Lyra Belacqua is the protagonist of His Dark Materials. She lives in a universe ruled by the Magisterium, with witches, zombies, and armored bears. Lyra fulfills a prophecy and changes the fates of many people, including freeing captive children and helping release billions of tortured souls. Her relationship with her dæmon, Pantalaimon, is a major theme.
Lyra Belacqua is the main protagonist of the fantasy novels His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman. She is portrayed as a feisty and adventurous young British girl, the subject of a powerful prophecy and on whose shoulders rests the future of many universes.
Lyra lives in a universe similar to ours, but with important differences. The totalitarian Magisterium rules over everything, there are witches and zombies, as well as armored bears. The level of technology in general is more on par with the Victorian era in our history, although in some areas, such as theoretical physics, the technology appears to have advanced almost to our level.
Lyra grew up on the grounds of the fictitious Jordan College, Oxford. Her father is the mighty Lord Asriel and her mother is the calculating Mrs Coulter. She is the subject of a witch prophecy, which states that she is the girl “destined to determine the end of destiny”. As the story progresses, we learn that Lyra is actually a sort of second Eve, who will be tempted by a new serpent.
Instead of being portrayed as a negative, Lyra’s Fall is seen as a positive. It allows the Dust which appears to have a relationship with conscience, and which the Magisterium sees as the embodiment of sin, to remain in the world. It also allows the universes to once again exist in a state of equilibrium with each other, rather than sucking into the Abyss.
In the course of her adventures away from Jordan College, Lyra drastically changes the fates of many people around the world. She helps put an end to the General Oblation Council’s work in separating children from their dæmons, and she frees the children who have been held captive. She helps armored bear prince Iofur Byrnison reclaim his rightful throne as king of panserbjørne. She assists Will in reclaiming the thin knife that allows him to cut portals into other universes and ultimately seal each of the holes.
Taking Will to the land of the dead to help save his friend, Roger, begins a journey that ultimately leads to the release of billions of tortured souls. When she discovers that the Authority has essentially locked away the souls of the dead, she and Will struggle to find a solution. They eventually discover that by cutting a hole in the outside world, souls can escape and find their release by dissolving and becoming one with the greater universe.
Lyra’s relationship with her dæmon, Pantalaimon, is a major theme throughout the book. Pantalaimon is portrayed as both her soul and best friend, and she must grapple with the issue of Pantalaimon’s betrayal by parting with him in order to fulfill her previous promise to Roger to save him. Pantalaimon is able to take many forms in the beginning of the book, when Lyra still retains her innocence. Eventually, Pantalaimon takes the form of a pine martin, a creature of the weasel family. Since demons settle into a form that mirrors their human counterparts, this also helps flesh out Lyra. Pine martins are elegant and a little deceptive, they are fierce fighters and will climb and bond freely in trees. This seems to reflect Lyra’s free spirit and courage.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
