Lord Asriel facts for kids

Lord Asriel is a very important character in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials book series. He is a powerful and determined man from a parallel world. This world is mostly controlled by a powerful Church. Asriel is described as a "tall man with powerful shoulders, a fierce dark face, and eyes that seem to flash and glitter with savage laughter." He has a very strong will and is respected in both politics and academics. He is a military leader and a scholar at Jordan College in his world.

Who is Lord Asriel?

Lord Asriel is a member of the aristocracy, which means he comes from a noble family. He is known for his fierce nature and strong determination. In his world, he is a respected military leader. He is also a fellow at Jordan College, which is like a university. His special area of study is experimental theology, which means he explores big questions about the universe and its hidden forces.

Asriel's Dæmon: Stelmaria

In the world of His Dark Materials, every human has a dæmon. A dæmon is an animal companion that is actually a part of their soul. Lord Asriel's dæmon is named Stelmaria. She is a beautiful snow leopard.

The Name Asriel

The name Asriel is a different way to spell Azrael. In some traditions, like Judaism and Islam, Azrael is believed to be the Angel of Death.

Lyra's Family Story

Lyra Belacqua is Lord Asriel's daughter. Her mother is Marisa Coulter. Lyra was born when Marisa was 21 years old. Lyra looked more like Asriel than Marisa's husband, Edward Coulter. Because of this, Marisa gave Lyra to Asriel. Asriel then placed Lyra with a kind gyptian woman named Ma Costa.

Protecting Lyra

When Edward Coulter found out about Lyra's true parentage, a terrible event happened, and Asriel was involved in Edward's death. After this, Asriel lost some of his wealth and status. Lyra was first placed in a convent. However, Asriel was very upset about this. He took Lyra from the convent and placed her at Jordan College. He told the Master of the college to never let Mrs. Coulter contact Lyra.

Lyra's Escape and Meeting Asriel Again

Later, Marisa Coulter did try to take Lyra north. Lyra agreed at first. But she soon found out Marisa's plans for children who had been taken. Marisa was the head of a group called the Oblation Board. Lyra escaped and was later kidnapped and taken to a place called Bolvangar. Marisa Coulter rushed in to rescue Lyra just as Lyra and her dæmon, Pantalaimon, were about to be separated. In the movie, Marisa tells Lyra she is her mother. Horrified, Lyra escapes again. This time, she seeks out Lord Asriel to give him the alethiometer, a special truth-telling device.

Sadly, Lyra unknowingly led her friend, Roger, to his death. Asriel needed the energy released from separating a child from their dæmon to open a path between worlds. During this time, Mrs. Coulter and Lord Asriel met briefly. Asriel left her to continue his mission.

Their Final Stand

Lord Asriel and Mrs. Coulter met again in the book The Amber Spyglass. Mrs. Coulter was captured by Asriel's men, and he rescued her. They joined forces to fight Metatron, a very powerful ruler. They did this to give Lyra, their daughter, a chance to live. They died together in a deep chasm between worlds, destroying Metatron in the process.

Asriel's Character and Looks

Lord Asriel is a man who believes that a good outcome can justify difficult actions. Even though he makes tough choices and sacrifices, he is willing to give his own life for his goals. He acts not for himself, but to create what he believes is the best possible world for everyone.

His Appearance

Asriel is a tall, broad, and powerful man. Lyra noticed that he seemed like a "wild animal held in a cage too small for it" when he was in a room. In the film, he has a beard, but the books don't mention it. He has lively, "black" eyes that glitter with "savage laughter." This shows that even though he seems cold, he has strong emotions.

His Actions and Beliefs

At first, Asriel seems cold and hard to approach. He can be bossy to his servants and strict with his friends and niece. But sometimes, he shows sadness and regret for the hard choices he has to make. In the end, he shows his love for Lyra and Marisa Coulter. He gets very angry when he thinks he might have to use Lyra as a "sacrifice" to connect worlds.

Other characters also mention that Asriel has helped the gyptians in the past. He defended their way of life and even rescued drowning men. In La Belle Sauvage, Asriel helped Malcolm Polstead by having gyptian boat-makers improve Malcolm's canoe. He also trusted Malcolm to protect Lyra for a while. Asriel is very smart and strong. He can outsmart his enemies with his knowledge and achieve his goals with brute strength. People say he achieves more in his lifetime than others could in hundreds of years.

Asriel in Film and TV

Daniel Craig as Lord Asriel in the film The Golden Compass.

Lord Asriel has been played by different actors in various adaptations:

• From December 2003 to March 2004, Timothy Dalton played Lord Asriel in a stage play of His Dark Materials at London's Royal National Theatre.
• Daniel Craig played Lord Asriel in the 2007 film The Golden Compass. Nicole Kidman played Marisa Coulter in this film.
• James McAvoy plays Lord Asriel in the BBC television series adaptation.