Jessica Raz USEM Dr.

Sweat HP Essay 11/14/12 In the Deathly Hallow Lectures, John Granger attempts to parallel and link certain aspects of the book Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling to Christian values, stories and aspects of faith. He compares firstly the idea that Christians are always struggling with faith just like Harry, secondly the idea that the Godrics Holly scene parallels the Nativity Scene in the Bible, and thirdly the idea that Ron and Harry represent the relationship between John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. In the article, Granger accurately parallels the idea that the difficulty the character Harry Potter experiences reflects every Christians struggle with faith and belief. Granger states that Religious Belief is a Struggle and a Choiceandit is Essential to Believe in Order to Overcome both Internal Failings and External Enemies (96). Initially, Harry had begun to lose faith in Dumbledore because of the secrets that were revealed about his private life after his death. He struggled between following Dumbledores advice and path, Horcruxes, and his own personal journey and desire, Hallows. Harry hesitated. He knew what hung on his decision. There was hardly any time left; now was the moment to decide: Horcruxes or Hallows (Rowling 484)? Much in the same way, humanity struggles with the desire to journey down a path of self-gratification instead of completely surrendering themselves to God. In choosing Horcruxes, Harry mirrors the everyday mans leap of faith, not in ignorance but with knowledge that comes from a deeper place than ones self initiative. As Christians this leap of faith is inspired by a personal decision and a seed of belief planted by God, and in the case of Harry it is inspired mostly by a conscious choice and does not involve a supernatural figure. Grangers second point in his article thinly attempts to compare Harry and Hermiones Godrics Hollow adventure to the Nativity Scene and the Christmas story. Essentially he says that the dangerous trip the two young wizards make parallels the Nativity Scene because Harry and Hermione are disguised, homeless, and on a journey to a certain place at a certain time. He also points out the story is similar to

the Christmas story because Naginis failed attack parallels the plotting of the serpent-Devil to destroy the Christ child through Herod. The retelling of the story of The Boy who Lived as the bells of the church toll in Christmas day with Voldemorts screams, are retellings of the Nativity and the Holy familys escape into Egypt despite the slaughter of innocents (104). The parallels to the Nativity scene are thin because the Nativity story is fundamentally about a Savior being born into a sinful world in order to take on human likeness and redeem all of humanity. There are many stories with disguised characters making journeys to significant places, but those stories do not contain the powerful message of the original nativity scene, and this includes Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Grangers second point concerning Nagini and Herod is a little more plausible, but only slightly so. Harry Potter is by no means a Christ child, even though he is the Chosen One. Although destined to fight an evil force and save a group of people, he does this with help and is not ordained by God. In a third idea Granger parallels the scene of the Horcrux and the forest pool with the baptism of Jesus Christ. He says that while Ron and Harrys adventure with the freezing pool, sword of Gryffindor, and the Horcrux does not have a Trinitarian moment, the scene portrays the Chosen Ones or a Christ figures transformation to fulfill all righteousness or prove true Gryffindorship (107). These parallels are not too far off the mark when describing Ron and Harrys relationship as similar to John the Baptists and Jesus Christs relationship to each other. By submerging himself in the pool Harry does just this. Rons character can be compared to John the Baptist. Ron played the part of John the Baptist in the pool and of Harrys savior in removing the Horcrux that was strangling Harry. But Harry is Rons master through his illumination (108). In conclusion, John Granger makes many plausible and some unlikely comparisons between the values, stories and aspects of the Christian faith and the fictional work Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. He points out accurately that Harry struggles with belief like many devout Christians, less

accurately that the scene in Godrics Hollow represents the nativity scene, and more accurately the idea that Ron and Harry represent John the Baptist and Jesus Christ.