Themes in Harry Potter

sun-star · 03-19-2004, 04:44 PM

What do you think are the main themes of the Harry Potter series? Do you think there is a moral framework underlying the books? I was re-reading the end of Order of the Phoenix and I was interested by Luna and Harry's conversation about the dead beyond the veil, suggesting an after-life of some kind is part of the Potter universe. Do you think the Harry Potter books show many Christian influences?

Lalaith_Elf · 03-19-2004, 05:02 PM

I think there is a moral framework. Of course you have the classic good vs. evil theme throughout the books. I also think you have themes such as family, friends, loyalty, betrayal, death, love, life.... the list could go on for a while.

That's a good point to make about the veil. The description given to the veil certainly showed that there was something 'un-dead' about the shadows behind it. (I must re-read these books - my mind has gone blank....

). She must have included some Christian views, but I'm not exactly well versed in the Bible, so I can't think of any good ones off the top of my head. Pretty much all the themes I wrote above are included in Christianity in some way. (Arn't they?

).

Well you have me intrigued now so later I'm going to catch up on my Harry Potter and maybe the Bible.

sun-star · 11-16-2004, 05:58 PM

*Bump* with an added comment that I like JKR's choice of the veil as a metaphor for death. I found it in Tennyson the other day too, and I think it's a good one.

sirigorn · 11-16-2004, 07:31 PM

Wouldn't it be ironic if there were Christian themes? Well, ones that Jo purposely included as she wrote. I mean, the whole "Harry Potter is the devil Argh Run away!" thing. I don't think that there are intentional ones. Mostly, books like this don't really have actual themes to teach a lesson, they just are there. It's just to entertain.

However, I think the books do tell us a lot. Life, death, friends, family, knowledge...things like that.

inked · 11-16-2004, 10:26 PM

An excellent discussion consideration. I happen to think that JK Rowling writes very much as an INKLING born out of time so to speak. And because the literature of Britain has been a Christian literature for over a millenium, there is not one whit of doubt she incorporates Christianity into her work! The question becomes how much is intentional and how much cultural?

I think she incorporates specifically Christian themes in very overt ways. Just re-read the CHAMBER OF SECRETS last couple of chapters for one example that is extremely obvious IMHO. But I think it is designed to not be obvious and very much part of her story in the ususal run of events. Then after reflection one sees the connections. (Very much as in reading TCON or LOTR one does not see all the connections on the first read.) In fact, JK Rowling herself says that the books are designed so that one cannot grasp all she intends on the first or even third read through. That's why we all enjoy them and discuss them so much.

JKR's use of Christian themes is ironic since some Christian groups have condemned her use of the magic background and incantations. But they did the same to CS Lewis and JRR Tolkein in their day. Another mark of the Inkling connection, I think.

Vadskye · 11-17-2004, 05:02 PM

Just remember that not all Christians oppose HP.

Christian am I, yet enjoy HP I do.

03-19-2004, 04:44 PM	#1
sun-star Lady of Letters Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Either Oxford or Kent, England Posts: 2,476	Themes in Harry Potter What do you think are the main themes of the Harry Potter series? Do you think there is a moral framework underlying the books? I was re-reading the end of Order of the Phoenix and I was interested by Luna and Harry's conversation about the dead beyond the veil, suggesting an after-life of some kind is part of the Potter universe. Do you think the Harry Potter books show many Christian influences? __________________ And all the time the waves, the waves, the waves Chase, intersect and flatten on the sand As they have done for centuries, as they will For centuries to come, when not a soul Is left to picnic on the blazing rocks, When England is not England, when mankind Has blown himself to pieces. Still the sea, Consolingly disastrous, will return While the strange starfish, hugely magnified, Waits in the jewelled basin of a pool.

