Knowledge (XXG)

Mrs. Coulter

Source 📝

439:, she again saves Lyra from having her daemon cut away (a process known as intercision). A distraught Mrs. Coulter cries out for Lyra, who passes out. When Lyra suddenly opens her eyes again, she is lying in a soft, comfortable bed. Mrs. Coulter immediately assures Lyra that she is safe and, on her daughter's instruction, explains to her why children have to be intercised at such a young age, commenting on their "unhappy thoughts and feelings". Mrs. Coulter is ultimately forced to make a choice between Lyra and the church when it is revealed that Lyra is the new " 365:"Corruption and envy and lust for power. Cruelty and coldness. A vicious probing curiosity. Pure, poisonous, toxic malice. You have never from your earliest years shown a shred of compassion or sympathy or kindness without calculating how it would return to your advantage. You have tortured and killed without regret or hesitation; you have betrayed and intrigued and gloried in your treachery. You are a cess-pit of moral filth" 1131: 24: 356:, her maternal instincts override her other loyalties and she rescues Lyra, although in the second book of the trilogy she still expresses no qualms about killing her to prevent the Fall. However, by the third book she finds herself torn, ultimately feigning loyalty to betray the Church and finally giving up her life to save Lyra. 466: 399:. How the golden monkey can go so far from Mrs. Coulter is not explained, Mrs. Coulter has not undergone any of the processes which enable other humans to achieve such separation. Her final act in the trilogy occurs when she is reconciled with Asriel, and they together drag Metatron into an endless 394:
Mrs. Coulter's dæmon takes the form of a golden monkey with long fur, who is not named in the books, but was given the name "Ozymandias" in the radio adaptation. The golden monkey is shown to be capable of going much further from Mrs. Coulter than other dæmons are able to
380:"I told him I was going to betray you, and betray Lyra, and he believed me because I was corrupt and full of wickedness. I wanted him to find no good in me and he didn't. There is none. But I love Lyra. Where did this love come from? I don't know; it came to me like a 323:. She is described as being "beautiful and young" with "sleek black hair" that "framed her cheeks" and slim, though later accounts of her describe her as having blonde or "golden" hair. Such details of a character's physical appearances are uncommon in 523:. Pullman had previously indicated that he would like to see Kidman play the role. Kidman is blonde, though Pullman approved of the hair colour change made from the book's description, saying he regretted not making her blonde in the first place. 340:, but she is also calculating, power-hungry and ruthless. She has political connections, and is highly placed and trusted in the Church's hierarchy, who give her a large degree of autonomy. She arranges for 421:. It is later revealed that Coulter is in fact Lyra's mother by her love affair with Lord Asriel (her title of "Mrs" comes from her marriage to Edward Coulter, who died before the events in the books.) In 360:, the Regent of the Authority describes her character in "the most searching examination Marisa Coulter had ever undergone", stripping away "all shelter and deceit" and describing that he sees: 1013: 547: 425: 357: 349: 341: 1178: 1173: 375:. This is her final deception as by this point she intends to betray Metatron to safeguard her daughter. She describes her self-perception to Asriel just prior to their joint sacrifice: 1183: 887: 1108: 567: 345: 778: 1153: 685: 744:"Why, I shall have to destroy her", said Mrs. Coulter, "to prevent another Fall. Why didn't I see this before? It was too large to see". 816: 660: 435:, Mrs. Coulter saves Lyra from a group of child-snatchers known as the "Gobblers" by taking her out of Oxford, and nearing the end of 1168: 107: 384:, and now I love her so much my heart is bursting with it. All I could hope was that my crimes were so monstrous that the love was 880: 1103: 1069: 1026: 927: 575: 413: 381: 297: 135: 1077: 181: 45: 844: 88: 1163: 1158: 1118: 995: 396: 41: 705: 60: 1134: 873: 385: 431:
Although throughout most of the series Lyra hates and fears her mother, Mrs. Coulter repeatedly saves Lyra. Early in
865: 67: 34: 1113: 1061: 1053: 519: 504: 471: 172: 534: 494:
Alison Dowling played her in the Chivers Children's Audio Books version, which author Philip Pullman narrated.
74: 1085: 970: 501: 775: 56: 371:
Despite this, Metatron describes her as lovelier than any wife he had, and he wishes to take her as his
447:
re-entering the world. Coulter takes Lyra to a cave and keeps her drugged there at the beginning of
941: 917: 901: 561: 388:
in the shadow of them, and I wished I'd committed even greater ones to hide it more deeply still"
319: 287: 255: 1002: 681: 656: 614: 988: 963: 953: 934: 907: 736: 453: 400: 329: 278: 147: 782: 508: 81: 529:
plays Mrs. Coulter in the 2019 BBC television adaptation. Her dæmon was changed from a
896: 648: 497: 282: 158: 336:
In the books, she is portrayed as an elegant and cool-minded sophisticate with social
1147: 1021: 710: 530: 514: 480: 418: 372: 333:
to Mrs. Coulter having written an academic work called 'The Bronze Clocks of Benin'.
