The Golden Compass

The Golden Compass, for a children's book, had a few religious factors surrounding it.  It really reminded me of Narnia in that sense in which they both elude to religion/god.  Though, it didn't seem to stand out too much until the end and what was trying to be accomplished by the heroine. I don't think that children would probably understand most of the religious content on a deeper basis, and just enjoy it for the story.  Thoguh, the story is quite dark in some respects. The main heroine was really related to her name. As discussed in class, she really was good at lying, her name Lyra even sounds like liar.  The use of daemons was really different and interesting.  It kind of went back to folklore of familiars that people could have.  I like how the daemons are the external spirit of a person and form into an animal of which is based on that person's personality. Having a child's daemon not takes it form until later was quite true to how a child develops.  They aren't just born with a certain personality, it can change and form through their lifestyles and through meetings with people, as well as experiences they go through. Also have people have ghosts adds the third part of the person, which eludes to some other religious connotations.   Even though there is religious content in the book, it's anti-christian.  The Gyptians are like gypsies, but in the end, save children and others from danger and in a way are saviors.  Usually gypsies were never seen as such and have always been the lower-brand of society in history.