Lee Scoresby Character Analysis

A balloonist from Texas whom John Faa hires in Trollesund. He's a lean and scrappy man with a similarly scrappy hare dæmon. He has, in the past, sold his ballooning services and fought in several battles alongside Iorek. A loyal friend, Lee Scoresby helps Lyra and Iorek get Iorek's armor back, and then guards the armor while Iorek fetches seal blubber. Despite enjoying his job, Lee Scoresby wants to know exactly what he's getting into, especially when he learns that the gyptians and the witches are going to ask him to land on Svalbard, a dangerous proposition. In a conversation with Serafina Pekkala, Lee Scoresby says that for him, his involvement is all about the money and not at all about his emotional investment in what's going on. Ballooning isn't something he loves to do for the sake of it—it's a way to make money and to eventually fund his farm in Texas. He wants to make sure that he has a choice in the matter of his participation, as he sees destiny as something unethical that deprives him of choice. He's extremely kind to Lyra and humors her questions about the balloon and Iorek as best he can.