Abstract for 'Alethiometer: Epistemology in Pullman's 'His Dark Materials.'

Abstract:

This dissertation explores the theme of knowledge in Pullman’s His Dark Materials, an important topic so far under recognised in the critical field. The argument found herein is that within Pullman’s work, singular authoritative, dogmatic knowledge is renounced and a plural, shifting vision of knowledge replaces it.

The introduction familiarises the reader with Pullman the author, including his literary influences and a brief summary of the trilogy’s plot. Key concepts from the trilogy such as Dust, dæmons and the alethiometer are explained as these are crucial to understanding the representations of knowledge in the primary text. The philosophical field of epistemology, or theory of knowledge, is also introduced.

The first chapter shows how His Dark Materials alludes to great minds such as Plato, Jung and Nietzsche. Jung’s influence has been discussed before but only in aligning the dæmon with the anima – we shall take this a step further, exploring Dust and the Alethiometer’s symbols in terms of the Collective Unconscious and archetypes.

The second chapter introduces approaches which will unlock new readings of the trilogy using post-structural and post-modern theorists such as Saussure, Lyotard, Baudrillard, Barthes and McHale. Pullman’s epistemology is revealed to bear a striking resemblance to post-modern, post-structuralist epistemology as both adhere to a subjective, shifting vision of knowledge.

The third chapter will deal with the question of eudemonia: does knowledge create happiness or is ignorance bliss? The negative effects of accumulating and applying knowledge will be discussed, especially the environmental hazards of applied science and the cruel representations of curiosity in the character Mrs. Coulter.

The conclusion postulates what the impact of this study would be if applied to Pullman’s entire oeuvre.

#alethiometer #pullman #HDM #HisDarkMaterials #Epistemology