Talk:Balthamos

Untitled

Does nobody else see Baruch and Balthamos's relationship as a symbol of homosexuality? Should we mention it? --Taejo 17:03, 31 July 2005 (UTC)

Balthamos and Baruch WERE a gay angel couple and I have now added that this did in fact cause some controversy. Beno1000 19:42, 11 March 2006 (UTC)

On The Amber Spyglass in the plot summary it states that Balthamos was not male before becoming an angel (and that angels are asexual). This seems strange to me, as I recall that the angels of Phillip Pullman's world were not dead humans but a separate "species" entirely, but we should be consistent. However, as all of the angels were clearly asexual, I have removed the comment about homosexuality. —Cuiviénen, Tuesday, 21 March 2006 @ 22:28 (UTC)

Deleted text:

The characters Balthamos and Baruch recieved some controversy
over the positive portrayal of a homosexual couple in a children's story.

If there is a source for the controversy, it should be noted in the article. Cuivienen's point should also be noted in order to provide a comprehensive and neutral summary of the facts. Also, is the article correct in referring to them as lovers? If they are literally asexual, then that would be impossible. --Icarus 08:16, 25 March 2006 (UTC)

I'm not so sure about whether or not angels were asexual in His Dark Materials. Both Balthamos and Baruch are referred to using male pronouns and it is made very clear in the story that they love each other. I don't know about this causing any controversy but I think it is obvious in the book that they are a homosexual couple. 68.250.8.154 17:17, 20 April 2006 (UTC)

They aren't asexual, the angels are stated as having male and female human forms, and Baruch and Balthamos in particular are both male and are plainly portrayed as a same-sex romantic couple, probably the most feircely passionate lovers in the series in fact.Rglong 06:55, 22 July 2007 (UTC)

Paradise Lost

Why was the reference to angels eating erased? Paradise Lost is a major influence --gacelo 3/13/07