03-19-2004, 05:02 PM	#2
Lalaith_Elf Her Infernal Majesty Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,188	I think there is a moral framework. Of course you have the classic good vs. evil theme throughout the books. I also think you have themes such as family, friends, loyalty, betrayal, death, love, life.... the list could go on for a while. That's a good point to make about the veil. The description given to the veil certainly showed that there was something 'un-dead' about the shadows behind it. (I must re-read these books - my mind has gone blank.... ). She must have included some Christian views, but I'm not exactly well versed in the Bible, so I can't think of any good ones off the top of my head. Pretty much all the themes I wrote above are included in Christianity in some way. (Arn't they? ). Well you have me intrigued now so later I'm going to catch up on my Harry Potter and maybe the Bible. __________________ "It is a good viewpoint to see the world as a dream. When you have something like a nightmare, you will wake up and tell yourself that it was only a dream. It is said that the world we live in is not a bit different from this." - Yamamoto Tsunetomo

11-16-2004, 05:58 PM	#3
sun-star Lady of Letters Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Either Oxford or Kent, England Posts: 2,476	Bump with an added comment that I like JKR's choice of the veil as a metaphor for death. I found it in Tennyson the other day too, and I think it's a good one. __________________ And all the time the waves, the waves, the waves Chase, intersect and flatten on the sand As they have done for centuries, as they will For centuries to come, when not a soul Is left to picnic on the blazing rocks, When England is not England, when mankind Has blown himself to pieces. Still the sea, Consolingly disastrous, will return While the strange starfish, hugely magnified, Waits in the jewelled basin of a pool.

11-16-2004, 07:31 PM	#4
sirigorn Elven Warrior Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: who wants to know? looks around suspiciously Posts: 497	Wouldn't it be ironic if there were Christian themes? Well, ones that Jo purposely included as she wrote. I mean, the whole "Harry Potter is the devil Argh Run away!" thing. I don't think that there are intentional ones. Mostly, books like this don't really have actual themes to teach a lesson, they just are there. It's just to entertain. However, I think the books do tell us a lot. Life, death, friends, family, knowledge...things like that. __________________ Gimli: It was already dead Legolas: It was twitching! Gimli: It was twitching...because it's got my axe embeded in it's nervous system!! -Two Towers extended DVD I'm wearing black for Black. Well, then, I confess, it is my intention to commandeer one of these ships, pick up a crew in Tortuga, raid, pillage, plunder and otherwise pilfer my weasely black guts out!~Captain Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean

11-16-2004, 10:26 PM	#5
inked Elf Lord Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: sikeston, MO, usa, earth, sol Posts: 3,114	An excellent discussion consideration. I happen to think that JK Rowling writes very much as an INKLING born out of time so to speak. And because the literature of Britain has been a Christian literature for over a millenium, there is not one whit of doubt she incorporates Christianity into her work! The question becomes how much is intentional and how much cultural? I think she incorporates specifically Christian themes in very overt ways. Just re-read the CHAMBER OF SECRETS last couple of chapters for one example that is extremely obvious IMHO. But I think it is designed to not be obvious and very much part of her story in the ususal run of events. Then after reflection one sees the connections. (Very much as in reading TCON or LOTR one does not see all the connections on the first read.) In fact, JK Rowling herself says that the books are designed so that one cannot grasp all she intends on the first or even third read through. That's why we all enjoy them and discuss them so much. JKR's use of Christian themes is ironic since some Christian groups have condemned her use of the magic background and incantations. But they did the same to CS Lewis and JRR Tolkein in their day. Another mark of the Inkling connection, I think. __________________ Inked "Aslan is not a tame lion." CSL/LWW "The new school [acts] as if it required...courage to say a blasphemy. There is only one thing that requires real courage to say, and that is a truism." GK Chesterton "And there is always the danger of allowing people to suppose that our modern times are so wholly unlike any other times that the fundamental facts about man's nature have wholly changed with changing circumstances." Dorothy L. Sayers, 1 Sept. 1941

11-17-2004, 05:02 PM	#6
Vadskye Sapling Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Minnesota, USA Posts: 8	Just remember that not all Christians oppose HP. Christian am I, yet enjoy HP I do. __________________ Knowledge is Power www.guardiansgrove.com <<<< A message board oddly similar to this one, yet more of an offshoot of the message board Heroes Community, a site devoted to the TBS, Heroes of Might and Magic. (sorry if that confused you. )

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