Daemons and Dust..

I'm glad this class offered me the opportunity to re read the Golden Compass. I read it in high school, but didn't really understand it, or think about it much after completing it. Then, and now I did find the daemons and dust to be the most intriguing and fascinating elements of the novel. I think it would be really interesting to have your own daemon. They seem to serve as physical representations of the human soul. I think one of the most fascinating things about daemons is that they are able to change form to reflect the myriads of emotional states their humans go through as children. Childhood is definitely filled with so many emotional states and so much change; it's no wonder the daemons change forms! The daemon does settle on a fixed animal when their human reaches adulthood, that they feel best reflects their human's inner nature. While reading I found myself wondering what forms my own daemon would take during my childhood and adolescence and what it would be fixed upon now. Daemons could be seen as their humans' consciousness; like having your own Jiminy Cricket with you at all times!


I also found "Dust" to be a very interesting character in the novel. I think dust represents different things to different people; illustrating diversity in thoughts. To me, dust represents original sin. I think that people are frightened by dust because dust can uncover their sins and cause them to feel their ramifications. It's hard to pinpoint in the novel is dust or good or bad as there are so many differing opinions by the various characters. I believe one of the reasons Lyra thinks that dust is good is because those she views as "bad people"(her parents - Lord Asrial and Mrs. Coulter) seek to destroy it. Lyra's quest to find the dust could be seen as an act of teenage rebellion.