Philip Pullman's His dark materials - a multiple allegory : attacking religious superstition in The lion, the witch, and the wardrobe and Paradise lost /
Wheat, Leonard F.,1931-2014.
Amherst, N.Y. : Prometheus Books,
2008.
Wheat demonstrates how Pullman retells two prominent works of British literature--C.S. Lewis's The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and John Milton's Paradise Lost. Pullman's aim is to counter Lewis's pro-Christian allegory with his own anti-Christian allegory. Pullman does this in his second allegory by turning Paradise Lost upside down. Satan and his daughter, Sin, along with Adam's murderous son Cain, become heroes; God and Jesus become villains. This retold story depicts our society's warfare between knowledge (symbolized by Dust) and religious superstitions (symbolized by Specters). Pullman adds an original third hidden story featuring Christian missionaries, Charles Darwin, agnostics, and atheists. Wheat's intriguing interpretation of Pullman's work is the first to point out the many allegorical features of His Dark Materials and to highlight the ingenious ways in which Pullman subtly attacks religious institutions and superstitions.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 301-322) and index.
Pullman's surface story -- The lion, the witch and the wardrobe: C.S. Lewis's story and his allegory -- The lion, the witch and the wardrobe retold: Pullman's allegory -- Paradise lost retold: the hidden story and its themes -- Paradise lost retold: setting, characters, and events -- Missionaries, Darwin and conclusions.
Wheat demonstrates how Pullman retells two prominent works of British literature--C.S. Lewis's The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and John Milton's Paradise Lost. Pullman's aim is to counter Lewis's pro-Christian allegory with his own anti-Christian allegory. Pullman does this in his second allegory by turning Paradise Lost upside down. Satan and his daughter, Sin, along with Adam's murderous son Cain, become heroes; God and Jesus become villains. This retold story depicts our society's warfare between knowledge (symbolized by Dust) and religious superstitions (symbolized by Specters). Pullman adds an original third hidden story featuring Christian missionaries, Charles Darwin, agnostics, and atheists. Wheat's intriguing interpretation of Pullman's work is the first to point out the many allegorical features of His Dark Materials and to highlight the ingenious ways in which Pullman subtly attacks religious institutions and superstitions.
Pullman, Philip, 1946-
Young adult fiction, English
Fantasy fiction, English
Allegory.
Philip Pullman's His dark materials--a multiple allegory.