His Dark Materials: Analysis of Major Characters

Author: Philip Pullman

First published: Northern Lights, 1995 ( The Golden Compass, 1996); The Subtle Knife, 1997; The Amber Spyglass, 2000

Genre: Novel

Locale: Oxford, England, and various fantasy worlds

Plot: Fantasy

Time: Late twentieth century

Lyra Belacqua, a thin girl with blue eyes whose destiny places her at the center of a universe-changing upheaval when she is twelve. She later takes on the last name Silvertongue, which is given to her by Iorek Byrnison. Raised at Jordan College, she had a sheltered and relaxed childhood and developed a carefree attitude. Like all humans in her world, she has a daemon, a creature that represents her soul. Her daemon is named Pantalaimon and eventually takes the shape of a pine marten. Lyra is considered the second Eve, and like the biblical Eve, she is destined to introduce knowledge into the world, although the powerful and evil Church that wields a strong influence over her world spreads the belief that this knowledge is actually sin. Her rebellious nature serves her well in life, and she is quick to enter a dangerous situation if she knows that adventure and rewards await her. She relies less on formal education than on her instincts and wits to get her through her journey. Lyra also experiences a sexual and romantic awakening, falling in love with Will Parry, although she realizes that she must part ways with him. She is by instinct able to use the alethiometer, a device that reveals the truth. Because of the prophecy about her, a large number of people come to her aid, while an equally large number conspire against her.

Will Parry, a dark-haired and muscular twelve-year-old boy who wanders into other worlds and becomes the companion of Lyra. Will's mother suffers from mental illness, and his father disappeared on an Arctic exploration when Will was very young. Because of this, Will has learned to be both incredibly independent and confident. He is also more serious than most children his age. Searching for his missing his father, Will first travels between worlds when attempting to flee men who claim to represent the government. While at first he connects with Lyra only to aid her in fulfilling the prophecy, he eventually falls in love with her. He is able to use the subtle knife, a device that can cut subatomic particles and allows the user to create openings between worlds. Although daemons do not exist in Will's world, he later gains one, Kirjava, who takes the form of a cat.

Mrs. Coulter, a strikingly gorgeous woman with black hair and the mother of Lyra. Her first name is Marisa, though she is typically referred to as Mrs. Coulter. She is driven to acquire power no matter the cost and is skilled at manipulating people socially. More often than not, she prefers to come across as sophisticated and charming, dressing well and using her social presence in order to convince others to do her will. She has no compassion for others and does not hesitate to murder and even torture people if she believes doing so will help her in her quest. Her daemon is a longhaired golden monkey who also acts with cruelty, although the creature is less skilled at hiding his true intentions than she is. She once fell in love with Lord Asriel and had a child, Lyra, with him, although they did not stay in a romantic relationship. The only exception to her unrepentant selfishness is the care she repeatedly shows Lyra, and this care ultimately leads her to abandon the Church and support the rebellion, sacrificing her own life to destroy Metatron, the Authority's regent.

Lord Asriel, a tall man with a cruel laugh who plans to overthrow the Authority and the Church and establish a Republic of Heaven. He is a member of the aristocracy, the father of Lyra, and an alumnus of Jordan College. He is incredibly intelligent and a master strategist, skills that have made him a leader in his world. He loses his wealth and influence, however, after having a politically dangerous affair with Mrs. Coulter, the fallout from which helps inspire his deep dislike of the Church. While he exhibits cruel and seemingly immoral behavior, even killing Lyra's friend Roger at one point, it is always in the service of his greater goal of overthrowing the Church, which he knows to be the highest ideal he could pursue. He eventually sacrifices his own life in order to destroy Metatron.

Dr. Mary Malone, a former nun turned physicist who lives in the same world as Will. She is heavily involved in researching dark matter, which is the term used for Dust in her world. Her destiny is to serve as the serpent to Lyra's Eve, tempting the young woman with something, although she does not know what that will be. While she had originally dedicated her life to religion, promising to abstain from physical pleasures, when she remembers the joy of her first kiss, she decides to leave the church and eventually becomes an atheist. After meeting Will and Lyra, she travels to a strange world filled with the elephantine Mulefa, creatures that are able to see Dust, and with their help, she makes the amber spyglass, a device that allows her to do the same. After the events of the cosmic battle, she and Will remain close friends.

Iorek Byrnison, a leader of the panserbjørn, a race of intelligent armored bears who live in Lyra's world. He is incredibly loyal and will never betray a friend or break an oath, qualities that are true of almost all bears but particularly so of him. Like all of his people, he is able to make amazingly strong armor, but when this armor is stolen from him, he is left much weakened. Although Iorek should be the king of his people, he has been tricked into exile and must go to great lengths to reclaim his throne. His skill as a blacksmith is so great that he is able to repair the subtle knife. He aligns himself with Lyra during the great cosmic battle.

Serafina Pekkala, a queen of witches in Lyra's world whose daemon is a goose. She is three hundred years old and wears a crown of red flowers. Like all witches, she owns nothing, is impervious to heat and freezing temperatures, and flies on a tree branch. She once fell in love with Farder Coram and had a child with him. Serafina regularly aids Lyra and Lord Asriel in their battles.

