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Deconstructing Rowling
National Review ^ | 6/9/03 | Dave Kopel

Posted on 06/20/2003 8:43:14 AM PDT by Antiwar Republican

Deconstructing Rowling
By Dave Kopel

J.K. Rowling is an Inkling. That's the well-argued thesis of John Granger's fine book The Hidden Key to Harry Potter. Granger demonstrates the absurdity of the claim that Harry Potter is anti-Christian. And even if you've never worried about charges brought by misguided fundamentalists, The Hidden Key will substantially augment your understanding of what's really at stake in Harry's adventures.

The Inklings were originally a group of Oxford dons who wrote Christian fiction. The most famous of them are J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis. Lord of the Rings and the Narnia series never mention Christianity overtly, and in Tolkien's books, religion itself is absent from the plot. Yet these mythopoeic books aim to "baptize the imagination" of the reader — to teach her the importance of fighting for the right, no matter how powerful the forces of evil may appear.

Rowling has confessed herself to be a great fan of C. S. Lewis, her use of "J. R." for her byline evokes "J. R. R." Tolkien, and she is a member of the Church of Scotland (that's Presbyterian, for American readers).

The most useful parts of The Hidden Key are the author's extensive discussion of symbolism. Harry lives in Gryffindor House, founded by Godric Gryffindor. "D'or" being French for "of gold," we could translate the name as "golden griffin." The griffin has a lion's body and an eagle's wings — a hybrid of the animals that are master of the sky and of the earth, the griffin was traditionally a symbol of Jesus, master of the spiritual and temporal worlds.

The unicorn, too, is a traditional Jesus symbol; pure and powerful, it could only be tamed by a virgin, as Jesus could only be incarnated by a virgin. In Sorcerer's Stone, drinking its blood brings life, and its killing is an especially hideous crime.

The phoenix (which saves Harry's life in Chamber of Secrets) rises to life from its own ashes, and is described by T. H. White as the "resurrection bird." This explains the title of the almost-released book five, The Order of the Phoenix — that is, the alliance of people who band together to fight for resurrection values. "Order" also evokes the fighting Christian religious orders of the Middle Ages, such as the Order of the Knights of Malta.

Harry's father James was nicknamed "prongs," for his ability to turn himself into a stag. In Prisoner of Azkeban, when Harry conjures a magical patronus to drive away the soul-stealing Dementors (Latin for mind-removers), the patronus appears as a stag, shining "as bright as a unicorn." The stag is also a medieval symbol of Jesus.

John Granger recaps the plots of the first four books, explaining each of them as a form of trial in which Harry's purity of heart is tested. In The Sorcerer's Stone, Harry is able to find the power of immortality (concealed in a magic mirror) only because he does not want to use it for selfish purposes.

The villain in Chamber of Secrets is Gilderoy Lockheart — the gilded, or false, king ("roi" in French) with a "locked heart." Lockhart, best-selling author of a string of false books, is, Granger suggests, modeled on Philip Pullman, the militant atheist and best-selling real-life author of the Dark Materials children's series — books that were written as a deliberate refutation of Narnia.

In the climax of Chamber of Secrets, Harry descends to a deep underworld, is confronted by two satanic minions (Voldemort and a giant serpent), is saved from certain death by his faith in Dumbledore (the bearded God the Father/Ancient of Days), rescues the virgin (Virginia Weasley), and ascends in triumph. It's Pilgrim's Progress for a new audience.

Prisoner of Azkebanrevolves around two characters (Sirius Black the magician and Buckbeak the hippogriff) who are falsely accused and condemned. Jungian and Freudian themes abound, as Harry begins by fleeing from his fears (running away from the Dursleys), confronts his hidden memories of his dead parents, forgives the man who betrayed his father, and triumphs by mastering his fear. "Expecto Patronus," invokes Harry — or in Latin, "Expect the little father." As Harry achieves identity with his father James, the luminous stag appears and drives away the soul-killing Dementors, rescuing Harry's godfather Sirius.

Granger reveals the meanings of the names of all the important characters. Draco (dragon/serpent in Latin) Malfoy (faith in evil, in French); Harry's parents James (the brother of Jesus) and Lily (the Easter flower), nasty journalist Rita Skeeter (read: a bloodsucking pest), and more.

And "Harry Potter"? Well, the name does evoke Harry Hotspur, the prince Hal of Shakespeare's histories. But if you say it with a French or Cockney accent, it also reminds us of "heir." For "Potter," Granger tells us to look to the Bible's "potter verses" (e.g., Isaiah 64:8), in which God is described as the potter who shapes man out of clay. Granger's summary of Rowling's theme is that we are all heirs of God.

