Because everyone loves a good story
Harry Potter, Personally: Heroism
“The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.”
“Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
These inscriptions are found on two tombs in Godric’s Hollow: the tomb of Harry Potter’s parents, and that of Albus Dumbledore’s family. You probably know, however, that the inscriptions are taken from a far less obscure source: the Bible.
J.K. Rowling specifically chose these verses to highlight critical themes in the story. But the biggest “borrow” of all is the final choice of Harry himself. Did Rowling mean to make such obvious allusions to Christianity, or was it coincidental? Read on to find out.
Harry the Hero
Many (really, most) of the characters in The Deathly Hallows show courage and heroism to some degree. Neville Longbottom, Professor McGonigal, and even Molly Weasley are powerhouses in the final battle. But in this post I plan to focus on Harry’s role as the main hero. I mean, it’s his series after all.
Everyone loves a good hero, especially when he’s an underdog. Harry is a nobody who turns out to be a very great somebody. Instead of choosing the cool kids in school, he prefers the weirdos and the snubbed. He has greatness thrust upon him, and while he staggers at first, he learns to bear up under the load and to acquit himself admirably. Although he’s far from perfect, he’s a champion of good at Hogwarts. But why do his choices resonate so deeply within us? Because his heroic qualities reflect that of a Greater Hero: Jesus.
Sacrificial Love
I read that Rowling enjoyed the Chronicles of Narnia as a child but felt disappointed and even betrayed as an adult to know that the stories had religious parallels. But later she purposely included the Christian themes of death and redemption in the Harry Potter series. It was sacrificial love that saved Harry as a baby and gave him impunity later in life. That may seem corny, or it may seem like a plot gimmick. Regardless, it’s a corny plot gimmick with pre-creation significance: sacrificial love has always been the ultimate means of salvation.
It’s the same way that Voldemort is defeated and everyone is saved in the end: Harry willingly gives up his chance to live, turning himself over to Voldemort for the good of his friends. He chooses the death of one in exchange for the lives of many. His death defeated evil incarnate and gave freedom to those who were enslaved by fear of death. That reminds me of Someone Else…
Allegory, Supposal, and Symbolism
Rowling said that she didn’t want to publicize her churchy side until the series was over for fear that people would anticipate the inevitable conclusion of the series. But while she was intentional about the similarities between Christ’s death and Harry’s, they’re just symbols and allusions. This is distinct from the “supposal” of Narnia.
Lewis said that the parallels between Aslan and Jesus in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe aren’t allegory but supposal. In a letter, Lewis wrote, “[Aslan] is an invention giving an imaginary answer to the question, ‘What might Christ become like if there really were a world like Narnia, and He chose to be incarnate and die and rise again in that world as He actually has done in ours?’ This is not allegory at all.” Aslan is a picture of Jesus, but Harry is just a regular hero whose choices reflect those of Jesus like the moon reflects the sun.
Echoes of the Greater Hero
And that’s the big point: every hero embodies and reflects the True Hero. Our good qualities stem from their Source, our good Creator. Jesus is the archetype; myth, story, and reality are echoes and reflections of him. Our love for Aslan, admiration of Harry, and awe at real-life heroes are signposts pointing toward Christ.
At the risk of having to rename this article “Aslan, Personally,” I’d like to clarify the point with one more C.S. Lewis quote. Once a boy’s mother wrote to Lewis about her son’s concern that he loved Aslan more than he loved Jesus. “[Lawrence] can’t really love Aslan more than Jesus, even if he feels that’s what he is doing,” Lewis wrote back, “For the things he loves Aslan for doing or saying are simply the things Jesus really did and said. So that when Laurence thinks he is loving Aslan, he is really loving Jesus: and perhaps loving Him more than he ever did before.” The same is true for Harry Potter’s sacrifice, a firefighter’s rescue, and even the selflessness of a mother for her child. When we love what’s beautiful in another person, we’re loving the One who put it there.
A Primal Theme
We know that Rowling felt betrayed when she understood the religious significance of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, so why did she include Christian themes in her own books? Because, whether she knows it or not, they’re the most poignant, primal, and passionate themes in human history. Our hearts were created to resonate with sacrifice, even if it takes place in a fictional forest with witches, wizards, and Hagrid looking on. The biblical ties don’t lessen the significance of the story—they intensify it.
