Intercision
Encyclopedia
Intercision is a type of fictional operation in Philip Pullman
's His Dark Materials
trilogy that separates an individual from their dæmon
. In effect, the operation separates the person from his or her soul
, while (usually) leaving the person alive, though having the behavioral and cognitive characteristics often associated with the undead
. The name of the procedure is derived from the Latin word inter meaning "between" and cidere meaning "to cut".
In the novel Northern Lights
, a method is developed by Marisa Coulter
and the Oblation Board to remove the dæmon, and this method is known as Intercision. Because the church associates Dust
with original sin
and is aware that Dust is attracted only to adults, the motive for the use of this operation on children is allegedly to prevent them becoming sinful.
It is revealed that there are two different methods of achieving this in a controlled fashion. The first method is known as the Maystadt process. The details of the method are not revealed but it is indicated that the separation could not be done with the patient in a conscious state, and that it involved tearing a person and his or her dæmon apart, likely by physical distance (although this would normally result in the death of both). The second method developed to allow separation with the patient in a conscious state involves placing child and dæmon in separate cages on a kind of operating table. In between these two cages, there is a gap for a "special type of guillotine
," to drop into, which has a blade made from an alloy of manganese
and titanium
. The falling blade severs the invisible link between child and dæmon. The results, as seen on Tony Makarios, are devastating as the child becomes a zombie-like figure who loses the will to live. Although Tony is found and saved by Lyra Belacqua
and the armored bear Iorek Byrnison, skulking around some outhouses in the icy wastes of Bolvangar, he dies soon after they get him back to their camp. The operation carried out on an adult is less traumatic, and Lyra realises that many of the staff at the Bolvangar facility have been through the process, becoming dull and lacking initiative.
However, both the Church and Lord Asriel discover that Intercision has some side effects that could be used to their advantage. Whenever the link between a child and dæmon is severed a huge burst of energy is released. Lord Asriel is the first to realise that this energy can be used to open up the invisible doorways between the different universes and intends to use the operation on Lyra's friend Roger Parslow. In the event, the fatal separation of Roger and his dæmon occurs when an overhang of snow on which he is standing gives way while his dæmon is held captive by Lord Asriel's. In The Amber Spyglass
, Mrs. Coulter
is taken to a base at Saint Jean-les-Eaux by the Church to have Intercision carried out on her in order to harvest that energy to detonate Lyra using a lock of her hair.
In Northern Lights,
Lord Asriel
makes clear analogies to sexual genital mutilation such as circumcision
of boys and girls and castration
as being similar to intercision. In The Subtle Knife
, the witch Ruta Skadi says:
Philip Pullman
Philip Pullman CBE, FRSL is an English writer from Norwich. He is the best-selling author of several books, most notably his trilogy of fantasy novels, His Dark Materials, and his fictionalised biography of Jesus, The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ...
's His Dark Materials
His Dark Materials
His Dark Materials is a trilogy of fantasy novels by Philip Pullman comprising Northern Lights , The Subtle Knife , and The Amber Spyglass...
trilogy that separates an individual from their dæmon
Dæmon (His Dark Materials)
A dæmon is a manifestation of a person's soul in the Philip Pullman trilogy His Dark Materials. Humans in every universe are said to have dæmons, although in some universes they are visible as entities physically separate from their humans, and take the form of animals, while in other universes...
. In effect, the operation separates the person from his or her soul
Soul
A soul in certain spiritual, philosophical, and psychological traditions is the incorporeal essence of a person or living thing or object. Many philosophical and spiritual systems teach that humans have souls, and others teach that all living things and even inanimate objects have souls. The...
, while (usually) leaving the person alive, though having the behavioral and cognitive characteristics often associated with the undead
Undead
Undead is a collective name for fictional, mythological, or legendary beings that are deceased and yet behave as if alive. Undead may be incorporeal, such as ghosts, or corporeal, such as vampires and zombies...
. The name of the procedure is derived from the Latin word inter meaning "between" and cidere meaning "to cut".
In the novel Northern Lights
Northern Lights (novel)
Northern Lights, known as The Golden Compass in North America, is the first novel in English novelist Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy...
