Evolution and Development
In contrast to the rather overt biblical themes of much of The Amber Spyglass, the chapters that discuss the Mulefa actually hint at strong themes of evolution, technology, and personal development. The Mulefa were not a species truly capable of higher metacognition until their discovery of the seedpods they now use as a form of transportation, and the oil they contain. This self-created evolutionary leap forward actually reinforces the novel’s overt themes of free will, and the Mulefa embody personal autonomy and development.
Sexuality and Maturity
When Lyra decides to engage in a protosexual relationship with Will in the world of the Mulfa, she makes a conscious decision to leave her childhood self behind. Again, this parallels the first sexual encounter (from when Adam and Eve ate from the tree of knowledge) and allows Dust to settle back into the world, thus thwarting the efforts of the church to destroy it. The church’s repression of sexuality and the growth that come with it, is portrayed as inherently damaging to the fabric of the universe, and it is only when they are defeated by Lyra and Will’s choice that things can being to resume natural flow.
Free Will and Grace
Because Lyra and Will’s stories are allegories for the biblical story of Adam and Eve, themes of free will vs grace are strong throughout the entire trilogy, coming to a head in The Amber Spyglass. In the earlier novels, Lyra is able to read the alethiometer through grace, but after the Battle with the Metatron at Lord Asriel’s fortress, she has lost much of the childhood innocence that made that possible. Afterwards she realizes she has fallen in love with Will, and makes the transition into adulthood, making that all-important step and ‘falling’ much like Eve did. The more Lyra and Will choose to learn and go against the authority (whomever that may be at the time) the more they grow, and the more they are forced to leave that childhood grace behind.