True Hope
One of the epigraphs for The Deathly Hallows ends this way: “This is the comfort of friends, that though they may be said to die, yet their friendship and society are, in the best sense, ever present, because immortal” (William Penn, More Fruits of Solitude). We desperately want this to be true, don’t we? Anyone who has lost a loved one longs for them to be ever present, for the relationship to be immortal. While there’s certainly a sense in which it is true, our hearts long for it to be completely true.
The final battle for Hogwarts take a heavy toll. Lives are lost, and families are fractured. Even though it’s fiction, our hearts are still heavy for the characters we’ve come to love over the past seven books. Our hearts are heavier still because we know what it’s like to have loved and lost.
But the beautiful thing is that true hope doesn’t lie in wishful feelings—it lies in Christ. For those who love Jesus and have been changed by him, death is just a crossing from the shadowlands into the true Kingdom of Light. Because Jesus sacrificed himself—the One for the many—and conquered death itself, we can live together with him, not just for a while but forever.
Now that’s the work of a Hero.
In Pursuit of Publication
We interrupt your regularly-scheduled program to bring you this tidbit about my life as a writer. Yes, I write this blog, but I’ve also joined the hordes of humans who flood through the virtual gates of literary agents, picture book manuscripts waving wildly in the air. Heaven help me.
Why picture books
I’ve always loved picture books. I mean, always. I learned to read pretty early, and before that I memorized the books that my parents read to me. They would try to test me by switching a word here or there, and I’d be quick to correct them. (Ironically, my son does the same thing to me now when I try to summarize or skip sections of his books.) The stories of Frog and Toad, Amelia Bedelia, The Berenstain Bears, the Sweet Pickles series, and so many more are indelibly etched in my memory even today.
Picture books shape our early memories in a way that little else does. When I open my old books to read them to my kids now – even if I haven’t seen the book in over 35 years – the pictures and even the words come right back to me. You know what I’m talking about. It’s like meeting up with an old friend you haven’t seen in decades, but instead of putting on 30 pounds and growing a scraggly beard, they’ve remained completely as you remember them. I’d love to be part of forging childhood memories like these.
What I’ve Learned
I’ve been reading forever and writing nearly forever, but attempting to break into the world of publication is new for me. As I tend to do, I dove head-first into research, work, and involvement. There is still so much for me to learn, but I thought I’d make a little list of tips (in no particular order) that I’ve gleaned so far. If you’re not interested in publication, these can still be enlightening as you see what’s on the back end of picture books these days.
- Some subjects and styles are in vogue, and others are nearly blacklisted. If you write poetry or anything over 600 words, don’t hold your breath for publication. Also, the market is much more favorable to anything or anyone that was previously marginalized.
- No one wants poetry. And that’s a crying shame. Poetry has served humanity well for millennia, but the powers that be have decreed that rhyming picture books are out. I love writing poetry, so this is especially unfortunate for me.
- You have eight seconds to hook an agent with your query letter. Agents are inundated with emails from writers. Word on the street is that if your letter doesn’t stand out within eight seconds, you’re almost certain to get a form rejection. They won’t even look at your manuscript.
- There are lots of resources available. The market is more competitive, but sources of help are more abundant too. Online groups and in-person meetings offer a plethora of answers to all of your questions.
- Rejection is a huge part of the process. You’re probably going to get countless rejections before you find an agent or publisher who wants to join forces with you. And that’s ok.
- Feedback is essential. You get blind to your own work after a while, and you need outside eyes to see where you can improve. Join a critique group or three. It’s a great source of motivation, accountability, feedback, and encouragement.
- Credentials, accolades, and memberships matter. When you start to submit your work, even just in online contests, the people who do best tend to have stuff to brag about—winners of previous contests, participants in loads of groups, runners-up in several challenges. Enter everything, and be sure to list your awards in your queries.
- The more resources you can avail yourself of, the better. Join writer’s groups, attend conferences, watch webinars, listen to podcasts, read articles and books, and talk to other people in the craft. There’s too much to learn via any one source.
- Social media is an evil, but it’s a necessary one. Honestly, I don’t enjoy most aspects of social media, but it would be hard to make enough connections to other writers, agents, and editors without a Twitter account. For now, it’s still the place for writers to be.
- You probably won’t make money in this line of work. Between splitting fees with agents and illustrators, being in charge of marketing your own books, and the dauting cost (about $17!) of a hardcover picture book, you’re not looking at a lucrative day job until you’re pretty far down the publishing road.
