so what's up with the trope where children have access to magic and then lose it as a prerequisite to growing up? where does it come from, what is it for?
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I think partly may be religious hangover sex negativity, associating puberty with loss of purity & power. For CS Lewis at least. For Pullman i feel its still puberty but more complex — he’s observing that loss of innocence but perhaps as cultural critique / not necessary?
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I cant recall for Lyra if its age related or just “job done / quest completed”
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i think kinda both but my memories are fuzzy. iirc it was at least implied or possibly stated that the angels kinda lent her the ability so she could do stuff and after she did stuff they took it back? but it did seem significantly tied to puberty too somehow?
Had to look it up ... Spoilers
....
"You read it by grace," said Xaphania, looking at her, "and you can regain it by work."
"How long will that take?"
"A lifetime."
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So it does seem like she loses it to puberty, with the implication being that regaining the "magic" is the process of a lifetime, a life's mission realized through works
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