How Does Harry Potter Contribute To Greek Mythology
When a story is first told, a tiny universe is created, in which the characteristics and values of other stories play a role in influencing this newly incepted realm. Harry Potter is one of the many universes in which exist in literature and cinema. Written by a single mother, the Harry Potter series became one of the most popular stories to be adapted to film. The Harry Potter films are to this day the highest grossing franchise, it has made over 7 billion dollars for all 8 films (Movie Franchises, The Numbers). In stories such as Harry Potter, the mythology present throughout is what contributes to the immense popularity of the adapted films. People flock to watch these films because they know the cultural and mythological references that
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are present within. The movies’ success can be attributed to the brilliance of the story itself, in which its resonating core contains the mythological and archetypal implications of many ancient stories and fantasies. The implications include the patriarchal figure of Dumbledore, the magic of love and sacrifice, and the prophecy of the “boy who lived”. Harry Potter’s mission was to find a way to eradicate Lord Voldemort, while protecting the virtues of the common good. People become avid followers of the series through Harry’s role as a good willed hero, and as a child who is still finding his way around the mysterious world of witches and wizards.
All powerful and mighty, Dumbledore serves the archetype of the wise man and the father figure in Harry Potter.
Many people connected with Dumbledore’s character because of the way he is with Harry, and how much of a trustable person he is. With this developed connection, Dumbledore is a father figure to the audience as well. In mythology, the wise man guides the one who is going through a perilous journey by helping the young person under his wing build the strength needed to make the journey. Dumbledore to Harry is what Merlin is to King Author, or Gandalf to Frodo Baggins. Not only does Dumbledore guide Harry, he also becomes Harry’s guardian and eternal protector. Dumbledore’s character can be comparable to God. His relationship with Tom Riddle, more known as Voldemort, is similar to God’s and Lucifer’s. Lucifer was a beautiful angel who was loved by God, but was eventually cast out of heaven because God had seen Lucifer’s true evil intentions. Voldemort, like Lucifer, was a handsome boy and a magnificent wizard that was taken to Hogwarts under the care of Dumbledore, only for Dumbledore to eventually see how wicked he is, and leading Dumbledore to shun him leading Voldemort to rip his soul into pieces so that he may walk the Earth forever. Biblical references in films are always powerful and exciting, as many stories in the Bible allude to moralities and the lessons learned in each of the sections in the
Bible.
Love is a prominent driving force in Harry Potter, as we see it through the closest people around him. Love is what saved Harry from Voldemort, dubbing him the boy who lived. Harry’s mother sacrificed herself in order to save her son’s life; she chose the importance of her son’s life over her own. The act of love on Harry’s mother’s part worked as a very powerful magic spell, by working to protect Harry from Voldemort’s killing curse. The act of sacrifice left Voldemort to roam aimlessly around the world without a body for over a decade. Harry’s mother represents the archetype of Jesus, as Jesus died on the cross for humanities sins. His sacrifice ensured that all sins may be forgiven, and all souls may enter heaven. However, sacrifice is present throughout the novel as many people sacrificed their safety in order to help Harry Potter complete his journey. Sacrifice is a divine, and holy act of bravery. A wide audience is attracted to brave figures in a movie.
While mythology may have contributed to the success of the Harry Potter franchise, it is arguable that mythology may not be the most leading factor. The success of a fantasy film depends on the production behind it. All of the Harry Potter movies had enlisted the best actors to portray these intricate and detailed characters, and the actors with no doubt executed their roles to the point where those actors are forever known as their roles on Harry Potter. Ralph Fiennes, a two-time Academy Award nominee, captured the true essence of Voldemort’s character, he practically oozed of evil. Along with the actors, the set and costume design was extremely important in depicting the realm of witches and wizards as it allowed the stories to come to life, and become animated from the pages it was originally written in. The large budget of the movies allowed for the best cameras and editing software to be utilized, and for the finest cinematographers and editors to be hired. The creativity, and soul behind the production is what jumpstarted the fame of the series.
However great the production may be, without a wonderful story line, a film may not be great. What makes a fabulous story line is the use of myths and archetypes, so that the story can be relatable and interesting. What makes Harry Potter interesting, besides the magic and the lore, is the prophecy that leads Voldemort to pursue killing Harry Potter. Before Harry Potter was born, it is revealed through a prophecy to Dumbledore that a boy born on a certain day will be the one to defeat the Dark Lord. Snape, who at the time was a death eater working for the Voldemort, had overheard the prophecy and reported it to his master, he was then devastated to know that the boy is Lily Potter’s son, he was in love with Lily. His betrayal is like Judas’s betrayal to Jesus. The betrayal, and the prophecy are common archetypes found in many mythological anecdotes and motion pictures. The betrayal provides a scandal twist to a plot, while a prophecy provides an insight to future events in the storyline.