306: 243: 168: 444: 192: 1031: 821: 526: 484: 302: 292: 232: 177: 23: 817:"Luther's Ruth Wilson is the latest big name to join BBC's His Dark Materials" 715: 267: 465: 353: 797: 352:, turning the bears into her subordinates. When Lyra is in danger in 209: 801: 537:
in order to better reflect the two sides of Coulter's character.
869: 440: 17: 428:
says that she fell in love with Asriel as soon as they met.
680:. Oxford, England: David Fickling Books. p. 270. 443:" whose death will be sought by the Church to prevent 1096: 1045: 1012: 980: 951: 915: 250: 239: 226: 216: 204: 199: 188: 164: 154: 142: 130: 125: 48:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. 317:Mrs. Coulter is 35 years old in the third novel, 1179:Characters in British novels of the 21st century 1174:Characters in British novels of the 20th century 417:Marisa Coulter seems to have a keen interest in 500:played Marisa Coulter in the first run of the 881: 798:His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass (2007) 8: 742:"What will you do to her? What will you do?" 517:played Mrs. Coulter in the film adaptation, 469:Nicole Kidman as Marisa Coulter in the film 888: 874: 866: 753: 751: 348:, to be exiled, and plots to dominate the 655:. Oxford, England: David Fickling Books. 108:Learn how and when to remove this message 699: 697: 464: 451:and ultimately saves Lyra at the end of 845:"Behind the scenes: His Dark Materials" 590: 235:(former lover; father of Lyra Belacqua) 1184:Literary characters introduced in 1995 843:Pennington, Adrian (1 November 2019). 122: 230:Mr Edward Coulter (husband; deceased) 7: 46:adding citations to reliable sources 613:Pullman, Philip (26 October 2017). 403:, the three thus ceasing to exist. 706:"An Interview with Philip Pullman" 704:Butler, Robert (3 December 2007). 14: 1130: 1129: 344:, the heir to the throne of the 22: 407:Relationship with Lyra Belacqua 33:needs additional citations for 815:Mitchell, Bea (11 June 2018). 1: 1154:His Dark Materials characters 996:Once Upon a Time in the North 511:played her in the second run. 411:At the beginning of the book 386:no bigger than a mustard seed 776:Marisa Coulter at Srafopedia 766:The Amber Spyglass, p. 426-7 291:trilogy and one of the main 788:(Accessed 13 November 2007) 615:"Philip Pullman on Twitter" 483:played Mrs. Coulter in the 1200: 757:The Amber Spyglass, p.419. 397:separate from their humans 327:. There is a reference in 1127: 305:and biological mother of 222:Marcel Delamare (brother) 1169:Female literary villains 676:Pullman, Philip (2017). 535:golden snub-nosed monkey 220:Madame Delamare (mother) 971:The Secret Commonwealth 805:(Accessed 18 July 2006) 600:The Secret Commonwealth 568:Races and creatures in 200:In-universe information 476: 301:: the former lover of 786:hisdarkrmaterials.org 468: 246:(biological daughter) 1164:Fictional socialites 1159:Female film villains 42:improve this article 1081:(television series) 638:Pullman, 1995, p.66 437:The Northern Lights 433:The Northern Lights 414:The Northern Lights 273:), known simply as 120:Fictional character 1078:His Dark Materials 1070:The Golden Compass 1062:The Golden Compass 1054:His Dark Materials 942:The Amber Spyglass 918:His Dark Materials 902:His Dark Materials 781:2013-04-05 at the 578:His Dark Materials 570:His Dark Materials 562:His Dark Materials 550:His Dark Materials 520:The Golden Compass 489:His Dark Materials 477: 472:The Golden Compass 449:The Amber Spyglass 382:thief in the night 325:His Dark Materials 320:The Amber Spyglass 288:His Dark Materials 1141: 1140: 687:978-0-385-60441-3 598:Pullman, Philip. 