The Authority Death Scene a Bit unexpected

[redbaron12190]

I know that we'd been told earlier in the books that the Authority was old and crippled and weakening every second. But still in the back of my mind I was expecting some huge battle between Will and some immense, imminent power, where Will finishes him off with the Knife. Because the Authority was an angel, I guess the floating apart death thing was correct, but still I wasnt expecting such a calm death scene.

[latency]

That was seriously one in the eye for the church... The Authority got the peaceful death he clearly wanted so badly, and the church saw their leader go out not with a bang, but with a whimper, as the quote goes...

I'm glad that Will didn't use the knife destructively, it would've been a little hypocritical to DESTROY the authority... it was euthanasia at worst...

[Cheater]

The books continually surprise you. There is nothing conventional about them.

[authority]

I don't think it was unexpected at all. It is a metaphor for the idea of the anthropomorphic God, an idea that has outlived it's time. It is not some mighty foe to be slain but rather an outdated notion that has to be let go. I thought the scene was very appropriate.

[Phit]

Beyond just that moment, Pullman really did a lot of beautiful things in telling that part of the story. I'd think it may have been the most careful part of HDM. Not only was the authority's death peaceful and came from an act of kindness, but it was a gentle death where both parties were seeking freedom in the middle of this huge destructive battle over power.

And overall, there's a war going on behind everything. And yet it's basically irrelevant to what Pullman wrote. He didn't get distracted by the death and the war machines, he followed the two kids as they tried to avoid it all and save their souls (basically) regardless of what was going on and stopped in the middle of the danger to help out someone they had the ability to help.

To have Will battle against the authority would've been against everything they've won by the end - love and knowledge. Because it would've just been a fight against powers, but really Will was fighting all along for people things, family and friends. He proved what he was fighting for when he ignored the request of Balthamos & Baruch and went to find Lyra.

[redbaron12190]

Yes the part about old ideas being let go, very fitting. Kind of reminds me of that scene in Deathly Hallows at King's Cross where the portion of Voldemort's soul is a little ugly baby crying its eyes out and Harry still feels the need to help it out.

[Shining Star]

I thought that part was very consistent with all what the authority seemed to be. Actually, it was gently written and kind to him (the authority, and everything it means) as well as funny and perhaps sarcastic (in my opinion) cause some people expected like a huge battle, but in the end the authority was no more than an old angel who had no body and no life; also remember the pity Will and Lyra had on him. He was so vulnerable.

I'm glad PP was capable of doing so many things, almost any of them expected from the readers.

[thewolfstar]

I liked it that the Authority died peacefully and not brutally but it was short and unexpected, as if it wasn't a big deal.

[missy]

I liked it that the Authority died peacefully and not brutally but it was short and unexpected, as if it wasn't a big deal.

. I agee with you. It wasn't that big of a deal. I dont know why people make such a big deal out of this part. I found out today the friend that told me to read this series never finished it because of this part. Its because of her that i'm here and that I fell in love with this series. Today I feel a little heart broken because she never finished it. This part wasnt' a big deal for me. I felt bad for him being in a cage and I was happy that Lyra let him out. But I didn't want him to die. Oh is their God now? Since the authority supposily died and Asriel killed the rebel angel.

[latency]

This is the big misunderstanding all the cynics have- King Ogunwe makes very clear that they do not consider the Authority to be God, on the assumption that God is the creator.

There may be a creator, but The Authority is just an imposter...

[snapcracklepop]

Yep, from all that's supplied as far as material it becomes clear that the Authority isn't and never was a creator. He's much more of a bureaucrat that seized control and remained in place as long as he was able, until he was used as a puppet by another equally ambitious person.

This is honestly one of the biggest points for taking the teeth out of the whole, they killed god argument.

On another note I do like flawed interpretations of beings supposed to be all powerful.

[dannyyyy]

nah i wasnt suprised at all by how the authority died, because the rank of authority was kinda passed on to metatron