All eight movies in the Harry Potter series were able to become so successful due to the recurring archetypes and mythology present throughout the storyline. The movies have become a global phenomenon, because of its similarities to many beloved stories and characters. Stories are influenced by other stories, and they become similar by sharing the same characteristics when it comes to certain characters like the protagonist, and the antagonist. People’s favorite characters, like Gandalf and Jesus, from different stories have resurrected themselves and live as the characters in Harry Potter. The mythology in the films include the act of sacrifice and protection with love, the wise man who happens to be a patriarchal figure for the main character, and the prophecy that begins it all. Archetypes and mythology are the driving force in any great movie, and a working plot cannot exist without them. The Harry Potter films have cleverly developed the wirzarding world, which will continue to amaze future generations to come.
are present within. The movies’ success can be attributed to the brilliance of the story itself, in which its resonating core contains the mythological and archetypal implications of many ancient stories and fantasies. The implications include the patriarchal figure of Dumbledore, the magic of love and sacrifice, and the prophecy of the “boy who lived”. Harry Potter’s mission was to find a way to eradicate Lord Voldemort, while protecting the virtues of the common good. People become avid followers of the series through Harry’s role as a good willed hero, and as a child who is still finding his way around the mysterious world of witches and wizards.
All powerful and mighty, Dumbledore serves the archetype of the wise man and the father figure in Harry Potter.
Many people connected with Dumbledore’s character because of the way he is with Harry, and how much of a trustable person he is. With this developed connection, Dumbledore is a father figure to the audience as well. In mythology, the wise man guides the one who is going through a perilous journey by helping the young person under his wing build the strength needed to make the journey. Dumbledore to Harry is what Merlin is to King Author, or Gandalf to Frodo Baggins. Not only does Dumbledore guide Harry, he also becomes Harry’s guardian and eternal protector. Dumbledore’s character can be comparable to God. His relationship with Tom Riddle, more known as Voldemort, is similar to God’s and Lucifer’s. Lucifer was a beautiful angel who was loved by God, but was eventually cast out of heaven because God had seen Lucifer’s true evil intentions. Voldemort, like Lucifer, was a handsome boy and a magnificent wizard that was taken to Hogwarts under the care of Dumbledore, only for Dumbledore to eventually see how wicked he is, and leading Dumbledore to shun him leading Voldemort to rip his soul into pieces so that he may walk the Earth forever. Biblical references in films are always powerful and exciting, as many stories in the Bible allude to moralities and the lessons learned in each of the sections in the
Bible.
Love is a prominent driving force in Harry Potter, as we see it through the closest people around him. Love is what saved Harry from Voldemort, dubbing him the boy who lived. Harry’s mother sacrificed herself in order to save her son’s life; she chose the importance of her son’s life over her own. The act of love on Harry’s mother’s part worked as a very powerful magic spell, by working to protect Harry from Voldemort’s killing curse. The act of sacrifice left Voldemort to roam aimlessly around the world without a body for over a decade. Harry’s mother represents the archetype of Jesus, as Jesus died on the cross for humanities sins. His sacrifice ensured that all sins may be forgiven, and all souls may enter heaven. However, sacrifice is present throughout the novel as many people sacrificed their safety in order to help Harry Potter complete his journey. Sacrifice is a divine, and holy act of bravery. A wide audience is attracted to brave figures in a movie.
While mythology may have contributed to the success of the Harry Potter franchise, it is arguable that mythology may not be the most leading factor. The success of a fantasy film depends on the production behind it. All of the Harry Potter movies had enlisted the best actors to portray these intricate and detailed characters, and the actors with no doubt executed their roles to the point where those actors are forever known as their roles on Harry Potter. Ralph Fiennes, a two-time Academy Award nominee, captured the true essence of Voldemort’s character, he practically oozed of evil. Along with the actors, the set and costume design was extremely important in depicting the realm of witches and wizards as it allowed the stories to come to life, and become animated from the pages it was originally written in. The large budget of the movies allowed for the best cameras and editing software to be utilized, and for the finest cinematographers and editors to be hired. The creativity, and soul behind the production is what jumpstarted the fame of the series.
However great the production may be, without a wonderful story line, a film may not be great. What makes a fabulous story line is the use of myths and archetypes, so that the story can be relatable and interesting. What makes Harry Potter interesting, besides the magic and the lore, is the prophecy that leads Voldemort to pursue killing Harry Potter. Before Harry Potter was born, it is revealed through a prophecy to Dumbledore that a boy born on a certain day will be the one to defeat the Dark Lord. Snape, who at the time was a death eater working for the Voldemort, had overheard the prophecy and reported it to his master, he was then devastated to know that the boy is Lily Potter’s son, he was in love with Lily. His betrayal is like Judas’s betrayal to Jesus. The betrayal, and the prophecy are common archetypes found in many mythological anecdotes and motion pictures. The betrayal provides a scandal twist to a plot, while a prophecy provides an insight to future events in the storyline.
All eight movies in the Harry Potter series were able to become so successful due to the recurring archetypes and mythology present throughout the storyline. The movies have become a global phenomenon, because of its similarities to many beloved stories and characters. Stories are influenced by other stories, and they become similar by sharing the same characteristics when it comes to certain characters like the protagonist, and the antagonist. People’s favorite characters, like Gandalf and Jesus, from different stories have resurrected themselves and live as the characters in Harry Potter. The mythology in the films include the act of sacrifice and protection with love, the wise man who happens to be a patriarchal figure for the main character, and the prophecy that begins it all. Archetypes and mythology are the driving force in any great movie, and a working plot cannot exist without them. The Harry Potter films have cleverly developed the wirzarding world, which will continue to amaze future generations to come.