261: 260: 118: 117: 110: 92: 1191: 1133: 1132: 1086:La Belle Sauvage 964:La Belle Sauvage 954:The Book of Dust 935:The Subtle Knife 908:The Book of Dust 890: 883: 876: 867: 860: 859: 857: 855: 840: 834: 833: 831: 829: 812: 806: 795: 789: 773: 767: 764: 758: 755: 746: 737:The Subtle Knife 734: 728: 727: 725: 723: 714:. Archived from 711:Intelligent Life 701: 692: 691: 678:La Belle Sauvage 673: 667: 666: 645: 639: 636: 630: 629: 627: 625: 610: 604: 603: 595: 554:The Book of Dust 505:stage adaptation 502:National Theatre 454:The Subtle Knife 208:Marisa Coulter ( 148:La Belle Sauvage 131:First appearance 123: 113: 106: 102: 99: 93: 91: 50: 26: 18: 1199: 1198: 1194: 1193: 1192: 1190: 1189: 1188: 1144: 1143: 1142: 1137: 1123: 1092: 1041: 1008: 981:Companion books 976: 947: 928:Northern Lights 911: 894: 864: 863: 853: 851: 842: 841: 837: 827: 825: 814: 813: 809: 796: 792: 783:Wayback Machine 774: 770: 765: 761: 756: 749: 743: 740: 735: 731: 721: 719: 718:on 5 March 2008 703: 702: 695: 688: 675: 674: 670: 663: 649:Pullman, Philip 647: 646: 642: 637: 633: 623: 621: 612: 611: 607: 597: 596: 592: 587: 544: 509:Lesley Manville 507:in London, and 463: 423:Northern Lights 409: 315: 298:Northern Lights 254:35 through the 231: 221: 176: 143:Last appearance 136:Northern Lights 121: 114: 103: 97: 94: 51: 49: 39: 27: 12: 11: 5: 1197: 1195: 1187: 1186: 1181: 1176: 1171: 1166: 1161: 1156: 1146: 1145: 1139: 1138: 1128: 1125: 1124: 1122: 1121: 1116: 1111: 1106: 1100: 1098: 1094: 1093: 1091: 1090: 1082: 1074: 1066: 1058: 1049: 1047: 1043: 1042: 1040: 1039: 1034: 1029: 1024: 1018: 1016: 1010: 1009: 1007: 1006: 999: 992: 984: 982: 978: 977: 975: 974: 967: 959: 957: 949: 948: 946: 945: 938: 931: 923: 921: 913: 912: 897:Philip Pullman 895: 893: 892: 885: 878: 870: 862: 861: 835: 807: 790: 768: 759: 747: 729: 693: 686: 668: 662:978-1448197163 661: 653:The Collectors 640: 631: 605: 589: 588: 586: 583: 582: 581: 573: 565: 558: 543: 540: 539: 538: 524: 512: 498:Patricia Hodge 495: 492: 462: 459: 408: 405: 392: 391: 369: 368: 346:armoured bears 342:Iorek Byrnison 314: 311: 283:Philip Pullman 264:Marisa Coulter 259: 258: 252: 248: 247: 241: 237: 236: 228: 224: 223: 218: 214: 213: 206: 202: 201: 197: 196: 190: 186: 185: 166: 162: 161: 159:Philip Pullman 156: 152: 151: 144: 140: 139: 132: 128: 127: 119: 116: 115: 57:"Mrs. Coulter" 30: 28: 21: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1196: 1185: 1182: 1180: 1177: 1175: 1172: 1170: 1167: 1165: 1162: 1160: 1157: 1155: 1152: 1151: 1149: 1136: 1126: 1120: 1117: 1115: 1112: 1110: 1107: 1105: 1102: 1101: 1099: 1095: 1088: 1087: 1083: 1080: 1079: 1075: 1072: 1071: 1067: 1064: 1063: 1059: 1056: 1055: 1051: 1050: 1048: 1044: 1038: 1035: 1033: 1030: 1028: 1025: 1023: 1022:Lyra Belacqua 1020: 1019: 1017: 1015: 1011: 1005: 1004: 1000: 998: 997: 993: 991: 990: 989:Lyra's Oxford 986: 985: 983: 979: 973: 972: 968: 966: 965: 961: 960: 958: 956: 955: 950: 944: 943: 939: 937: 936: 932: 930: 929: 925: 924: 922: 920: 919: 914: 910: 909: 904: 903: 898: 891: 886: 884: 879: 877: 872: 871: 868: 850: 846: 839: 836: 824: 823: 818: 811: 808: 804: 803: 799: 794: 791: 787: 784: 780: 777: 772: 769: 763: 760: 754: 752: 748: 745: 738: 733: 730: 717: 713: 712: 707: 700: 698: 694: 689: 683: 679: 