Children’s literature has become a very popular genre, not just for children but adults as well. One theme in particular that I believe is overlooked fairly frequently is the concept of self- sacrifice, especially in young adult novels. For example in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer Stone, there are many instances where the group is forced to give things up in order to further the quest. This is mainly found through the tests near the end to get to the stone. Each person is required to complete a task in order to help the group get to the stone. This is one particular form and way we see self-sacrifice in children’s literature. Another form is one that takes on a more Christ like resemblance, and portrays a sacrifice in a way that it symbolizes the death of Jesus Christ. Many people would argue that Harry Potter clearly contains a theme of sacrifice for the betterment of the quest, however, I believe that it may be possible to dig deeper and see that Harry Potter also resembles Christ like sacrificial characteristics. In my close reading assignment I will argue both sides and give my own opinion
As we know from the story Ron, Hermione, and Harry are all enrolled in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Through their time there the three become good friends, and even make some enemies along the way. The premise of the Sorcerer Stone is that Harry and his friends are trying to get to the stone which is underneath a door guarded by a three headed Cerberus named Fluffy. (Rowling, J. 1998) Throughout the book they eventually find a way of getting through the door, but they soon realize they are not the only ones who have been able to do so. This is where we really see the theme of sacrifice in friendship come into effect. The three kids are tasked with different challenges that only they could complete. And each one requires sacrifice, in order to help further the quest. We start with Harry, known for is incredible quidditch skills, who has to fly up into this room and find a certain key and then fly down and put the key in the lock. This seems very simple however; the keys attack him, causing him pain. Once Harry gets the key and moves on we see many more obstacles that are similar two for Hermione, and one for Ron. Ron’s is especially significant because of how it ties into another instance of self-sacrifice in the book Lord of the Rings the Fellowship of The Ring. Here we see Gandalf, the great wizard, battling an unbeatable foe, and instead of letting the beast get him and the whole group he sacrifices himself in order to allow his friends and companions to proceed with the quest. (Roper, D. 2010, August 3) In the Lord of the Rings it is slightly more drastic because the Balrog can easily kill everyone in the company, whereas in Harry Potter the kids are less likely to be killed, but are easily injured. (Roper, D. 2010, August 3) As we know Ron has to sacrifice himself in Wizard chess in order for the group to move on. (Rowling, J. 1998) So there is definitely a theme of sacrificing for your friends so that they can finish the quest.
With that being said it is also possible to argue from the perspective that Harry Potter exhibits Christ like sacrifices. In some of the other Harry Potter books Harry actually appears to be dead, and brought back to life. In the Sorcerer Stone we could use the same example of Ron who knowingly sacrifices himself out of love in order to save his friends. Ron doesn’t know if he will die, or be seriously hurt, but he still goes through with it. Does this sound familiar? This was not that far off from the death of Christ. Jesus knew what would happen. I would like to think he did not know to what degree his pain would be, aside from the fact that it would be great. Regardless of how much pain he endured he still went through with it because he loves us and wants us to ultimately reach the end of our quest which is eternal life. Ron was sacrificing himself in a manner that resembles Jesus. He was not worried about what would happen to him, he just knew that the only way everything would work out was if he sacrificed himself so that Harry and Hermione could reach the stone. This is similar to The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. (Tumminio, D. 2011, July 7) In Narnia we have Aslan literally sacrificing himself in a manner representative to that of Jesus Christ. There is no question the The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe was a book based on the life of Jesus. Although Harry Potter does not follow the death of Jesus Christ it does parallel it in some ways. The way that Ron gave up his life for his friends is not the same as Jesus, but the way that Ron knowingly allowed himself to be hurt in order for his friends to achieve the final goal is very similar to the actions of Jesus Christ. (Tumminio, D. 2011, July 7)
