3. Life And Death
Every character in Last Christmas is in the process of dying. They lie in the grip of a nightmare that is quite literally eating them alive. Even Santa Claus is expiring as belief in him wanes. This is the irony of life as it is in fact only a prelude to death. As Missy kindly pointed out in Death in Heaven, humans are dying from the minute they are born and learn to walk our path of finite days. There is a subtle implication in this story that most of the characters are not happy with their everyday lives, that in some ways the dreams - though terrifying - are more fulfilling, that, in fact, they feel more alive from within the dream. The Doctors role is not to swoop in and rescue but to provide a catalyst for change in the people he encounters. He is an instigator, not a savior. Clara chooses to continue traveling with the Doctor not because she cant live without him, but because she wants to know and exceed her limits.
Mary Ogle
Contributor
Mary Ogle is the author and illustrator of “Orangeroof Zoo” a whimsical tale of magical realism told through the pages of a coloring book for adults. Working as a professional artist in the digital medium, Mary’s commissions have included everything from fine art to fan art, book cover design, illustration and book layout. Find more of Mary’s work at www.maryogle.com. Mary currently finds inspiration in the Ojai Valley, residing in a snug little cottage with a recalcitrant cat.
See more from
Mary