When you choose one way out of many, all the ways you don't take are snuffed out like candles, as if they'd never existed. At the moment all Will's choices existed at once. But to keep them all in existence meant doing nothing. He had to choose, after all.
In "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman, the protagonist Will faces the challenge of making choices in a world full of possibilities. Every decision he makes closes off numerous other paths, much like extinguishing candles, leading to a deeper understanding of the implications of choice. The weight of these decisions becomes apparent when he realizes that maintaining every option requires inaction, thus compelling him to eventually select a specific course of action.
This narrative not only explores the nature of choices but also emphasizes the existential weight that accompanies each one. It illustrates the struggle of balancing potential futures with the necessity to act, highlighting the profound reality that every choice shapes the journey ahead while simultaneously erasing other possibilities. Will's experience serves as a poignant reminder of the complexity and responsibility inherent in the act of choosing.
