Here begins a 5 part series on “Elements of Myth in Harry Potter.” By “elements,” I am not referring to specific myths, but to the genre of myth in general. This first post asks the basic question, “What is Myth?”, and the following four will examine the mythical qualities of Rowling’s six novels thus far.
The word “myth” invokes thoughts and images that line up with make-believe, fairy tales, stories of gods, or children’s stories. They might be cute or interesting, but they’re certainly not real. In our age of scientific precision, “That just a myth” is a common way of dismissing an idea as untrue and irrelevant.
Myths, however, are of incredible importance to every culture, and making “myth” synonymous with “untrue story” is an unfortunate development of rationalism. Donna Rosenberg provides some excellent summary thoughts on myth in her introduction to World Mythology (I’ll be quoting from the Second Edition, NTC Publishing Group, 1994):
Myths symbolize human experience and embody the spiritual values of a culture….Some explain origins, natural phenomena, and death; others describe the nature and function of divinities; while still others provide models of virtuous behavior by relating the adventures of the heroes or the misfortunes of arrogant humans (xv).
The astute reader of Harry Potter will be able to pick up how the series does and does not fit into many of these descriptions of a myth. Clearly, Harry Potter makes no attempt to explain “origins” or give divine reasons for “natural phenomenon.” There is no world formation or creation story in the novels, nor are there any direct references to “divinities.” These are not stories about the gods. It does seem clear, however, that the stories directly address the issue of “death,” a theme throughout the series. We could also say quite confidently that Rowling has provided us with “hero” characters (those who choose what is right over what is easy) as well as “arrogant humans” (it was Voldemort’s arrogance, one could argue, that caused him to be so confident in his many failed attempts to kill Harry).
Rosenberg continues by stating that myths ask and attempt to answer many of the following questions:
Who am I? What is the nature of the universe in which I live? How do I relate to that universe? How much control do I have over my own life? What must I do in order to survive? How can I lead a satisfying life? How can I balance my own desires with my responsibilities to my family and community? How can I reconcile myself to the inevitability of death? (xv-xvi)
Many of these questions are exceedingly relevant to Harry Potter. The first series of questions about identity and control over one’s life are clearly taken up in the discussions surrounding fate and choice (the centaurs, the prophecy, etc.). The questions about survival and living a satisfying life are addressed in the central theme of love and choosing what is right.
Throughout Harry’s entire transformative process, he has to figure out how to control his own desires reconcile them to his great responsibilities (think about his behavior in Order of the Phoenix compared with his willingness to give up his relationship with Ginny in Half-Blood Prince).
Trying to reconcile oneself to the inevitability of death is a key theme of the first book and remains one throughout the entirety of the series. Harry Potter is an insanely popular cultural (and cross-cultural) phenomenon because it takes up many of the lasting questions asked by every culture’s mythology. We’ll take up these questions in greater depth in coming posts.
[For the record, and to give credit where it is due, I'll be following (in general) the outline provided by a lecture ("What Does Myth Provide?") by Prof. Heather Williams at Monroe Community College, with some of my own additions and subtractions.]
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
korg20000bc
01.22.06 at 8:39 pm
When I think of myth I think of values-based teaching being passed on in the oral tradition.
Do you think that the myth writer goes about their work with the intention of educating? Or, in the case or JKR do you think the author goes attempts to clarify her own understanding of death and the human reaction to it?
Matt
Travis Prinzi
01.23.06 at 8:39 am
Matt, that’s a good summary of myth, I think.
In the case of JKR, she has said she’s not intentionally being “preachy,” but that the books are indeed moral. I think her own understanding of death and the human reaction to it is a key factor in the books.
Allison
01.30.06 at 10:35 am
Great series…
Harry, of course, has always been a type of “epic hero” from mythology, but I wonder if, by the end, we will see some more elements of the tragic, especially with her references to dealing with death? I hope not, and, if anything, Harry’s “tragic flaw” (from Voldemort’s perspective, at least) might be loving others TOO much. Another echo of Christianity there…the “one True myth” about the God who so loved the world…
That World Mythology book is fantastic, by the way. I like the way she arranged myths by topic (creation, etc.) so that you can read parallel accounts across cultures. A student let me borrow a copy last semester and I used some excerpts in my World Lit class to compare/contrast creation myths, and I hope to own a copy of my own to read this summer in full.
Travis Prinzi
02.03.06 at 10:32 am
Allison, unfortunately, I was deceived in purchasing my book online. It had a Third Edition cover but its insides are Second Edition. So mine is not organized by topics, but by cultures. Eventually, I want to get myself a copy of the Third Edition.
Shib
02.10.06 at 4:59 pm
The beauty of J.K. Rowling’s “epic” is that it is so close to myth while being a having a “modern” background. One could easily find a lot of similarities in the events, themes and characters of HP with myth from different civilisations. Norse, Christian, English and Arthurian symbolisms are often used in the series.
One could also find elements of Hindu mythology in the events of the series. It’s probably so because all mythological concepts basically build on the same premises. The Mahabharata in Hindu mythology is an account of a great war between the Good and the Not-So-Good. Although the war is believed to have lasted only 18 days, it had changed the face of civilisation. Here are some points about the epic which are in essence similar to some events in the HP Series.
