There is hardly any story about the origin of human beings that is as well-known as that of Adam and Eve. In every culture and religion legends exist of how mankind came into being, what our function on earth is, why we are mortal and where evil originates from. Hardly any story has had such an immense and lasting influence as the Christian story of the Fall of Man: every child knows the names of the first human beings, countless literary works refer to them, and numerous theories as to the intention of the story have been made. The text has been interpreted literally as well as allegorically, depending on the cultural, temporal and religious background of the interpreter, on the purpose (what they wanted to read out of the text) – and on the sex of the respective reader. Often enough, the story of the Fall served as a justification for discrimination of women and has thus become “the one that has been most generally abused” (Bal 2001: 149) – one starting point for scientists to engage in the origins, reasons, development, and actual status of misogyny. Starting with feminism, scientists have enlarged their field of work to gender relations in general.
Today, we live in a place and time where women and men have equal rights, equal jobs and an equal social status. We think of social inequalities as happening either far away in place or long ago in time. We have the first female German Chancellor ever; a woman has the power to lead and represent our country. But still, a female Chancellor is unique and special in Germany. We find ourselves at the height of a debate about the sexes in society, in politics, and among scientists. The work of scientists and feminists has been going on and developing for the last three or four decades and is one of the reasons why today’s society is as equal as it is. This does not mean, however, that the only objective of the so-called gender studies is to bring about equality – on the contrary, even in apparently equal societies there is a lot more to examine than the status of women.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Origin and studies of gender
2.1. The Christian construction of gender: the Fall
2.1.1. Analysis of Genesis 2–3
2.1.2. Affirmative implications of Genesis 2–3
2.2. Scientific investigations: gender studies
2.2.1. About gender studies
2.2.2. Gender studies and fantasy fiction
2.2.3. The protagonists’ names
3. Gendered worlds
3.1. Familiar cultures
3.1.1. Lyra’s Oxford: medieval patriarchy
3.1.2. Witches and bears: single-sex societies
3.2. Other worlds
3.2.1. Cittàgazze: dystopia
3.2.2. The Mulefa: utopia
4. Biblical allegories: Protagonists in HDM
4.1. Mary Malone
4.1.1. Mary’s life: science versus religion
4.1.2. The serpent and the saint
4.2. Mrs Marisa Coulter
4.2.1. Femme fatale, Lilith or vicious stepmother
4.2.2. Mother fatale or loving mother?
4.3. Lyra Belacqua / Silvertongue
4.3.1. Lyra’s childhood: missing role models
4.3.2. Lyra as female hero
5. The Fall in HDM
5.1. Prerequisites
5.1.1. Eve and Adam
5.1.2. The Church
5.2. The Fall
5.2.1. Two antipodal versions
5.2.2. Lyra and Will
6. Conclusion
Objectives & Research Themes
This academic work explores the representation of gender roles and the re-interpretation of the biblical "Fall of Man" within Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy. The research investigates how Pullman utilizes alternative worlds and non-traditional character archetypes to challenge patriarchal social structures, religious dogmas, and standard perceptions of gender.
- Analysis of biblical gender construction based on Genesis 2-3.
- The influence of gender studies on the interpretation of fantasy literature.
- The portrayal of specific protagonists (Mary Malone, Mrs. Coulter, Lyra) as gender-role exceptions.
- The function of utopian and dystopian settings in reflecting societal values.
- Deconstruction of church-driven moral standards versus humanistic freedom.
Excerpt from the Book
2.2.3. The protagonists’ names
To begin with the Bible again: how did Adam and Eve get their names? Eve receives a name only after the Fall – it signifies the completion of her development, the perfection of her character: “What existed before was an earth creature, then a woman, next an actant, then a mother, and, finally, a being named ‘Eve’” (Bal 2001: 152). In Adam’s case, the name marks his origin, his background (‘made of soil’); in Eve’s it refers to character traits and/or her function (‘the living one’, ‘mother of all living’). He represents affiliation and provenience; she stands for fertility and procreation. Adam’s name refers to the past, Eve’s name to the future. Together they form the present; their names imply functions necessary for life: Adam is to till the ground and get nourishment; Eve is responsible for childbearing and care.
We have seen now just how much is in a name, what it tells about a person’s background, character, function, past and future. The same is intended in a book: the first thing a reader (whether young or old, male or female, experienced or inexperienced) remembers when reading a book is the name of the protagonist. In most cases, the name and therefore the character the reader meets at the beginning of a book will accompany the reader throughout the story and will be there at the end. This character is the reader’s guideline, (often) a figure the reader can identify with and is interested in. Thus, “the proper name is the shortest and the most definite sign of a character. It is its textual marker, embodying its stability and its continuity” (Bal 2001: 151). The name is, therefore, the first indication of the protagonist’s character. Another effect of having a name is that “it provides the illusion of fullness” (Bal 2001: 152). Often authors use names for their figures that already tell the reader something about their personality without any further explanations.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the relevance of the Fall of Man in literature and defines the essay's focus on gender perspectives within the "His Dark Materials" trilogy.
2. Origin and studies of gender: Examines the biblical roots of gender roles and introduces academic gender studies as the analytical framework for the work.
3. Gendered worlds: Explores how societal structures in Pullman's fictional universes, from Oxford to the Mulefa world, reflect and challenge gender norms.
4. Biblical allegories: Protagonists in HDM: Provides a deep-dive into the characters Mary Malone, Mrs. Coulter, and Lyra Belacqua, analyzing their archetypal roles.
5. The Fall in HDM: Discusses the central allegory of the Fall of Man as it is presented and re-imagined throughout the trilogy.
6. Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, confirming Pullman's advocacy for equality, humanism, and the critical questioning of established religious and gender narratives.
Keywords
Gender Studies, Philip Pullman, His Dark Materials, Fall of Man, Biblical Allegory, Feminism, Patriarchy, Literary Hero, Dæmons, Lyra Belacqua, Mrs. Coulter, Mary Malone, Utopian Fiction, Narratology, Free Will
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this research paper?
The paper provides a gender-oriented literary analysis of Philip Pullman’s "His Dark Materials" trilogy, specifically focusing on how the author reinterprets traditional biblical themes and gender roles.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The study covers the construction of gender in Christian traditions, the application of gender studies to fantasy fiction, the analysis of character archetypes, and the representation of utopian versus dystopian societal structures.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to demonstrate that Pullman uses his fictional worlds to critique gender stereotypes and to advocate for a humanistic understanding of the "Fall," framing it as an advancement toward maturity and free will.
Which methodology is employed in this study?
The author uses a gender-oriented narratological approach, which emphasizes content, character interpretation, and the interaction between the literary text and social reality, as opposed to purely structuralist analysis.
What topics are discussed in the main section?
The main section analyzes specific female characters like Lyra, Mary Malone, and Mrs. Coulter, compares different versions of the "Fall" found in the books, and evaluates the critical representation of the Church.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Gender Studies, Fall of Man, Biblical Allegory, Feminism, Literary Hero, Dæmons, and Utopian Fiction.
How does the author interpret Mrs. Coulter's character change?
The author views Mrs. Coulter as a complex, many-faceted figure whose development from a self-serving individual to a selfless protector illustrates the humanizing power of maternal love and the transition from innocence to moral experience.
Why does the author place such emphasis on character names?
The author argues that names in the trilogy function as textual markers that embody a character’s stability, past, and potential future, often serving as deliberate allusions to historical, biblical, or mythological figures.
- Quote paper
- Natalie Abt (Author), 2007, Gender and the Fall in Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" Trilogy , Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/120857