In my opinion I do not believe that Harry Potter is based off the story of Jesus, but I do believe that there are other instances that are used to help the reader make that connection. As stated earlier in the later books Harry is the one that appears to be resurrected which also is indicative of a Christian theme, but I do not think that it is the sole underlying theme in the books. The main self-sacrifice theme is focused on the use of your friends to help you get to you end goal, even though these two arguments parallel each other the are not the same. Harry Potter is an excellent Children’s book and it has much more to be discovered about the hidden elements within it, but a parallelism to Christianity is not one of the more prominent themes
As we know from the story Ron, Hermione, and Harry are all enrolled in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Through their time there the three become good friends, and even make some enemies along the way. The premise of the Sorcerer Stone is that Harry and his friends are trying to get to the stone which is underneath a door guarded by a three headed Cerberus named Fluffy. (Rowling, J. 1998) Throughout the book they eventually find a way of getting through the door, but they soon realize they are not the only ones who have been able to do so. This is where we really see the theme of sacrifice in friendship come into effect. The three kids are tasked with different challenges that only they could complete. And each one requires sacrifice, in order to help further the quest. We start with Harry, known for is incredible quidditch skills, who has to fly up into this room and find a certain key and then fly down and put the key in the lock. This seems very simple however; the keys attack him, causing him pain. Once Harry gets the key and moves on we see many more obstacles that are similar two for Hermione, and one for Ron. Ron’s is especially significant because of how it ties into another instance of self-sacrifice in the book Lord of the Rings the Fellowship of The Ring. Here we see Gandalf, the great wizard, battling an unbeatable foe, and instead of letting the beast get him and the whole group he sacrifices himself in order to allow his friends and companions to proceed with the quest. (Roper, D. 2010, August 3) In the Lord of the Rings it is slightly more drastic because the Balrog can easily kill everyone in the company, whereas in Harry Potter the kids are less likely to be killed, but are easily injured. (Roper, D. 2010, August 3) As we know Ron has to sacrifice himself in Wizard chess in order for the group to move on. (Rowling, J. 1998) So there is definitely a theme of sacrificing for your friends so that they can finish the quest.
With that being said it is also possible to argue from the perspective that Harry Potter exhibits Christ like sacrifices. In some of the other Harry Potter books Harry actually appears to be dead, and brought back to life. In the Sorcerer Stone we could use the same example of Ron who knowingly sacrifices himself out of love in order to save his friends. Ron doesn’t know if he will die, or be seriously hurt, but he still goes through with it. Does this sound familiar? This was not that far off from the death of Christ. Jesus knew what would happen. I would like to think he did not know to what degree his pain would be, aside from the fact that it would be great. Regardless of how much pain he endured he still went through with it because he loves us and wants us to ultimately reach the end of our quest which is eternal life. Ron was sacrificing himself in a manner that resembles Jesus. He was not worried about what would happen to him, he just knew that the only way everything would work out was if he sacrificed himself so that Harry and Hermione could reach the stone. This is similar to The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. (Tumminio, D. 2011, July 7) In Narnia we have Aslan literally sacrificing himself in a manner representative to that of Jesus Christ. There is no question the The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe was a book based on the life of Jesus. Although Harry Potter does not follow the death of Jesus Christ it does parallel it in some ways. The way that Ron gave up his life for his friends is not the same as Jesus, but the way that Ron knowingly allowed himself to be hurt in order for his friends to achieve the final goal is very similar to the actions of Jesus Christ. (Tumminio, D. 2011, July 7)
In my opinion I do not believe that Harry Potter is based off the story of Jesus, but I do believe that there are other instances that are used to help the reader make that connection. As stated earlier in the later books Harry is the one that appears to be resurrected which also is indicative of a Christian theme, but I do not think that it is the sole underlying theme in the books. The main self-sacrifice theme is focused on the use of your friends to help you get to you end goal, even though these two arguments parallel each other the are not the same. Harry Potter is an excellent Children’s book and it has much more to be discovered about the hidden elements within it, but a parallelism to Christianity is not one of the more prominent themes