Personality and Appearance
Lord Asriel is perhaps one of the best examples of men who believe that the end justifies the means. Though he willingly sacrifices people, even children, to achieve his goal, he does not hesitate to give his own life in the course of achieving it. He acts not for selfish gain but to achieve a world which, in his eyes, is the best possible world for humanity.
He appears at first as a cold-hearted and seemingly unapproachable person, domineering to his servants and stern to his peers and niece. He shows little emotion, though several times throughout the story he displays sadness and regret for what is necessary, and in the end he shows his love for his child and his old flame, Marisa Coulter, appearing particularly angry when he thinks that fate has brought him Lyra to use as his 'sacrifice' to bridge worlds (Although he calms down when Roger is revealed to also be available).
Asriel is an intimidating presence, both physically and intellectually; he appears equally adept at outmanoeuvering his adversaries using his considerable wits and academic knowledge as he is at achieving his objectives through brute strength. He is a tall, broad and powerful man, with Lyra noting that in rooms he has the air of a "wild animal held in a cage too small for it". In the film adaption he has a beard, though no mention is made of it in the books. He is also mentioned to have lively, "black" eyes, glittering with "savage laughter", indicating that beneath his cold and harsh appearance he is really a man with powerful emotions. His characterizing traits are his commanding nature and immense willpower - he is a man who literally shifts worlds. As one of the characters remarks, he accomplishes things in his relatively short lifetime that some would not be able to do in hundreds of years.
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