Well, since I've finished read HPDH twice, I've been having fun lurking at HP fansites, especially the Leaky Cauldron, browsing their fan art. Some truly amazing talent there. I came across this one which just made my day:
(you'll probably need to click it to see it clearly)
I'm also allowing myself to visit Jan the Maven's blog -- I tried to avoid it before b/c I didn't want to have anything spoiled! I did end up regretting one visit that I made a while back, b/c a big reveal towards the end of the book ("The Prince's Tale") wasn't as big of a surprise for me as it should have been, since I read a couple of her predictions. But now I'm immersing myself in all the interviews and discussions and dissections to my little heart's content!
J.K. Rowling has done an amazing job. I don't think it's going too far to include her epic with other true myths, such as Tolkein's and C.S. Lewis'. So much of it has the true ring. I admire her for sneaking in so much morality -- hopefully it will rub off on all those unsuspecting, impressionable young minds who have been drinking this stuff in for the last 10 years! :)
Right now I'm reading a book called "Looking for God in Harry Potter." It's really good -- the author, John Granger(!), shows how the Harry Potter series is emphatically Christian. He is also an expert in classical and medieval literature, like Jo Rowling, and explains a lot of the symbolism and references of which I would otherwise have been unaware. As soon as I finish this book, I want to re-read DH, and then the whole series.
ReplyDeleteWhile I was reading the Harry Potter books I was trying to analyze my reaction to them, and figure out why I found them so compelling. I arrived at the same conclusion as Granger -- he points out that it's because Rowling's books echo the Great Story to which we are all hard-wired to resonate. As the series progresses, Harry is forged and purified until he is able to offer himself as a sacrifice of love for his friends -- indeed, for all the people of Hogwarts and the rest of the wizarding world -- even Draco Malfoy. He becomes a true Christ-figure, as all Christians are meant to.
John Granger has a very good website for adult fans of Harry Potter at http://hogwartsprofessor.com/.
BTW, are you aware of the claims that the Pope has denounced the Harry Potter books? You can find them at LifeSite.net and studiobrien.com (Michael O'Brien's site -- he wrote "Father Elijah" and other Catholic novels). Turns out the claims are totally bogus. John Granger ably refutes them at http://hogwartsprofessor.com/?p=26. Regina Doman also has an excellent essay on the subject at http://www.zossima.com/harryforcatholics.htm. It seems O'Brien and others are trying to use the Pope for their own purposes. Shame on them.
Sorry -- I forgot to sign my previous post about John Granger's book, etc.!
ReplyDeleteYes, I actually just discovered Hogwarts Professor via Jan the Maven's blog -- both are in our sidebar now. I've found a lot of the discussions there very helpful for understanding a lot of the symbolism, especially regarding Arthurian stuff (like, what's a "hallow" anyway?) and what makes an epic hero. Cool stuff. Rowling very obviously received an excellent classical education (hello, Aeschylus?) which makes her books a satisfying read for those of us who recognize some of the symbolism (like the white stag, for instance). She has such a vivid imagination, which is what makes the books feel so real -- you just know the world is completely planned out in her mind. As with Tolkein, you know there's lots of backstory there. I can't wait to read her Potter encyclopedia, whenever that comes out!
ReplyDelete