The White Stag

The appearance of the stag in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is a compelling symbol, utilized powerfully in many fantasy fiction favorites. We see it in the King Arthur stories as well as Chronicles of Narnia (see below). But what does the symbol mean, and why does J.K. Rowling choose the multiple uses (James Potter’s Animagus form, and Harry’s Patronus) of the stag symbolism?

John Granger points us, via C.S. Lewis, to the use of the stag in medieval times as a Christ symbol. He explains that the antlers of the stag came to represent regeneration, in that they would “break off and grow back, tying the animal symbolically to the tree of life and the Resurrection” (Granger, Looking for God in Harry Potter, p. 95). Granger continues:

Given this correspondence, it is no accident that when Harry first sees the stag Patronus who saves him from the dementor’s kiss - the living, soulless death worse than death - he sees it “as a unicorn” [another symbol for Christ].

Lest you think Granger has gone off the deep end, recall that C.S. Lewis, a student of the Middle Ages, utilized the same imagery in the obviously Christian book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. You will recall that it is the hunt for the “White Stag who would give you wishes if you caught him” that resulted in their return to their own world after becoming kings and queens in Narnia (Harper Collins: 1978, p. 203).

Howard Pyle utilizes the white stag imagery in his telling of the Arthurian Legends. In the final section of The Story of King Arthur and His Knights, an adventure ensues upon the hunting and killing of none other than a white stag. The adventure threatens to take King Arthur’s life, but he ends up defeating the evil sorcerer with help from an apparently old, ugly woman. This woman demanded as thanks for her help that she be taken back and allowed to marry whichever of the knights of the Round Table that she chooses.

Her choice turns out to be Gawaine, who willingly sacrifices himself for the King by marrying the old woman, bringing shame upon himself. After their wedding, the woman reveals herself as one of the immortal laides of the lake who gives up her immortality in order to be with him. And as she reveals herself, she is quite beautiful, and not an old woman at all.

As an interesting side note, the symbol on Sir Gawaine’s shield is a Gryffin.

Finally, there may be some keys to the storyline in the symbolism of the stag. Godric of Finchale was a medieval hermit and saint (though never officiall canonized) who is well-known for his protection of animals, and particularly his hiding a stag from hunters, as one legend tells it. We know that Harry has thus far been called “a true Gryffindor” by Dumbledore, a Gryffindor himself. We also know that the final installment is going to involve an early trip to Godric Hollow. All this may lend a little more weight to the belief that Harry is Godric Gryffindor’s heir.

See Phyllis H. Morris’ essay, Harry Potter: The Truest Gryffindor of All? for other interesting parallels between St. Godric the stag protector, and the Harry Potter novels.