1. The war between Right and Wrong, and the importance of choices: In the Mahabharata, the Pandavas fought their own cousins, the Kauravas over the issue of the right to rule over a kingdom. The kingdom symbolises the “Final Purpose” - the end of evil in the HP world. Arjuna - the warrior master among the Pandavas, was initially reluctant to take up arms against the baddies - his own kins. The Kauravas on the other hand were only too eager to get on with the fight. Krishna, an incarnation of Vishnu (the Preserver of the Universe in Hindu faith) sought an interview with Arjuna and Duryodhana (leader of the Kaurava warriors); and placed before them a choice.
“If you must fight against each other”, he said, “I’ll be glad to offer my help to both of you, as you’re both my kin. One of you will have the services of my Narayani Sena (Krishna’s army), and the other shall have ME on their side. Be informed, though, that I shall not touch a single weapon in the war. I will serve not as a warrior, but as a charioteer. Which of you wants my army?”
Duryodhana said, “I do”
“And you, Arjuna?” asked Krishna.
“I’ll have you, Lord, and I couldn’t choose better!” said Arjuna
Arjuna’s choice would make him emerge victorious in the Mahabharata. Krishna would be his charioteer in the war, instructs him to perform his duties as a warrior, and guides him in the war.
2. The wise old warrior CHOOSES to die:
Bhishma, grandfather of the Pandavas and the Kauravas had been granted the boon of “icchamrityu” (death at will). He chose to die when he thought his duty was done and that he should do well to die than see the end of the war. Not like Dumbledore except that I think Dumbledore also “chose” to die.
3. The wise old warrior requests his favourite subject to kill him: Bhishma requested Arjuna to give him the death of a warrior.
I believe that Snape was Dumbledore’s man, and did the unthinkable at the behest of his true “Master”
4. The War of Equals: Arjuna for the Pandavas and Karan for the Kauravas were seen as each others’ nemesis. If there was one warrior who could defeat Arjuna at archery, it was Karan, and vice versa!
Their strikes at each other bore no result, until Krishna instructed Arjuna to strike at Karan when he was unprepared. Krishna had to repeatedly advise Arjuna on the illusions of morality, life and death, etc, before he could convince Arjuna that he should strike Karan when the latter is unready if he wanted this war to end.
Harry’s and Lord Voldemort’s wands don’t work against each other. They are, as per the prophecy, each others’ Nemesis, and if there’s a way either could kill the other, it’s when the latter is unready.
5. And finally, the sacrifice of the Half-Giant: Bhima, the Pandava master of Strength, had married Hadimba, a Giantess of the Himalayas. Their son Ghatotkach, was, thus, a half giant. During the war, Ghatotkach was called in by Bhima and commanded to take on his chest an unbeatable weapon - the Brahmastra - meant for one of the Pandavas. Ghatotkach did so, and died, but while he fell to the earth, he made sure he crushed as many enemy soldiers under his bulk as he could.
Rubeus Hagrid - the Half Giant son of Fridwulfa (also a mountain giantess) and a Wizard may have to do his duty unto the “Purpose”.
The similarities are interesting, aren’t they. Any thoughts?
Travis Prinzi
02.11.06 at 4:59 pm
Shib, turns out that this week is the unit on Indian mythology. I’ll revisit this once we’re finished with it!
Prateek
12.23.06 at 12:55 am
I think i agree with Shib about Harry Potter Series’ similarity with Mahabharata epic.
The themes of “death” “wars” “vows” etc run throughout the series as well as in Mahabharata. Also involvement of characters at diff parts and times suddenly is also a characteristic found in both HP and Mahabharata(mbh).
For eg: Professor lockhart was introduced in the 2nd HP book and then he appeared suddenly in the 5th hp book. another eg:Dobby was an imp character in the 2nd book, he again came into the 4th book. Similarly in mbh (eg 1)Vyasa keeps coming magically in and out of the epic, &(eg 2)Krishna, too though appeared lot of times behind the scenes, he was a dominant character in the whole epic.This shoes Mbh has influenced Rowling to write Hp
I also found many similarities in the events of mbh & HP.for Eg Similarities b/w(1)Krishna’s and Harry’s births. They were both saved frm mortal danger so unexpectedly and under such adverse, similar condition.The people who wanted to kill Krishna & Harry were evil and feared by the people They were both saved frm mortal danger so unexpectedly and under such adverse, similar condition.Both Kans and Voldemort were evil. Both killed people, ruthlessly. Both were feared by the common people. Both (kans) tried to kill Krishna and (voldemort) tried to kill Harry. Both failed. Harry is now destined to (maybe) kill voldemort and Krishna grew up to kill Kans. So, the wars b/w(& incidentally, throughout the series) voldemrt & HP and Kans & krishna are very much similar, too.
Similarity(2):Both HP & mbh are basically centered around the the theme “the war b/w good and evil. In mahabharata, it is the war b/w Pandavas(good) & Kauravas(evil) & in HP it is Harry,dumbledore,lupin…etc versus Voldemort,death eaters etc.
(3) The spells and curses of HP are similar to that of boons, curses and weapons in mbh.
(4) Dumdledore is similar in character to krishna.