Report on The Portrayal of Magic - Harry Potter
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Added on 2020-06-03
Report on The Portrayal of Magic - Harry Potter
Added on 2020-06-03
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Critically discuss theportrayal of magic inHarry Potter
Harry Potter have been the most popular story among children and youngsters which iseffectively written by famous novel writer, J.K. Rowling. It is a fantasized novel that isconsidered as a cornerstones of modern and young adult literature. It is a series of many genres,such as, drama, fantasy, mystery, thriller, adventure, horror and romance. One thing that wascommon in all the parts of harry potter series is magic and power (Duyndam, Korte andPoorthuis, 2016). Some researchers claim that the adoption of magic and miracles in the storyhave been derived from bible and other narratives from Christianity. The essay helps inunderstanding different shades of magic that have been presented in the story. Further, a criticalanalysis of its relationship with Christianity theories will also be presented in the essay. Harry potter is a series of novel being written by the author J.K. Rowling. It has been ableto get immense popularity, critically acclaimed and received high commercial successworldwide. The story revolves around the life of young wizard, named, Harry Potter and hisfriends named, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, who all are the students of HogwartsSchool of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The main plot of the story is related to the struggle of HarryPotter against Lord Voldemort, who is a dark wizard and wants to become immortal. One majorthing that has been discussed in Harry Potter is power (Feldt, 2016). It is primarily not themagical power but the belief in itself. Magic acts as providing a test case which helps inascertaining that how power can be wielded for goodness and evil.Magic can be defined as an act secret appearance of something by saying certain wordsknown as spells. It can use super natural beings or forces in order to perform the same. Magiccan be a complex term to give an effective explanation as religion, society and cultures havetheir own thought process and perceptions regarding magic. Prophets believes that the activitiesperformed by Jesus Christ was miracle. It is said that Jesus could change water into wine, walkon water, etc. Moreover, he is considered as a magician (Duyndam, Korte and Poorthuis, 2016). The series of Harry Potter clearly depicts some supernatural force which can override theusual law of nature. There are various fictional magical characters that are present who exhibitscertain magical properties. A certain percentage of human who are involved in performing magicare known as witches or wizards and others with non-magical properties are called as muggles. There are various abilities that were possessed as special abilities by witches and wizardsin Harry Potter universe. Veela charm is used in Goblet of fire where vela hair was used to create1
magical wands. It is also shown in the first part of the series, that is, Harry potter and thePhilosopher’s Stone, that a flying class was also organized for all the people in magic schoolwhere they were taught regarding how to fly with the help of a broomstick (Gotz and Aidman,2014). Rowling has described Quidditch, as a magical game which has certain characteristics offootball but is played in air by the wizards and witches on their broomsticks with four balls.Another example of magic being shown in the series is, Wizard chess, where the figures in thegame are alive. The game become similar like directing a troop in a battle ground. In other areasof the series of books, one can see magic in the form of singing of hat, pudding gettingdisappeared on its own, Hermione making feathers rise from the desk by saying ‘WingardiumLeviosa’. Other instance can be, where Harry can see his parents through a mysterious mirror.Other is the magic hat at Hogwarts which can determine that to what house each student belongsto. These can some of the examples of magic which were noticed in Rowling’s novel (Groves,2017).A great struggle between good and evil have been described in terms of magical powersbeing hold by witches and wizards in the story. Rowling has described magic as a craft which isunevenly distributed among people. It depends of wizards and witches that whether they it forgood or bad deeds. Rowling was able to create an altogether different world where magic can befun, exciting, surprising and dangerous as well, if it is not used in effective manner (HarryPotter: Harmless Christian Novel or Doorway to the Occult?, 2017). According to Andresen (2017), Harry Potter books of J.K. Rowling are directly related tothe use of magic but it has strong adoption from Christianity. It is not only compatible with thefacts and figures being discussed by Christianity but also contain implicit message beingdiscussed by it. Harry Potter series have strong promotion of magic and wicca. The word ’witch’that has been used in the series has also been described in bible as well. Further, it has beenassessed that Christianity has been promoted in the series in negative manner. However, as perthe views of Bakhtiar (2015), some books are merely written for entertaining tales. Harry Potteris full of stereotypical magic where central theme is related to witchcraft and wizardry. The leadroles are played by wizard, witches and other creatures having certain magical powers. Thecharacters practice magic on reading crystal balls, spells etc. Harry potter do not carry positiveview regarding bible. Since, the difference between good and bad is not presented effectively asboth good and evil characters participate in in different types of magic and witchcrafts. However,2
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