names and personalities, and can take on various animal forms. Separating a demon from its human companion releases immense energy and can result in the human becoming a zombie. Other sentient beings also have corollaries to demons, and touching another person’s demon is considered taboo.
Demons are fictional creatures from Philip Pullman’s fantasy series His Dark Materials. They are external representations of the soul, and are inextricably linked to a single person, with whom they share an immensely intimate bond.
In the mythos of the books, there seems to be an equivalent for demons for all sentient creatures and in all universes, though their forms may differ wildly. The ones most discussed in the books are animal familiars associated with people in Lyra’s universe. They can take on various animal forms while their human companion is still a child, but once the child grows up, they settle on one form, which is representative of a number of character traits that humans possess.
Demons are generally of the opposite sex to their human counterparts, although this is not always the case. It has been suggested that a human being of the same gender could indicate homosexuality or could indicate some sort of supernatural power. Demons also have their own names, given to them by the demons of their human parents, and their own distinct personalities. They often give advice to their human companion, and so are certainly of their own thoughts. Some are more cowardly than their humans, others may be braver; some may be very wise, while others may act as a kind of conscience.
They cannot get too far away from their human companion or else the human begins to feel severe discomfort. If they continue to be dragged away, death will eventually result. In some cases this can limit the human’s movements, such as for a sailor whose dæmon alights in the form of a dolphin, and therefore must always be in the water.
In the books, the energy that connects a demon to its human companion appears to be immense. When the bond is severed, such as by some sort of guillotine used by the General Oblation Council or by Lord Asriel, incredible energy is released that can be harnessed. Once separated from their dæmons, however, people lose most of their will, effectively becoming zombies. Although the General Oblation Council appears to be the first group in Europe to experiment with such things, it is implied throughout the books that such practices have existed for many years in parts of Africa.
Other sentient beings also have corollaries to demons, though theirs may differ drastically from those humans have. Witches, for example, who look almost human, have human-like animal demons. Theirs appear to be mostly in bird form and are able to travel hundreds of miles away from their witch without her feeling any discomfort, in stark contrast to humans and their short chain. The panserbjørne’s armor appears to have a similar status, as it is the source of their strength.
In other universes demons may or may not be visible, but they still exist to one degree or another. In our universe, for example, it is implied that the demon is still there, but that we have not learned to see it or express it. In the mulefa universe, it appears that the pods they ride on are their dæmons, bonding them intimately to the Dust. There is some suggestion that in some universes a person’s Death, which follows them at all times up to the moment of death, may act similarly, but it is uncertain.
Touching another person’s demon is considered the strictest taboo. While a lover may touch another’s dæmon if invited, outside of this circumstance it is virtually unknown. Even in battle, soldiers will avoid touching enemy demons out of respect. Demons, however, can touch each other freely and can fight to enact a fight between their two human companions.
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