The Republic of Heaven

I noticed that Will picks up the pieces of the knife after he breaks it, is this just to be careful so no one picks it up.... or somehow he is going to get it fixed again..

please leave your comments.

Even a peice of a blade infinatly sharp would be incredably dangerious. And even a peice-if discovered-could point out how to make another knief to any discoverer. They do leave a small window open to Will, but I think he was picking them up for others safety.

Although I'm sure Will doesn't want anyone to slice their hand off iwth a bit of broken knife, and I don't doubt that "perhaps someday" was in the back of his head when he picked up every tiny piece, I really think his main motivation was just wanting to have the pieces. The knife was a huge part of his life for a lot of important events. It belongs to and with him, even broken. He is the knifebearer. He'd no more abandon the pieces than Lyra would abandon the alethiometer after losing the ability to read it.

Although I'm sure Will doesn't want anyone to slice their hand off iwth a bit of broken knife, and I don't doubt that "perhaps someday" was in the back of his head when he picked up every tiny piece, I really think his main motivation was just wanting to have the pieces. The knife was a huge part of his life for a lot of important events. It belongs to and with him, even broken. He is the knifebearer. He'd no more abandon the pieces than Lyra would abandon the alethiometer after losing the ability to read it.

Fair point...

And I suppose that he would have to pass on the knife if he just left it and someone else would become the barer.

He may have just wanted to keep the parts of the knife as a keepsake, to remind him of what he went through and so he can be sure it all really happened.

He may have just wanted to keep the parts of the knife as a keepsake, to remind him of what he went through and so he can be sure it all really happened.

he's missing two fingers because of that knife, remember.

He may have just wanted to keep the parts of the knife as a keepsake, to remind him of what he went through and so he can be sure it all really happened.

he's missing two fingers because of that knife, remember.

Quite a poigent reminder really...

Two missing fingers would certainly be a daily reminder of what he had been through, but angelalice is right in thinking even the knife shattered would be a concrete momento, a reminder that he once had the ability to cross worlds and wield considerable power. Oh, the temptation to seek out a skilled blacksmith, in the months and years to come, when his loss becomes overwhelming...

I think his immediate concern would be to prevent the fragments of the knife falling into the hands of Sir Charles Latrom and whatever shadowy organisation he was involved with.

Enitharmon, I'm sure you've only forgotten for the moment, but Mrs Coulter poisoned Latrom/Boreal in the tent, didn't she? (there's a fairly high attrition rate of characters in these books).

Enitharmon, I'm sure you've only forgotten for the moment, but Mrs Coulter poisoned Latrom/Boreal in the tent, didn't she? (there's a fairly high attrition rate of characters in these books).

Presumably his organisation and the one that sent the men after Will still exists?

Enitharmon, I'm sure you've only forgotten for the moment, but Mrs Coulter poisoned Latrom/Boreal in the tent, didn't she? (there's a fairly high attrition rate of characters in these books).

But does Will know that? Also, Latrom wasn't acting alone.

But does Will know that? Also, Latrom wasn't acting alone.

Will does know. I think Balthamos told him. But I agree with you that Will was right to be cautious anyway; Latrom might not have been the only one who knew about the knife.

To me, it seemed appropriate that Will kept the fragments of the knife. After all, he's still the knife-bearer. The knife is his responsibility.

Will certainly knows about latrom being dead, he went into the tent to see if there was anything worth stealing. Or is that just mt version?

Will certainly knows about latrom being dead, he went into the tent to see if there was anything worth stealing. Or is that just mt version?

Will didn't know Boreal had been there, though, did he?

Will didn't know Boreal had been there, though, did he?

Will walked carefully around to the entrance, which faced the lake. Sprawled beside an overturned canvas chair was the body of the man known in Will's world as Sir Charles Latrom, and in Lyra's as Lord Boreal, the man who stole her alethiometer, which theft in turn led Will to the subtle knife itself. Sir Charles had been smooth, dishonest, and powerful, and now he was dead. His face was distorted unpleasantly, and Will didn't want to look at it...

I'm fairly sure he did.

Just reaction if you broke something in public you would pick up the pieces right?

I think he kept it to remind about Lyra, it is the only thing he's got that would remind him about the time he spent with her

The angel told him to collect all the pieces when he broke it.

I think he kept it as keepsake too. How often do you come across a knife that not only takes you to other worlds, but cuts through anything. And yes, it would also be a reminder of Lyra.