Clockwork (novel)
OCLC 36964106 | |
Clockwork, or All Wound Up is an illustrated short children's book by
Pullman has said his novel was inspired by an old clock he came across in London's
Plot
Clockwork is set in the town of Glockenheim in
The townspeople gather in the White Horse Tavern the evening before a new figure for their town clock made by Karl is to be unveiled. Karl, however, admits to Fritz that he has not made the figure, the first apprentice in hundreds of years to fail to do so.
The people in the tavern listen to Fritz read his latest story about a local
The story begins to come true when Dr. Kalmeneius comes to the door of the tavern. Fritz flees in terror. Dr. Kalmeneius offers Karl a clockwork figure called Sir Ironsoul, which Karl accepts. Karl's acceptance of the gift sets in motion a chain of interlocking stories. A price must be paid for this gift, as Sir Ironsoul is a mechanical knight that comes alive and kills anyone who says the word "Devil". Only the song "The Flowers of Lapland" can stop him.
The narrative shifts back and forwards through time.[5] It is revealed that Prince Florian was made from clockwork by Dr. Kalmeneius at the wishes of his father. His mechanical heart will soon wind down. Gretl is the only person who can restore true life to him. All the stories come together as one. Karl places Prince Florian in the clock's tower as his apprentice piece. Karl is killed by Sir Ironsoul. Gretl finishes the journey by bringing Prince Florian to life through her unselfish love.
Literary analysis
Clockwork has been described as an exciting, suspenseful
Pullman provides a moral critique of contemporary Western culture in Clockwork. It is a metaphor for the idea that humanity has been sacrificed as society has become more mechanised. Prince Otto's clockwork heart is a direct allusion to the famous quotation from Thomas Carlyle's 19th-century essay "Signs of the Times": "Men are grown mechanical in head and in heart, as well as in hand".
The essay was a warning to Victorian society about the dangers of industrialisation and capitalism. Pullman's novel has a similar warning.[5]
The author also takes the moral position that fulfilment cannot come solely from dreams, and needs dedicated hard work allied with inspiration to be achieved. Karl makes a Faustian bargain with Dr. Kalmenius because he wants an easy way to fulfil his ambition. The Faustian allusions are made clear when Sir Ironsoul becomes murderous when the word "devil" is mentioned and can only be stopped by a special song.[5]
The novel also has allusions to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Fritz's story comes to him in a dream, similar to how Shelley experienced the writing of her novel. Dr. Kalmenius can be compared to Dr. Frankenstein as he seeks the secret of life and is prepared to make a monster to do this.[5]
Stage adaptation
A version with music by Stephen McNeff and libretto by David Wood toured the United Kingdom before playing in the Linbury Studio Theatre at London's Royal Opera House in March 2004. The production's orchestra was formed from musicians from the Philharmonia Orchestra and Martin Music Scholarship Fund Award Scheme.[3][7]
References
- ^ a b "Clockwork". philip-pullman.com. Archived from the original on 21 October 2007.
- ^ "Philip Pullman". contemporarywriters.com. Archived from the original on 11 April 2007.
- ^ a b Portillo, Michael (29 March 2004). "Saved by a song". New Statesman. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
- ^ Baines, Lawrence, ed. (2 April 1999). "Young Adult Books in Review Recently Published Titles Spring 1999". Virginia Tech University Libraries. 26 (3). Retrieved 11 March 2020.
- ^ ISBN 978-0415204101.[page needed]
- ISBN 0-631211411.
- ^ "Clockwork". Unicorn Theatre. Archived from the original on 3 July 2008.