672: 669: 664: 658: 654: 650: 644: 641: 635: 632: 620: 616: 609: 606: 601: 594: 591: 584: 580: 579: 576:Locations in 574: 572: 571: 566: 564: 563: 559: 557: 555: 551: 546: 545: 541: 536: 532: 531:golden monkey 528: 525: 522: 521: 516: 515:Nicole Kidman 513: 510: 506: 503: 499: 496: 493: 490: 486: 482: 481:Emma Fielding 479: 478: 474: 473: 467: 460: 458: 456: 455: 450: 446: 442: 438: 434: 429: 427: 424: 420: 416: 415: 406: 404: 402: 398: 389: 387: 383: 378: 377: 376: 374: 366: 363: 362: 361: 359: 355: 351: 347: 343: 339: 334: 332: 331: 330:Lyra's Oxford 326: 322: 321: 312: 310: 308: 307:Lyra Belacqua 304: 300: 299: 294: 290: 289: 284: 280: 276: 272: 269: 265: 257: 253: 249: 245: 244:Lyra Belacqua 242: 238: 234: 229: 225: 219: 215: 211: 207: 203: 198: 194: 191: 187: 183: 179: 174: 170: 169:Nicole Kidman 167: 163: 160: 157: 153: 150: 149: 145: 141: 138: 137: 133: 129: 124: 112: 109: 101: 90: 87: 83: 80: 76: 73: 69: 66: 62: 59: –  58: 54: 53:Find sources: 47: 43: 37: 36: 31:This article 29: 25: 20: 19: 16: 1089:(stage play) 1084: 1076: 1073:(video game) 1068: 1060: 1057:(stage play) 1052: 1037:Mrs. Coulter 1036: 1001: 994: 987: 969: 962: 952: 940: 933: 926: 916: 906: 900: 852:. Retrieved 848: 838: 826:. Retrieved 820: 810: 800: 793: 785: 771: 762: 741: 732: 720:. Retrieved 716:the original 709: 677: 671: 652: 643: 634: 622:. Retrieved 618: 608: 599: 593: 577: 569: 560: 553: 549: 518: 488: 470: 452: 448: 445:original sin 436: 432: 430: 422: 412: 410: 393: 379: 370: 364: 338:savoir faire 337: 335: 328: 324: 318: 316: 296: 286: 275:Mrs. Coulter 274: 270: 263: 262: 256:main trilogy 195:(video game) 193:Erin Mathews 165:Portrayed by 146: 134: 126:Mrs. Coulter 104: 95: 85: 78: 71: 64: 52: 40:Please help 35:verification 32: 15: 1046:Adaptations 1032:Lord Asriel 822:Digital Spy 527:Ruth Wilson 487:version of 485:BBC Radio 4 461:Adaptations 313:Description 303:Lord Asriel 293:antagonists 233:Lord Asriel 178:Ruth Wilson 1148:Categories 1027:Will Parry 1014:Characters 1003:Serpentine 854:7 November 624:26 October 585:References 556:characters 155:Created by 68:newspapers 1104:Locations 354:Bolvangar 279:character 212:Delamare) 205:Full name 189:Voiced by 182:TV series 98:June 2009 1135:Category 779:Archived 651:(2014). 548:List of 542:See also 426:John Faa 358:Metatron 350:new king 271:Delamare 240:Children 828:15 June 739:p. 328: 722:5 March 619:Twitter 373:consort 277:, is a 82:scholar 1119:Dæmons 1065:(film) 684:  659:  227:Spouse 217:Family 84:  77:  70:  63:  55:  1109:Races 1097:Other 533:to a 401:abyss 89:JSTOR 75:books 1114:Dust 905:and 856:2019 830:2018 802:IMDb 724:2008 682:ISBN 657:ISBN 626:2017 552:and 419:Lyra 173:film 61:news 899:'s 849:IBC 441:Eve 295:of 285:'s 281:in 268:née 251:Age 210:née 44:by 1150:: 847:. 819:. 750:^ 708:. 696:^ 617:. 457:. 309:. 889:e 882:t 875:v 858:. 832:. 726:. 690:. 665:. 628:. 602:. 491:. 475:. 390:. 367:. 266:( 184:) 180:( 175:) 171:( 111:) 105:( 100:) 96:( 86:· 79:· 72:· 65:· 38:.

Index


verification
improve this article
adding citations to reliable sources
"Mrs. Coulter"
news
newspapers
books
scholar
JSTOR
Learn how and when to remove this message
Northern Lights
La Belle Sauvage
Philip Pullman
Nicole Kidman
film
Ruth Wilson
TV series
Erin Mathews
née
Lord Asriel
Lyra Belacqua
main trilogy
née
character
Philip Pullman
His Dark Materials
antagonists
Northern Lights
Lord Asriel

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.