- You’ll be your own marketing team. Publishers are more likely to consider you if you have a plan for selling loads of books: thousands of online followers waiting to purchase, multiple school visits set up, experience in marketing, an author website and mailing list in place… The more influence, the merrier.
- Not every idea deserves to be a published book. This idea was quite freeing for me. I’ve got lots of ideas and several polished manuscripts, but that doesn’t mean all of them should be published. I can keep the rocks and display the gems.
- Every failed manuscript is still progress. Even if some manuscripts never turn into published books, that’s still all right. Brainstorming, writing, and editing are always good practice.
What’s Next
All that information looks dauting when you read it consecutively, and I won’t lie—it’s daunting for me to think about too. I had pictured writing books as a pretty simple process: write something good, have an agent get it published for me, and let the books sell themselves while I work on my next idea. But success in this industry is all-consuming. Sheesh, even failure is all-consuming! So I’m doing what I can (not much) in the time I have (virtually none) and hoping it will add up to something worthwhile one of these days.
For now, I’ve joined some writing groups, gathered some critique partners, started to write a bit more often, joined Twitter, entered contests, and attended presentations and conferences. I plan to keep writing as many manuscripts as possible; continue pursuing training, critique, and contests; and waiting for the right agent to fall from the sky. If you have any other tips, feel free to leave them below or reach out to me. I’m all ears! Otherwise, next time you see a picture book, say a prayer for me as I continue on this crazy journey. Thank you, friends!
Harry Potter, Personally: Relationships 2
In our previous installment of “Harry Potter, Personally,” we looked at some of Harry’s friends and enemies. Today we get to look at the other side of relationships: drama and romance. No book set during the school years would be complete (or accurate) without an extra-large helping of jealousy, crushes, and heartbreak. Oh, joy.
To be fair, most of the Harry Potter books aren’t too heavy-handed in this department, but there’s still plenty to make an older reader cringe. Is it excruciating to re-live these kinds of experiences in a book because it’s been so long, or is it because it hasn’t been long enough? I’ll let you decide.
DRAMA
Family Drama
The series starts with Harry’s earliest and most recurring source of drama, the Dursleys. His horrid aunt and uncle and their spoiled son make Harry’s muggle life comically miserable. They make Harry wear his overweight cousin’s old clothes. They send him Christmas gifts like a solitary toothpick or an old tissue. They make him sleep with the spiders in the cupboard under the stairs. Their persnickety abhorrence for all things magical (including Harry) is a source of drama at the beginning and end of each book, but it’s not meant to be a weighty one.
Boy Drama
The drama between the Big Three—Harry, Ron, and Hermione—is much worse than Harry’s mistreatment at home. It’s less enjoyable to read, too, since most of it is boy drama. I don’t mean drama about boys, although there is a bit of that. I mean drama stemming from the boys. Hermione may get frazzled about homework and exams, but she’s not usually walking off in a petulant huff like the boys tend to do.
Ron’s Drama
In my opinion, Ron’s insecurity is the main source of drama in the series. He’s just too unsure of himself, and it leads to all kinds of conflict. He feel overshadowed as Harry’s poor, red-headed friend and can’t just man up and move on. Instead, he’s mad at Harry for seeming to enter the Triwizard Tournament without telling him, he’s insecure about his own lousy Quidditch skills when Harry is made captain of the team, and he’s jealous of Harry’s close friendship with Hermione. He’s also jealous when Hermione dates Viktor Krum, and he tries to make her jealous in return when he finally snags Lavender Brown as a girlfriend. All this is tedious to read, and it makes Ron one of my least favorite characters in the book.
Harry’s Drama
Harry is guilty of his fair share of drama, although it’s not nearly as bad as Ron’s. Harry is a bad friend for nearly a whole book because the connection between his mind and Voldemort’s is causing him to be irrationally angry. He also stoops to Ron’s level during the Triwizard Tournament, refusing to talk to Ron and confiding in Hermione instead. His tendency is also to isolate himself when there’s a dangerous job to do. While that’s noble, it’s also obnoxious. His friends want to help, and trying to leave them behind is only going to cause drama. But overall, Harry is pretty level-headed—a refreshing change compared with ol’ Ronald.
ROMANCE
A Few Flings
Hermione is the first member of the trio to spark someone’s romantic interest. In the fourth book, Viktor Krum singles her out during the Triwizard Tournament, asking her to the Yule Ball and even staying in touch with her after the year ends. In the end, she was never too serious about Krum, so they drift apart.
