Harry Potter As a Reflection of Christian Faith Essay

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Harry Potter, The Deathly Hallows and Christianity

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: A review

The New Testament is all about life, death, sacrifice, resurrection and battle between good and evil. These themes or conceptual constructs found in Bible are indicated in fictional literature too as they are the common traits of the heroic characters and villains found in the fictional universe.

Examining Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Life, death, sacrifice, endless battles between good and evil as well as resurrection are all discussed thoroughly in New Testament. The themes mentioned above are building blocks of many fictional novels as they are popularized themes crossing the time barrier. Many fictional novels have references to biblical events and analogies are found everywhere in the fictional universe. The battle between good and evil are ageless themes (Duffy, 2002). This is true for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows where analogies are far too many.

Harry Potter is the epic concluding book in the Harry Potter series, which focuses on Harry's final fight with the evil Lord Voldemort. Lord Voldemort is a famous talented wizard gone rogue from the magical community. The book is a fantasy tale of an imaginative journey, which leads up eventually to final duel between Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort. There are many question marks and tough decisions lying ahead. Harry Potter's life as well as his fellow friends is in equal danger in a life and death situation. Sacrifices are inevitable in a battle against good and evil. Lord Voldemort has laid down a path of death and doom for those who follow him. Harry Potter is bewildered as to how he survived the Avada Kedavra curse while his parents died in front of him. Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley are his two friends who can't even fathom the mystery and questions Harry Potter is full of. Their parents are alive though. Harry Potter is the epitome of forgiveness, heroism, sacrifice and compassion. He is humble and far from arrogant. The analogy is similar to Jesus Christ (Rowling, 2007; Rowling, 2013).

The concept of life and love in Harry Potter and the Bible

Lord Voldemort has a fundamental flaw which is his potential weakness. Lord Voldemort lacks love, a feeling which marks his own death ultimately. Professor Dumbledore has a huge influence on the life of Harry Potter because it's him, who had known his traits and missions since the beginning. Professor Dumbledore knew from the start that it was Harry Potter who will bring down Lord Voldemort's fall (Rowling, 2007; Rowling, 2013). The relationship between Harry Potter and Professor Albus Dumbledore is linked just like the one with Jesus Christ and God. The resemblance is uncanny. Albus Dumbledore is his mentor and guide through the thick and thins of Harry's life. Though, Professor Albus Dumbledore's past is cloaked in mystery. His character is pivotal to Harry Potter's victory against Lord Voldermort. Evil is the absence of love. Lord Voldemort lacks love from an early age. He adores power and authority. He has an obsession with immortality from teenage. Tom Riddle develops seven horcruxes during his ascension to power. Each historical artifact has a historical significance. He attempts to cheat death forever only to find Harry Potter in his path. In order to protect one from death, a horcrux is an ordinary object in which a portion of the soul is sealed magically. Lord Voldemort chooses magical artifacts steeped in wizarding history (Rowling, 2007).

Lord Voldemort enters Harry Potter's house and kills his parents in front of him. His parents are dead on the spot while Lord Voldemort's curse rebounds back on himself from Harry Potter. The remaining portion of Lord Voldemort's soul is left dangling on Harry Potter. So in essence, Harry Potter is a horcrux too. This is finally revealed in last book named Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows (Rowling, 2007; also see, Rowling, 2013).

Love is the founding theme in The Holy Bible and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It is the very virtue which is featured in both Harry Potter as well as Jesus Christ saving the humanity from evil. They sacrifice their lives to do so. For bringing evil to an end, Jesus Christ and Harry Potter end up sacrificing their lives for the greater good. Entering the forbidden forest, he murmurs "I am ready to die." The snitch contains the spirits of his parents given to him by Professor Dumbledore.
The snitch contains Resurrection Stone inside. It is one of the Deathly Hallows. Harry Potter enters the forbidden forest to save the magical community. Just like Jesus Christ (King of Jews), he is accused of treason and blasphemy. He is tortured and whipped agonizingly. He is nailed in the middle of two more criminals. Jesus Christ remained on the cross for six hours straight and died there. While dying, he prayed Psalm 31:5 "Father into your hands, I commit my spirit" (Luke 23:46 as cited in Hooke, 1982). Jesus Christ dies for a greater cause and ends the slavery period of Satan. He saves the humanity on his own. "But God showed his love by sending Jesus Christ back while mankind was a sinner (Roman 5:8 as cited in Hooke, 1982)." Harry Potter performs the same duties with valor and dedication saving the magical community from the clutches of the dark lord. He adores his friend and their long life support to his cause. "Greater love has no one than this: To lay down one's life for friends (John15:13 as cited in Hooke, 1982)"

Harry potter is troubled as he fears death of more friends in the Order of Phoenix. Mr. Weasley designs a plan to make a phony harry potter out of everyone by the Polyjuice potion. The Death Eaters are surely surprised by this turn of events. Harry Potter hates the idea and dismisses it as ridiculous. He says "I can't risk the lives of six people for my own. It's very wrong" (Rowling, 2004). This also gives a clear indication of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ has voiced same concerns like Harry Potter did confirming the analogy.

Harry Potter finds Christian references in Godric Hollow in the graveyard. Godric Hollow is prime theme representing the battle between good and evil. Harry Potter and his pals pay a visit to Harry's parents. The tombstone of his parents read "The last enemy to be destroyed is death (328 as cited by Hooke, 1982)." It is an indication of rebirth of Jesus. Satan is defeated by Jesus Christ at doomsday saving mankind from its horrors. Harry potter defeats his enemy alone with his own skill set.

Harry Potter must destroy his enemies without the assistance of his buddies. He is accompanied by his trusted and longtime friends to the final scene. Some have gone to the evil side namely the army of Lord Voldemort. Harry Potter faces Lord Voldemort alone with a wand in hand. Harry's own army is at his side ready to lay down their life in order to defeat Lord Voldemort. But Harry Potter has other plans on his mind "I don't want anyone to help me, this is my fight and it's got everything to do with me (737, see Rowling, 2007)." Hearing this is troubling as it's a suicide mission. But it's the right choice as numerous friends have died till now. Furthermore casualties only added fuel to the fire. His odds are next to hopeless against the ever powerful Lord Voldemort. Harry Potter does rise to the occasion and magnifies his heroic valor fighting evil alone.

The analogy of life and death in the Holy Bible and Harry Potter

"Pilate was uncertain of Jesus Christ's death and inquired the centurion if he was dead or alive. After confirming that he was dead, he gave the body to Joseph. Taking him down, he put a linen shroud on him and laid him in a rock tomb. A stone was put against the door" (Mark 44:46 as cited by Hooke, 1982). Mary Magdalene, Salome and some unknown Mary after Sabbath day visited the tomb of Jesus Christ only to find it devoid of a human body. An angel was present and informed them that Jesus was still alive, but not present in this realm. He came back to life after the third day. For mankind's sins, he was offered to death and afterwards raised to life." (Roman 4:25 as cited by Hooke, 1982). Jesus Christ also reassured his disciples about his resurrection overcoming sin and death.

Lord Voldemort meets Harry Potter in a deciding death duel where he uses the Avada Kedavra curse killing Harry Potter on the spot. Harry Potter wakes up and notices Professor Dumbledore sitting beside him in heaven. Professor Dumbledore explains that Harry Potter was himself a horcrux and Lord Voldemort killed that horcrux just now. But the final decision lies with.....

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