Christian themes in Harry Potter?

[inked]

brownjenkins,

In a sense, Harry already has been crucified (the Cruciatus Curse in the cemetary battle with Voldemort) along with many persons in the HP series who gave their lives in that mode (Nevilles's parents and their living 'deaths', so to speak); also Sirius falling through the veil. But the symbolist approach to literature doesn't require crucifixion per se. What we do see is that individuals in opposition to the power of this world not infrequently are pursued, tormented, tortured, and, yes, killed for their audacity. That is symbolic of the Christian life as it may be worked out in the individual believer, though not everyone is necessarily a martyr.

So, I think it highly likely that Harry (who is Everyman symbolically) will likely die to save his world and defeat Voldemort - but it could be along the same lines as Frodo (who saved the Shire but not for himself, as you recall). I predict elsewhere that Dumbledore will be the one to die in the 6th book and I think his death will have the same characteristics. But I think this will occur to put Harry in the pre-eminent position so that Hary's decision will have lasting effect. (Recall that Dumbledore has been in this battle before with Grindewald who was defeated by him in 1945). And recall that Dumbledore advised Harry that if one person at a time prevented the return of Voldemort, "why, he might never come back"!

So I think JKR is telling a rollicking good tale very similar to that which Lewis told about Narnia and in much the same way. AND it is not tit-for-tat allegory but a complex symbolist look at life which gives many vantage points. And it is not a disguised attempt to convert people to Christianity any more than LoTR! But the parallels are too many and obvious to be incidental or unintentional. BESIDES, as JRRT observed the Eucatastrophe is myth made fact and all eucatastrophes draw their meaning from that!