DH as Christian Allegory (was Classical & Biblical Quotations)

[melrosedarjeeling]

No: HPFGUIDX 173277

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "MelroseDarjeeling: wrote:

Thanks all for many thoughtful replies. I appreciate that views are 
so diverse. Responding to some that sparked insights for me:

Mari wrote:
<snip>
Since, like the Narnia stories, it is perfectly possible to enjoy the
HP series without bothering about any of this Christian or
mythological imagery on a conscious level I think that JKR, like
Lewis, has succeeded in stealing past the watchful/sleeping dragons.
The Christian and mythological imagery is recast and reformulated in
the Potterverse, so that the significance, although clear upon re
reading, is not immediately apparent.
<snip>

Now MelroseDarjeeling:
Love the quotation from C.S. Lewis. To me this view of JKR's 
intentions is the way the books make the most sense. (Not that there 
aren't other ways to look at it, or other mythologies referenced.) I 
think the books are one answer to those perennial Christian questions 
of how can Jesus be both fully human and fully divine?  And if he was 
fully human, how could he have chosen freely to sacrifice himself? 
How can that sacrifice be fully appreciated? Telling the story of 
a "normal" boy who's been selected for a special mission, which 
gradually reveals itself to be allowing himself to be killed in order 
to save others is one way to get at those questions. Of course, if 
you're not a Christian then those questions aren't as interesting, 
which leads to


Houyhnhnm wrote:

I felt certain of this when I read "HE'S ALIVE!". It
would explain the absence of a real moral struggle.
Harry was the Chosen One all along.
<snip>

Now MelroseDarjeeling:
Yeah, to me this explains why Harry never really has to learn 
anything, he just has to respond appropriately to his instincts, 
which are always right. This was a continual disappointment to me 
through the books (especially the latter ones). But as JKR is fully 
capable of writing complex characters, I have to assume this was a 
choice she made, not a failure of technique. So to me this also is 
evidence of her theme. (I know many, many readers would disagree.) 

Katie wrote:
<snip>
I agree that there are parallels that *can* be made to the Christian
story. However, I do not believe that these are "Christian" books,
at least in the sense of a Narnia. JKR has said that her morality is
based in Christianity - but that doesn't mean that these books are
supposed to send some Christian message out to the world. It means
that the way she learned her personal morals and ethics were in the
context of being a Christian. Just like someone who is raised Hindu
will have ethics and morals that are contextually
Hindu...incidentally, I wonder why it is that Christians often claim
that *any* redemptive or moral tale is Christian? Is redemption
copyrighted by Christianity? Why can't HP be books about personal
truth, love, and redemption without being Christianized?
<snip>

Now MelroseDarjeeling:
Katie, I'm in complete sympathy with you there! I was raised 
Christian, but am an atheist nowadays. I see the story of Christ, and 
even the theology of monotheism and the creation story, within the 
context of mythologies that all humans all over the world have 
created for themselves through the millenia (ala Joseph Campbell and 
the hero's journey, I suppose). So it's not that I'm particularly 
keen to assign a Christian meaning to these books. It's just that I 
thought that by the end of DH you really couldn't ignore it if you 
are interested in the author's own intentions in writing. (Again, not 
that it's not possible to find moral meaning in the book independent 
of that.)

-MelroseDarjeeling