Daemons pose a powerful entity in literary prose, but what purpose do they necessarily serve besides a plot device? What do Daemons represent in our world and how do they portray it?
A daemon is a person’s soul. Yet – the definition of a soul isn’t fluid in our minds, or in the worlds. To some religions, the soul is merely a synonym for the human consciousness as an entity, while some religions take the soul further as a separate entity given by a deity. Philip Pullman uses both. Daemons are direct representations of the physical consciousness of the human, yet assume an entirely separate form. Throughout our childhood, our goals, interests and ambitions ebb and flow like a rough river after the storm. Then, as the flood passes, the river begins to settle, much like daemons. The sediment slowly drifts to the bottom creating a crystal clear stream: refined, singular, and complete in purpose. Purpose. Daemons are our purpose – and our purpose are our daemons. Without them, we are lost as a child in an endless field. They define us. When they settle – we know why we are here on the earth. Daemons give us self-fulfillment and self-worth. The stream can become muddied at times. We can lose sight of our purpose. We are then driven to vices, darkness, or despair. Addiction proves a powerful force in these times. We search for a connection to that which we once had. We latch onto anything “concrete”. An escape. During this time, we wither away, in meaningless day-dreams and false relief. Yet, when we regain that purpose in life, we are able to find ourselves. Pullman’s goal is to persuade the reader, through daemons, that life without a purpose is meaningless. The “original sin”, or in Pullman’s world – a daemon, grants us the knowledge of our purpose in life. This knowledge is invaluable, as without it, we go throughout life like a child. Innocent, carefree, and obliviou
Reading Young Adult Literature 
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