I stay here and drink spirits because the men here took my armor away, and without that, I can hunt seals but I can't go to war; and I am an armored bear; war is the sea I swim in and the air I breathe.
In Philip Pullman's "The Golden Compass," a character expresses a deep sense of identity tied to their armor, which symbolizes strength and the ability to engage in battle. The absence of this armor isolates them from their purpose as a formidable warrior, comparing their role in the world to that of a bear, emphasizing their natural inclination for conflict and survival. Without it, they can perform basic tasks like hunting, but their true essence lies in being a warrior.
This longing for their lost armor reveals the character's inner turmoil. They can navigate their environment, yet they feel incomplete and powerless without their fighting spirit. The metaphor of the sea and air highlights how integral warfare is to their very being, suggesting that true fulfillment comes from embracing their warrior nature rather than merely existing without it.
