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Spoiler warning!
This article or section contains plot spoilers for the Mortal Engines quartet. Proceed at your own risk. |
Pandora Shaw was a female human who was mentioned in Mortal Engines. She was a freelance archaeologist and the mother of Hester Shaw.
In the 2018 film, she was portrayed by New Zealand actress Caren Pistorius.
Description[]
Anna mentions that Hester is the near-splitting image of Pandora.[3]
Personality[]
Not much is known about Pandora, but it was known that she opposed tractionism.[4]
Anna mentions that Pandora was the bravest woman she knew.[3]
History[]
Pre-Series[]
Pandora worked with Thaddeus Valentine on an expedition to the Dead Continent. Together, they found the plans and access codes to MEDUSA in an underground complex. She and Valentine were briefly lovers before she married David Shaw, with the former relationship resulting in Hester. She, David, and Hester then resided together at Oak Island.
Some years later, Pandora returned to the complex and found the computer-brain of MEDUSA. She notified Valentine with the intention of selling MEDUSA's components and splitting the profits. Valentine wished to sell the weapon to the mayor of London, but Pandora refused, wanting it to go to the Anti-Traction League instead. Desperate, Valentine killed Pandora and David, and physically and mentally scarred Hester.
Pandora's corpse was eventually found, and her death was reported to the Guild of Historians in London.
Mortal Engines quartet[]
Mortal Engines[]
Hester attempts to assassinate Thaddeus for killing Pandora at the beginning of the novel, albeit it was botched by Tom. After being cornered by Tom, Hester tells him to ask Thaddeus about Pandora's death before dropping herself out of London by a garbage chute. Pandora is later mentioned by Hester when explaining her past to Tom in the hot air balloon they stole from Airhaven.
Predator's Gold[]
Pandora was indirectly mentioned when Hester mentions that the aviator's shrine on the Jenny Haniver lacks photos of the pilots' dead parents.
As Sathya holds Hester prisoner in Rogue's Roost, she mentions that Anna Fang's reports about her stated that Thaddeus was Hester's biological father as Pandora had many partners before marrying David.
A Darkling Plain[]
Pandora was mentioned when Hester told her husband about her true heritage on the Jenny Haniver.
Film[]
Hester attempts to assassinate Thaddeus for killing Pandora while she is "immigrated" into London. Later, on a centipede-esque traction city, Hester explains her past to Tom. The necklace that Pandora gives Hester on the night of her murder contains the key to deactivating MEDUSA in the finale.
Relationships[]
David Shaw[]
David Shaw is Pandora's husband.
Hester Shaw[]
Hester is Pandora's daughter with Thaddeus.[5]
Thaddeus Valentine[]
Pandora was once close to Thaddeus, and mothered Hester with him.[5]
Trivia[]
- "Pandora" is a woman in Greek mythology who was the first known woman in existence. Zeus gave her a box and told her not to open it; but she opened it out of curiosity and released destruction onto the world.[6]
- Pandora's role in the series is similar to Greek mythological figure of the same name, except "the box" (M.E.D.U.S.A.) is discovered during an exploration and is "unleashed" when Thaddeus Valentine killed her to steal it.
- Pandora taught her daughter how to use stars for directional purposes.[2]
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ Mortal Engines, Chapter 27: "Dr. Arkengarth Remembers"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Mortal Engines, Chapter 13: "The Resurrected Men"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Mortal Engines (2018)
- ↑ Mortal Engines, Chapter 6: "Speedwell"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Mortal Engines, Chapter 30: "A Hero's Welcome"
- ↑ Pandora - Behind the Name