Harry Potter Archetypes

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” This quote by Martin Luther King Jr. explains the archetype “the journey”. Chris Columbus, the director throughout the movie Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone shows the challenges of the journey that creates and shapes a hero. Harry is a young boy wanting a greater purpose in life. His dream to experience the world is held back by the evil of his aunt and uncle who gained custody of him after his parents died. Harry’s past was surfacing as his dream was becoming reality. In his film Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Chris Columbus uses the plotline archetype the journey and the hero

He will travel suffering hardship and forming friendships in search of his new identity. Harry’s parents were murdered when he was young. He was then taken to a new house by his uncle, where he meets Rubeus Hagrid and his journey begins. While in the bar, The Leaky Cauldron, Hagrid explains to Harry how Voldemort succeeded in murdering his parent but failed in his attempt to murder him. Hagrid further explained “‘...Something about you stumped him that night. That's why you're famous, Harry.’ ‘that’s why everyone knows your name’ ‘you're the boy who lived’”. This quote explains Harry’s past and why everyone knows his name. Harry had always wanted to do something great and to be something greater but his past and present continued to hold him back. Good memories that taught him to keep moving forward replaced the bad memories of the past. This small bit of life shining into his past became the key that opened the door to his

That's when the school for wizards was set into a panic by a troll that somehow found its way into the building. Harry and Rohn were conversing when the question “‘How could a troll get in?’”, arose. Rohn then replied “‘Not by itself. Trolls are really stupid. Probably people playing jokes.’” Then, Suddenly, Harry stops and pulls Ron aside. “‘What?’ ‘Hermione! She doesn't know.’” Harry then takes on the challenge of saving Hermione from the troll. This is the biggest challenge that he has yet to face, but like many great hero’s he will overcome this task and take another step towards his destiny. His heroic instincts override his natural instincts to run away. Harry doesn’t care about little inner conflict. Instead, he is worried about doing the right thing and that is saving his friend, Hermione. Chris Columbus furthers Harry’s journey by making him face yet another task, concurring the troll. Through these difficult challenges, Harry will become the great wizard he was destined to be and possibly a better person, friend, and