The Dark Is Rising Themes

The Dark Is Rising Themes

Will as an Old One vs. Will as a Child

Will awakes on his eleventh birthday and discovers that he is an immortal Old One destined to fight the Dark. He has a difficult time reconciling this very heavy adult responsibility with his self that is really still a child and the youngest child of a large family. Will understands that he inhabits a different time-scale from the people he loves. He perceives things quickly, like the longing that Paul has for the old flute, and identifies with the longing for things that are out of reach. Will councils Paul in that longing for the flute when Paul suggests he would give anything for it. When Will responds like an Old One, he realizes that it is not the response of a small child, and covers it quickly.

After Will gains the Gift of Gramarye, which is a lifetime of discovery and wisdom, he knows that he is not...
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