The Potter books are a magical work aimed to liberate their readers from materialism and to elevate their spirits. Harry leaves the temporal world of London by entering Diagon Alley — that is, by moving diagonally, not in the lines of the ordinary material world. And Dudley's grotesque weight and surfeit of toys are an extreme case of a spiritual death from immersion in a purely material world: a world which Rowling shows can be put aside, if one can think and live diagonally.

Harry Potter fans are used to scouring the Internet for the morsels of hints Rowling has offered about the rest of the series. The last section of Hidden Key offers informed speculation about what will happen in the final books; of course, some of Granger's guesses might be wrong, but his exposition of the series' themes makes many of his ideas seem almost inevitable. For instance:

Harry will be revealed as the true heir of Godric Gryffindor and the climatic battle will be fought at Harry's birthplace, Godric Hollow. The heir of Gryffindor will confront the Heir of Slytherin (slithering, like a snake), Voldemort. Dumbledore has powers of invisibility; that is how he knew that the orphan Neville Longbottom (no-village, long at the lowest place) stood up to his friends in Sorcerer's Stone. Dumbledore will die, because Harry must defeat Voldemort himself. Snape's mixed feelings about Harry — he saves Harry's life, but is angrily jealous of Harry's fame — can be traced back to Snape's school days; then, Snape loved the green-eyed Lily (perhaps a Slytherin student, since house color is green) who rejected him for James. No matter — love and sacrifice will battle with death, at first appearing to be defeated, and then triumphing gloriously.

There's much more in Hidden Key: Rowling's extensive use of alchemical symbolism (alchemy being a process in which spiritual purification is correlated with metallurgical purification), Aristotelian and Platonic themes, and Arthurian legend. Like King Arthur, Harry was hidden as a baby, raised without knowledge of his true identify, watched over from afar by a great wizard, and proves that he is the true heir by pulling out a sword — in Harry's case, by pulling Godric Gryffindor's sword from Godric Gryffindor's sorting ("sword-in") hat.

Hidden Key can be read in an afternoon, and if you can interrupt your progress through the Order of the Phoenix for a little bit, Hidden Key will greatly add to your understanding of J. K. Rowling's magnificent work.

Dave Kopel is a contributing editor of NRO.


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: christianfiction; rowling
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To: Xenalyte
But But they talk about MAGIC!!! Therefore they are evil, and anyone how is even in the same room with one of these books is in extreme danger!
21 posted on 06/20/2003 9:19:23 AM PDT by Valin (Humor is just another defense against the universe.)
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To: Paul Atreides
Jeez... you ride on sandworms too.
22 posted on 06/20/2003 9:21:43 AM PDT by Tijeras_Slim (I am not a prime demographic, I am a MAN!)
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To: Xenalyte
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/932244/posts

You were already on this thread. Notice the link Oztrich Boy provides from "The Onion". Judging from nmh's later comment to Oztrich, he/she didn't get the humor.
23 posted on 06/20/2003 9:24:51 AM PDT by LanPB01
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To: It's me
I'd rather my kids read Harry Potter than watch that big purple dinosaur with the annoying voice. There's something scary about toddlers everywhere singing "I love you, you love me, we're a happy family...". ewwwwww
24 posted on 06/20/2003 9:26:54 AM PDT by bonfire
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To: dark_lord; Xenalyte
My guess is -- NOT!

My response is -- who cares?

It is a pretty safe bet none of the Potter critics have read even a single word of the novels.

Those who have, however, have visited a world where sorcerers exist, for sure, but also more traditional themes, such as good versus evil, power over powerlessness, friendship, loyalty, responsibility and, above all, love.

Anyone who reads these books and doesn't see these things are more than a little myopic.

25 posted on 06/20/2003 9:29:12 AM PDT by Houmatt (Remember Jeffrey Curley and Jesse Dirkhising!)
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To: Antiwar Republican
As much as I like the Potter books, this article seems like a load of crap, IMHO. It's a kids fairy tale, for pete's sake. What's with the constant deconstruction of it from both sides? The anti-Potters pick it apart because it's not Christian enough, the pro-Potters write things like this trying to prove everything in the book is a pro-Christian symbol.

Whatever happened to something being just entertaining, well-written fiction?

LQ

26 posted on 06/20/2003 9:44:43 AM PDT by LizardQueen
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To: bonfire
What does a purple dinosaur have to do with fairy tales?
27 posted on 06/20/2003 9:45:25 AM PDT by It's me
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To: Paul Atreides
I was raised on the classic fairy tales about wizards and the like, and I haven't joined any cults.

