I have said that His Dark Materials is not fantasy but stark realism, and my reason for this is to emphasise what I think is an important aspect of the story, namely the fact that it is realistic, in psychological terms. I deal with matters that might normally be encountered in works of realism, such as adolescence, sexuality, and so on; and they are the main subject matter of the story — the fantasy (which, of course, is there: no-one but a fool would think I meant there is no fantasy in the books at all) is there to support and embody them, not for its own sake. Dæmons, for example, might otherwise be only a meaningless decoration, adding nothing to the story: but I use them to embody and picture some truths about human personality which I couldn't picture so easily without them. I'm trying to write a book about what it means to be human, to grow up, to suffer and learn. My quarrel with much (not all) fantasy is it has this marvelous toolbox and does nothing with it except construct shoot-em-up games. Why shouldn't a work of fantasy be as truthful and profound about becoming an adult human being as the work of George Eliot or Jane Austen? .Philip Pullman
About This Quote
Lyra and Will are both growing up and they are both learning to deal with the trials and tribulations of life. Lyra is an adolescent who is struggling with finding out who she is and what she wants to do with her life while Will has grown up and has to deal with the fact that he has a dæmon and that he has to take responsibility for the actions of his animal companion. They were both brought up by their mothers and they both had to learn to fend for themselves. The idea of growing up is not easy but it is necessary for people to become independent adults.
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