[HPforGrownups] Re: Joseph Campbell et. al. (was Commandments)

[JamiDeise at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 31048

In a message dated 12/7/2001 5:29:45 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
aromano at indiana.edu writes:

<< While my friend recognized the hero myth at work in Star Wars, he was
 reluctant to recognize it in Harry Potter because while there is a journey
 that takes place in the growth of the central character and his
 development as he learns to fight the bad guy, there really isn't a
 *choice* involved in his decision to be the good guy.  He argued that
 since Harry's parents were murdered by Voldemort, Harry's destiny was
 therefore set, and his choice made for him.  Looking back, it occurs to me
 that Hamlet would also fall in this category of a not-quite hero myth
 according to my friend's perception.  Any thoughts on this, and how
 Harry's parents' murder might have stunted his hero-growth?? >>


I think Harry is definitely a hero in the classic Joseph Campbell sense. 
Where did he make his choice? When Malfoy stuck out his hand, told Harry that 
some wizarding families are better than others, and that he, Malfoy, could 
help Harry with that. Harry refused to shake Malfoy's hand and told him he 
could figure out for himself which families were the right families. Choice 
offered, correct path taken.

I did think it was interesting in the movie, though, that the screenwriter 
made some changes so that Harry could adhere even more slavishly to the 
"hero's journey" ...

SPOILER SPACE FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T SEEN AND DON'T WANT TO KNOW (though I 
can't imagine any are left on this list)

-- Hagrid actually gives Harry a choice: come with me or stay with the 
Dursleys. Of course it wasn't a real choice for anyone with half a brain, and 
certainly doesn't bring to mind Luke telling Obi-Wan about the farm, the 
crops, his uncle, but it was still reworked so that Harry would choose.

-- Harry's final confrontation with Quirrell/Voldemort -- I found it very 
annoying that Ron made such a big deal that Harry had to face him ALONE ... 
but that is the requirement at the end of the hero's journey. You go into the 
final confrontation with evil alone, and there's no Dumbledore at the end to 
rescue you. Though in the book it seemed to me that Dumbledore arrived after 
Harry had defeated Quirrell, but I guess the screenwriter didn't want 
anything to be open to interpretation.

Jami