Mortality And Vengeance In The Iliad

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Continuing the extended allegory of epic in the classical tradition to the Harry Potter novels, we can evaluate the respective roles of mortality and vengeance by comparing Harry to our third hero, Achilles of The Iliad. The important opening theme of The Iliad is given by Greek word menis, or wrath, speaking to Achilles’ anger with his commander-in-chief, Agamemnon. This internal conflict leads to his retraction from battle, leaving his good friend Patroclus in his place to continue the fight against the Trojans. As a result, Patroclus is swiftly murdered at the hands of the enemy champion, Hector. His death prompts Achilles to rejoin the war in an effort to avenge Patroclus (Britannica, “Hector”). Thetis, Achilles’ mother, does everything …show more content…

In this pivotal scene, Harry and Cedric have reached the final trial in the TriWizard Tournament; they decide to finish the tournament in a draw, representing the mutual trust and respect for one another culminated throughout the tournament. They simultaneously grab the cup holding their supposed victory, but instead the pair find themselves being transported to a graveyard by the disguised portkey. They have reached the final faceoff of the novel: Voldemort himself. During this confrontation, Cedric dies at the end of the Dark Lord’s wand. Harry is enraged and challenges Voldemort in a locked-wand duel; mimicking the one-on-one combat often engaged in by heroes of the classical tradition. The same way that sea goddess Thetis breached mortal/divine boundaries in an effort to protect Achilles in the war, Lily Potter crossed the threshold of life and death for her own son. During their magical power struggle, Harry is visited by the spirit of his mother who instructs him to not let go until her cue. Once he is given the go-ahead, the ghosts of Lily and James Potter distract Voldemort long enough to allow the escape of their son. Harry brings Cedric’s body back; his death represents a dark shift in the tone of the whole series, as Cedric is the first to be killed

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