Lee Scoresby, a Texan balloonist from Lyra's world who uses his vehicle to travel the world. He comes to aid the Gyptians in freeing the children who were captured by Gobblers, although he is initially uncertain of where his loyalties should lie in the upcoming war. He does not believe in violence, but when put in danger, he will defend himself, and his choice to fight for his friends eventually costs him both his balloon and his life.

Farder Coram, a wise elder and leader among the Gyptians. His daemon is a large cat. After saving Serafina when she was under attack by another witch's daemon, he fell in love with her, and they eventually had a child together. Although his body is ravaged by disease, he helps lead the charge to save the children who were kidnapped by Gobblers. He helps train Lyra in how to make use of the alethiometer and proves himself to be a valuable ally.

The authority, the first angel to come into existence. He convinces the other angels and the living creatures of the various universes that he is actually the creator of all worlds, although this is not true. He uses this false claim to establish leadership over the Kingdom of Heaven, becoming the figure thought of as God. Over time, he becomes very weak and eventually loses his grasp on power, overcome and imprisoned by the regent he selects.

John Faa, the elderly and brave leader of the Gyptians. His daemon is a crow. He is fiercely loyal to his friends and to the Gyptians and goes to great lengths to protect them. He also goes out of his way to help others whom he believes to be good people, and when he fights to free the kidnapped Gyptian children, he also puts himself at risk to free all the others who were kidnapped.

John Parry, an explorer and the father of Will Parry. When exploring Alaska prior to the events of the series, he came across a portal to another realm, ending up in Cittàgazze and eventually in Lyra's world, where he lived under the name Stanislaus Grumman. He began to study Dust and was considered a holy man after undergoing trepanation of his skull, even gaining the ability to control the weather and travel in spirit form. While he manages to connect with Will briefly and aid in the battle against the Church, he is killed immediately after recognizing the boy as his son.

Iofur Raknison, the leader of the panserbjørn, the intelligent and armored bears. He desires to be as powerful as a human leader and to be baptized into the Church, and he commands his army with those goals in mind. Unlike most other bears, he is willing to lie in his quest for power, and he initiates the practice of wearing gold decorations, as many humans do. He is physically more powerful than most bears, which allows him to kill his father, although he eventually dies in combat with Iorek.

Roger Parslow, the childhood best friend of Lyra who works in the kitchen of Jordan College. He loves adventure, although not quite as much as Lyra, and he occasionally cautions against her wild plans. He is kidnapped by the Gobblers and eventually killed by Lord Asriel in order to create a portal between worlds.

Balthamos, a rebel angel and the lover of Baruch. He assists Lord Asriel in the quest to overthrow the Authority. His conviction is tested, however, when Baruch is killed, and although he at first recommits himself to Will in hopes of avenging his lover, his grief eventually causes him to withdraw. He is less brave than other angels and often responds to situations with sarcasm.

Baruch, a rebel angel and the lover of Balthamos. He seeks to overthrow the Authority, including his brother, who has become Metatron. His courage leads him to battle with Metatron, and he is fatally wounded as a result.

Chevalier Tialys, a robust member of the Gallivespian people, a race of spies who are as tall as a human hand. He flies on a dragonfly. Although he hates being told what to do and can be quite childish, he nevertheless devotes himself to Lord Asriel and spies on the Church.

Lady Salmakia, a Gallivespian and the partner of the Chevalier Tialys. While not beautiful, she has a comforting and motherly face. She dies soon after the Chevalier Tialys is killed.

Xaphania, a fallen angel who was exiled from the Kingdom of Heaven after learning the truth about the Authority. Her powerful glow and strong force make her visible to humans.

Lord Boreal, a nobleman with a snake daemon, who constantly strives to achieve greater power. He is a lover of Mrs. Coulter. He travels between worlds and, using the alias Sir Charles Latrom, steals the alethiometer from Will and Lyra. He then tries to force them to trade the subtle knife for it. He is eventually murdered by Mrs. Coulter after telling her everything he knows.

Ruta Skadi, a queen of witches in Lyra's Latvia whose daemon is a bluethroat bird. She wears a crown of tiger teeth over her black hair and is immensely powerful and strong. She and Lord Asriel were lovers, and she wishes Lyra could have been her child.

Father Gomez, a priest and assassin in service of the Church. He attempts to kill Lyra but is stopped by angels. His daemon is a beetle.

Fra Pavel Rasek, a man who specializes in alethiometers and serves the Church. Although he eventually can get the truth from the device, it takes an extremely long time. His daemon is a frog.

Metatron, an angel named regent to the Authority. He is more powerful than the Authority and eventually the functional leader of Heaven. He was once a man and the brother to Baruch. He is driven by his hunger for power and is eventually killed by Lord Asriel and Mrs. Coulter.

The Master, the man in charge of Jordan College. He is capable of reading an alethiometer and passes one on to Lyra. His daemon is a raven.

Elaine Parry, the mentally ill mother of Will Parry who is unable to care for Will and relies on him to run the household.

Ma Costa, a Gyptian woman and the mother of Billy. She cares for Lyra when the girl is still a baby. Her daemon is a hawk.

Billy Costa, a Gyptian boy who is kidnapped by the Gobblers. Billy is a playmate of Lyra and Roger.