How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #10
"We've heard them all talk about Dust, and they're so afraid of it, and you know what? We believed them, even though we could see that what they were doing was wicked and evil and wrong.... We thought Dust must be bad too, because they were grown up and they said so. But what if it isn't? What if it's-"
She said breathlessly, "Yeah! What if it's really good... " (23.100-101)
This is probably the most radical statement in Pullman's novel. Lyra and Pan decide that Dust (which the Church thinks of as original sin) is not sin at all; it's actually something good. What is their rationale for this conclusion? For a lot more on Dust and original sin, check out "Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory."