Harry & Aragorn musings (was HP & LOTR)-LONG

[annunathradien]

No: HPFGUIDX 107755

dcgmck:
> 
> I, too, have entertained the notion that Harry and Frodo are 
> representative Everymen progressing on their respective pilgrimages 
> through life.  My only problem with the idea is that I can't help 
> noticing that each of these "poor" orphans seems to have a very 
> fortuitous inheritance with which to finance their journeys...

I'm sure the following comparisons have all been discussed before 
(although doing a search, I can't seem to find them). I've read many 
of the comparisons of Harry and Frodo here as well as other places.  
I can certainly understand them and they are considerable.  However, 
I've always wondered and more prominently after reading OOTP, if 
Harry really can be exclusively or even prominently be likened to 
Frodo.  I do see some striking resemblances between Harry and Aragorn 
as well.  There are (prophecied) roles set out for them before either 
are born and both have understandable difficulties in accepting these 
predetermined roles.  Both their mothers held very important roles in 
their lives (Lily's sacrifice which brought Harry to his Aunt's 
doorstep, Gilraen took Aragorn to live with Elrond for 
protection/guidance).  Harry lived in exile for his protection, as 
did Aragorn.  Aragorn and Harry live at the cusp of two worlds 
(although Elrond loved Aragorn like a son, the Dursleys - in 
contrast - seemed to hate Harry).  Harry is considered a "half-blood" 
in the WW, Aragorn is of the Dunedain (descendants of elves and 
men).  

In both LOTR and HP, the appearances of Harry and Aragorn are given 
notice and are also somewhat similar.  Both have a rather dark 
appearance.  Both are described somewhat filthy, even sloven, "foul" 
as Frodo called Aragorn.  Harry has his perpetually messy hair and 
clothes always too big for him.  At the beginning of OOTP, we're told 
Harry hasn't bathed himself for three days (yuck).  Yet both Aragorn 
and Harry can be described as majestic, strikingly handsome, at 
times.  Harry in his green dress robes (Yule Ball) that match his 
penetrating green eyes.  Aragorn/Elessar in his kingly garb or when 
he was made over by Galadriel that gave him such a stunning 
appearance he looked like an Elf (when he finally won Arwen's heart).

In LOTR, there was a Seer (Malbeth?) who made two prophecies of 
Isildur's line, one of which described Aragorn's calling of the dead 
(something only the rightful king could do, hence was also indirectly 
a foreshadowing of the return of the king and fulfilling his duty).  
In HP, there are two accurate prophecies made about Harry's life by 
Trelawney.  This might also seem pretty weak but I'll throw it on the 
pile, but Trelawney stated in OOTP, in hysterics, that Harry wasn't 
going to die but lived to an old age, have 12 kids and become 
Minister of Magic.  Aragorn (due to being Dunedain) lived a life 
longer than normal men, had many children and, of course, had 
ascended to the throne of Gondor and unified Middle Earth.  

Unity is extremely important element in both LOTR and HP.  Elessar 
eventually united Middle Earth in the Third Age.  In HP it's partly 
eluded as a sign of ultimate victory, due to this unity lost a 1000 
years ago during the Founders time (OOTP Sorting Hat song, "And never 
since the founders four were whittled down to three have the Houses 
been united as they once were meant to be").  

Frodo had Sting, which had been his "uncle" Bilbo's sword, it warns 
the bearer of approaching enemies (Orcs).  One could liken this to 
Godric Gryffindor's sword coming to Harry in a time of need in COS.  
However, Narsil or Anduril is the King's sword, passed down the line 
of Kings from Elendil ultimately to Aragorn (as Anduril).  Gryffindor 
could be considered a sort of King, Gryffindor's sword seemingly can 
only go to the hand of a "true Gryffindor" per Dumbledore's words 
(starting the possible implications of Harry as the Heir of 
Gryffindor).  Elendil to Aragorn.  Gryffindor to Harry.  Aragorn had 
been an Heir, so might Harry?

Harry also seems to be presented much more as an overt fighter / 
warrior, which always brought me to mind more of Aragorn as compared 
to Frodo.  Frodo simply accepts what he needs to do and does it, 
bearing the weight of it, and gradually deteriorated, by it.  Harry, 
especially in OOTP, resists his fate, not unlike Aragorn wandering 
Middle Earth before finally being forced - more or less - to face his 
destiny.  Harry and Aragorn are also seemingly trained (or training 
themselves) to prepare what is set out before them, even before Harry 
knew of the Prophecy he had been a fighter.  Not unlike Aragorn.

Of course, I fluctuate between Harry and Ron being more likened to 
Aragorn.  Aragorn and Ron do share a birthday (March 1).  The 
Weasley "pureblood" status could be considered something like 
royalty.  The Weasleys had been in Gryffindor for ages.  There's also 
the "Weasley is Our King" song from OOTP.  However, retaining the 
LOTR Kings comparison, I also see similarities with Theoden King and 
Ron.  Knight & King (Ron in the chess game and the Draco's mocking 
song... Theoden had been a young noble warrior prior becoming king 
and corrupted by Grima/Saruman).  Their lack of confidence.  Ron 
hasn't been influenced by the evil, as Theoden in LOTR, in any form, 
but his sister Ginny certainly has.  Incidentally, Theoden raised his 
sister's children, Eowyn and Eomer, like his own after their parents 
died.  Ron's pet had been Scabbers, aka the traitor Peter Pettigrew, 
aka "Wormtail".  Theoden's chief advisor, unfortunately, had been 
Grima "Wormtongue".  Rohan's dwindling during their King's corruption 
could possibly be symbolic of the Weasleys poverty... a weakened 
kingdom = the Weasleys as the lower caste ("blood traitors") of the 
pureblood families?  Ginny also holds some similarities to Eowyn.  
The symbol of Rohan is a White Horse, Ron has had two wands and both 
of which had unicorn ("The Little 'White Horse'") tail cores.  If I 
were really grasping, look at the name Rohan... Ro(ha)n... Ron.  
Rohan (Ron?) and Gondor (Harry?) - the power of the world of men, 
rulers of the Fourth Age - are inevitably joined against the threat 
of the shadow, aka Sauron (Voldemort).

The problem I always with a definitive LOTR / HP parallel, or any 
literary/mythological parallel, is that JKR is likely taking 
inspirations from several sources and nothing specifically eluding 
towards LOTR.  Although some of the similarities are intriguing and 
spark some interesting discussions.

annunathradien