That you know of. Those things are pretty subversive, after all. :)
28 posted on 06/20/2003 9:47:29 AM PDT by Xenalyte (I may not agree with your bumper sticker, but I'll defend to the death your right to stick it)
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To: LizardQueen
Literary criticism is an interesting field with a long tradition. If it's not to your taste, it can seem pedantic. Rowling has definitely included this imagery intentionally. It adds to the depth of the experience for those readers who appreciate this kind of thing. She's well acquainted with word origins and linguistic mythology. One of the signs that her books are so good is that they work on multiple levels. Totally entertaining reads, but also books rich with symbolism. To each their own.
29 posted on 06/20/2003 9:47:56 AM PDT by Wordsmith
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To: Valin
But But they talk about MAGIC!!! Therefore they are evil, and anyone how is even in the same room with one of these books is in extreme danger!

I feel SO bad for the poor Barnes and Noble employees who will have to stack whole CRATES of the devil tome over the next few hours. Pray for their souls.
30 posted on 06/20/2003 9:48:31 AM PDT by Xenalyte (I may not agree with your bumper sticker, but I'll defend to the death your right to stick it)
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To: Xenalyte
I feel SO bad for the poor Barnes and Noble employees who will have to stack whole CRATES of the devil tome over the next few hours. Pray for their souls.

Please, do not forget about the Borders employees. Or the Fex Ex men who will be peddling thier evil wares door to door on Saturday.

31 posted on 06/20/2003 9:50:25 AM PDT by retrokitten
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To: Houmatt
It is a pretty safe bet none of the Potter critics have read even a single word of the novels.

And none of them will explain to me how they've managed to form such scathing yet accurate judgements. Kinda like me saying, "La Boheme sucks and is all that is vile," without having seen the opera.
32 posted on 06/20/2003 9:51:07 AM PDT by Xenalyte (I may not agree with your bumper sticker, but I'll defend to the death your right to stick it)
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To: retrokitten
Please, do not forget about the Borders employees. Or the Fex Ex men who will be peddling thier evil wares door to door on Saturday.

They are in my prayers as well.
33 posted on 06/20/2003 9:51:53 AM PDT by Xenalyte (I may not agree with your bumper sticker, but I'll defend to the death your right to stick it)
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To: Young Werther
Just received my Amazon shipping notification. Doin' my lawn today since tomorrow is "Phoenix Day"!!!

I had to go check my e-mail since everyone was saying they had recieved thier shipping notice and guess what- I GOT MINE, TOO!!! Woo-hoo!!

34 posted on 06/20/2003 9:51:59 AM PDT by retrokitten
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To: Wordsmith
I understand and appreciate the basic symbols (good vs. evil, Dumbledore as wise old man/god, Malfoy being bad ("mal"), the rescue of Virginia Weasley), and those are all timeless themes, but this article/book really pushes the envelope.
The explanations of Harry Potter's name and of Griffindor house seem nearly absurd.

With people like the author of the book, a cigar is never just a cigar.

LQ
35 posted on 06/20/2003 9:54:18 AM PDT by LizardQueen
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To: retrokitten
I just got the email now, however, obsessed by evil as I am, I've been checking my order status on the website all week and the website said a couple of days ago that it had shipped. I'm hoping to get lucky and have it waiting when I get home from work tonight, since I have to work tomorrow.
36 posted on 06/20/2003 9:55:26 AM PDT by nina0113
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To: Antiwar Republican
On the stock market today is a quadruple witching day.
The Harry Potter book comes out at midnight - the witching hour.
Coincidence? I think not!


(BTW, Weren't James and Lilly Potter both in Gryffindor?)
37 posted on 06/20/2003 9:55:34 AM PDT by null and void (Who Cries For The Krill?)
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To: Antiwar Republican
bump
38 posted on 06/20/2003 9:56:09 AM PDT by Great_Dame
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To: Antiwar Republican
Hey, let's play the game one reviewer I read a couple of years ago invented: go to the nearest bookstore, pick up a Hairy Potty book and count the clichés on the first two pages. As I recall, the reviewer found a dozen or so, while a letter to the editor writer reported a few days later finding as many as 16! Let's call it having fun with trash.
39 posted on 06/20/2003 9:56:10 AM PDT by Revolting cat! (Subvert the conspiracy of inanimate objects!)
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To: Antiwar Republican
JK Rowling...devil-worshipping, satan-loving, demon-spawn....only thing worse would be a democrat, libertarian, or a Muslim. (I learned this on freerepublic, so it's got to be true)
40 posted on 06/20/2003 9:57:29 AM PDT by stuartcr
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