Religious Controversies in Rowling’s Harry Potter
Ever since J.K. Rowling first introduced Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in 1997, children and adults have read and loved the series. It has gained such popularity that all of the books have been made into major motion pictures, and a Harry Potter attraction has been opened in Universal Studios, Florida. Though the readers love Rowling’s intricate and exciting story lines, many controversies have arisen from these stories, not only in the United States, but also in various countries around the world.
In the summer of 1997, the world became captivated by a young wizard named Harry Potter (About JK, 2007). The series of Harry Potter books that follows Harry Potter’s evolution from an awkward and shy child to a confident and talented wizard. This series has been printed in over 65 languages and sold around 375 million copies. In total seven Harry Potter books were printed and each one takes its readers deeper into the magical world that Harry Potter has created. One of the reasons that the Potter books have been so successful is because they are able to captivate both child and adult readers alike (Garner, 2008). Both audiences are able to relate to the books because Harry Potter has deals with real world issues such as those concerning family problems, friendship, romance, and more. These problems are present for Potter when he living in the abusive home of his relatives, The Dursleys and even into his time at Hogwarts, a boarding school for witches and wizards
Introduction
The first Harry Potter book came out in 1997, and no one at the time could imagine that in the 10 years that followed, it would become the most read children’s book and a $6.4 billion worth film franchise. The aim of this essay is to try to explain the reason for the popularity of the Harry Potter books. The aim is also to show the changes that the series caused, how they influenced the people who read them, how they had an impact on literacy and overall, on British popular culture. In the first part of the essay I will briefly explain the beginning of the Harry Potter phenomenon and its growing popularity in the countries all over the world. In the second part I will deal with the character of Harry, explaining why he has such an appeal to the readers and how come people identify with him.
The seven books in the Harry Potter series are some of the most popular books of all time. Millions of children and adults around the world crave everything to do with Harry. From the midnight book release parties to new movie releases to the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park, fans, the world over, love Harry and can't seem to get enough of him. While scores of fans immerse themselves in the fantasy world of Harry Potter, there are some people that believe that Harry Potter is the work of the devil, and the world J.K. Rowling created entices readers to abandon God and pursue the occult. However, Harry Potter does not promote evil. Harry's entire seven novel journey exists to teach people, young and old, about love, loss, relationships, good versus evil, and doing what is right versus doing what is easy. In addition to these very important lessons, Rowling has cast a spell beyond what anyone else has ever seemed to be able to accomplish: She has made millions of children excited about reading. The author is also a prime example that you can be anything and do anything, no matter your circumstances. She is proof that perseverance can yield amazing awards.
One of the most read series in all literature is Harry Potter. The seven-book succession has sold over 400 million copies and has been translated into over sixty languages. What is it that makes this series so wildly famous? What is it about the boy who lived that makes frenzied readers flock to their local bookstore at midnight on the day of the release to buy the latest installment? How is a story set in a world that doesn’t exist about wizards, witches, magic, and mystical creatures so popular? The series has been able to earn its spot on the New York Times Bestseller list and has granted author J.K. Rowling multiple awards because it is relatable. It is not the setting or the events in the plot of the story that we relate to. We relate to what Harry, his friends, mentors, teachers, caretakers, and even enemies feel. Harry is in a lot of ways exactly like us. He represents some of the good characteristics that all of us have as well as the bad. The series as a whole, is about one thing that is stressed over and over again in the novels, love. The Harry Potter series is one of the most read sequences of novels because the central theme is love and self-sacrifice, and readers are looking for a novel that shows them just that.
The portrayal of female characters in British literature has most often reflected the larger perception of women by society during the time of a work’s publication. In this regard, the immensely popular Harry Potter series written by author J.K. Rowling is certainly no exception. The circumstances for women in late 20th century Britain have improved and in many ways are nearing equality with men, yet a notable upper barrier to success still remains. Rowling captures this gender dynamic throughout the Harry Potter series by including a diverse cast of resilient female characters who are not allowed to take on the same leadership roles dominated by the men at Hogwarts, at the Ministry of Magic, in quidditch, and during the Triwizard tournament. The novels also center on an important theme of motherly love that Rowling uses to explore the sacrifices women must make in order to raise their children well. Such issues have been present in British literature for well over a century, with each generation seeing steps toward equality, both for the fictitious characters and the women of a given time period. The Harry Potter series, therefore, constitutes a reflection of female status in modern Britain that has advanced, but remains perpetually flawed.
Soulliere, Danielle M. "Much ado about Harry: Harry Potter and the creation of a moral panic." 2010. Academic OneFile. Journal of Religion and Popular Culture 22.1. 12 Jan 2012. Web. .
During this day and time there are many cool fads that catch on quite quickly and leave quickly as well. Lately there has been one fad that has caught on and it doesn’t seem as if it is going to leave anytime soon. This fad has caused much chaos and controversy throughout America. This fad is called Harry Potter. It seems as if everyone has his or her own opinion on it.
In J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire the protagonist Harry Potter experiences wonderful and dangerous things in the wizarding world. From watching the famous quidditch world cup, to meeting wizards from all over the world as well as fighting dangerous dragons, Harry’s experiences help to shape and prepare him as a wizard for things in the future. Harry Potter becomes more mature and confident in his abilities as well as his friends throughout the story’s progression.
The novels of Harry Potter, written by J. K. Rowling are constantly in debate among Christians whether Harry Potter is preaching sorcery and paganism or that the books have a spiritual meaning deeper than most care to look at. It is easy to look through the books and find sources of witchcraft but one could say the same for sources of the gospel. Author, J.K. Rowland has stated that her own Christian faith has in fact informed her writing of the popular series. Many Christians say Harry Potter is incomparable to Christ, being far from perfection while Voldemort seems to strike a different chord of response as far as his character representing The Devil himself.