, a method is developed by Marisa Coulter
Marisa Coulter
Marisa Coulter is a fictional character in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy and one of the main antagonists of Northern Lights. As with her lover, Lord Asriel, Mrs. Coulter undergoes several transformations during the series.-Lyra:In the beginning of the book The Northern Lights Marisa...
and the Oblation Board to remove the dæmon, and this method is known as Intercision. Because the church associates Dust
Dust (His Dark Materials)
Dust in Philip Pullman's trilogy of novels His Dark Materials is a mysterious cosmic particle that is integral to the plot. In Northern Lights, Lord Asriel reveals the origins of the term "Dust" to be from a passage from the slightly alternate version of the Bible in Lyra's World: "In the sweat of...
with original sin
Original sin
Original sin is, according to a Christian theological doctrine, humanity's state of sin resulting from the Fall of Man. This condition has been characterized in many ways, ranging from something as insignificant as a slight deficiency, or a tendency toward sin yet without collective guilt, referred...
and is aware that Dust is attracted only to adults, the motive for the use of this operation on children is allegedly to prevent them becoming sinful.
It is revealed that there are two different methods of achieving this in a controlled fashion. The first method is known as the Maystadt process. The details of the method are not revealed but it is indicated that the separation could not be done with the patient in a conscious state, and that it involved tearing a person and his or her dæmon apart, likely by physical distance (although this would normally result in the death of both). The second method developed to allow separation with the patient in a conscious state involves placing child and dæmon in separate cages on a kind of operating table. In between these two cages, there is a gap for a "special type of guillotine
Guillotine
The guillotine is a device used for carrying out :executions by decapitation. It consists of a tall upright frame from which an angled blade is suspended. This blade is raised with a rope and then allowed to drop, severing the head from the body...
," to drop into, which has a blade made from an alloy of manganese
Manganese
Manganese is a chemical element, designated by the symbol Mn. It has the atomic number 25. It is found as a free element in nature , and in many minerals...
and titanium
Titanium
Titanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22. It has a low density and is a strong, lustrous, corrosion-resistant transition metal with a silver color....
. The falling blade severs the invisible link between child and dæmon. The results, as seen on Tony Makarios, are devastating as the child becomes a zombie-like figure who loses the will to live. Although Tony is found and saved by Lyra Belacqua
Lyra Belacqua
Lyra Belacqua , also known as Lyra Silvertongue, is the heroine of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy. Lyra is a young girl who inhabits a universe parallel to our own...
and the armored bear Iorek Byrnison, skulking around some outhouses in the icy wastes of Bolvangar, he dies soon after they get him back to their camp. The operation carried out on an adult is less traumatic, and Lyra realises that many of the staff at the Bolvangar facility have been through the process, becoming dull and lacking initiative.
However, both the Church and Lord Asriel discover that Intercision has some side effects that could be used to their advantage. Whenever the link between a child and dæmon is severed a huge burst of energy is released. Lord Asriel is the first to realise that this energy can be used to open up the invisible doorways between the different universes and intends to use the operation on Lyra's friend Roger Parslow. In the event, the fatal separation of Roger and his dæmon occurs when an overhang of snow on which he is standing gives way while his dæmon is held captive by Lord Asriel's. In The Amber Spyglass
The Amber Spyglass
The Amber Spyglass is the third and final novel in the His Dark Materials series, written by English author Philip Pullman, and published in 2000....
, Mrs. Coulter
Marisa Coulter
Marisa Coulter is a fictional character in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy and one of the main antagonists of Northern Lights. As with her lover, Lord Asriel, Mrs. Coulter undergoes several transformations during the series.-Lyra:In the beginning of the book The Northern Lights Marisa...
is taken to a base at Saint Jean-les-Eaux by the Church to have Intercision carried out on her in order to harvest that energy to detonate Lyra using a lock of her hair.
In Northern Lights,
Northern Lights (novel)
Northern Lights, known as The Golden Compass in North America, is the first novel in English novelist Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy...
Lord Asriel
Lord Asriel
Lord Asriel is a major character in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials series and one of the main protagonists of Northern Lights.Asriel is a member of the English aristocracy in a parallel universe dominated by the Church...
makes clear analogies to sexual genital mutilation such as circumcision
Circumcision
Male circumcision is the surgical removal of some or all of the foreskin from the penis. The word "circumcision" comes from Latin and ....
of boys and girls and castration
Castration
Castration is any action, surgical, chemical, or otherwise, by which a male loses the functions of the testicles or a female loses the functions of the ovaries.-Humans:...
as being similar to intercision. In The Subtle Knife
The Subtle Knife
The Subtle Knife, the second novel in the book His Dark Materials series, was written by English novelist Philip Pullman and published in 1997. The novel continues the adventures of Lyra Belacqua as she investigates the mysterious Dust phenomenon and searches for her father...
, the witch Ruta Skadi says:
“ … There are churches there, believe me, that cut their children too, as the people of Bolvangar did —— not in the same way, but just as horribly. They cut their sexual organs, yes, both boys and girls; they cut them with knives so that they shan’t feel. That is what the church does, and every church is the same: control, destroy, obliterate every good feeling. … ”
——
Ruta Skadi