Harry is next on the romance train. He has a crush on Cho Chang during the fourth book, but he actually dates her in the fifth. Their relationship is awkward, fraught with drama, and short-lived—all of which is accurate for most high school relationships. He can’t fathom why she’s always an emotional basket case and doesn’t seem heartbroken when things don’t work out.
Ron is the last to attract a female. In the sixth book, Lavender Brown foists herself upon him, and Ron doesn’t object. Instead, he welcomes the chance to make Hermione jealous. He throws himself headlong into a superficial relationship with her until it becomes too sickening even for him. His goal of making Hermione jealous does succeed, though, and they gradually admit their attraction to each other. Which leads to my next complaint.
The “Real” Thing for Ron and Hermione
Rowling crafts a relationship between Ron and Hermione that is foreshadowed well and ends with a nice little bow in the epilogue. But…I mean…why? Speaking as someone who is 100% Hermione (all right, I’m 80% Hermione and 20% Luna), there is no way on earth or Hogwarts or anywhere else that Hermione would end up with Ron. If there’s one thing competence can’t stand, it’s whiny insecurity. Ron is irritable, defensive, self-conscious, and lazy—and he’s not even funny! If he had a great sense of humor like Fred and George, I could understand her attraction to him. But as it is, it’s too far-fetched.
And do you know what? When I researched it for this article, Rowling admitted it. In an interview, she said, “I wrote the Hermione/Ron relationship as a form of wish fulfillment. That’s how it was conceived, really. For reasons that have very little to do with literature and far more to do with me clinging to the plot as I first imagined it, Hermione ended up with Ron.” While that does make sense, it’s still a bummer because their relationship doesn’t ring true.
The “Real” Thing for Harry and Ginny
And, frankly, neither does Harry’s ending up with Ginny. I think it’s because of her whiplash-sudden character transformation in book five. Overnight she transforms from the shy, silent baby sister into an assertive, attractive prankster. She’s more interesting this way, but it doesn’t feel realistic to me. It feels like Rowling suddenly decided she wanted to stick Harry and Ginny together in the end but realized there was nothing at all interesting about Ginny. She fixed that, but not in a way that feels natural.
RANT OVER
While I do love the Harry Potter series as a whole, some of these relational issues are tedious for me to read. But, as I mention in a previous article, that’s all right because the intended audience is students, not adults. I’m sure most students would find the drama and romance accurate and entertaining. For me, there’s so much more to enjoy about Harry Potter that I can easily overlook these annoyances. Next time we’ll look at one of my favorite aspects of the series: heroism. Be sure to tune in for the final installment of “Harry Potter, Personally.”
The Cup: A Good Friday Meditation
On this Good Friday, I’ve chosen to re-post a poem I wrote for Past Watchful Dragons in 2018. Since I found it unfamiliar after five years, I thought it may be a bit fuzzy in your memory as well. Either way, meditating on Christ’s suffering is always helpful.
If you’re looking for even more Good Friday (and Easter) beauty, please check out my earlier post about Andrew Peterson’s “Resurrection Letters” albums. They’re deep, lovely, and so helpful in considering our humble, mighty Savior.
Have a blessed Easter, friends!
The Cup
the cup—
as deep as time, yet pre-creation filled
with anger, blood-thick, brimming,
breaking holy heart with plans for man—
cup-fillers—and for One, the Son,
who could not add a drop but did not stop
His dust-designing, Spirit-breathing,
choice-allowing plan to rescue
man.
the Man of Sorrows, Rescuer, foreplanned
Cup-Drinker, staggered by the thought of
fellowship lost with Father—brief eternity—
yearns for mercy, any other way to save
merciless murderers, friendless fiends who
scream for blood on wooden beams.
“Father, let this wrath-cup pass,
yet not My will…” the answer, only
silence.
willing, ready, joy-pursuing,
mercy-laden Lamb, Messiah, stands
and grasps with piercéd hands
the cup of wrath
alone.
then drinking down unmellowed fury,
staggering, certain, undeserving Sacrifice
sufficing holy plan’s demand by
quaffing final dregs and drops, ‘til
righteous wrath is satisfied with
“it is finished!”
my bitter drink exchanged for pain and blood.
His bloody death exchanged for mercy, free and full.
the Father’s mercy calls me, bids me daily look
inside the wrath-cup Christ took, drank, and drained—
forever
empty.
Harry Potter, Personally: Relationships Part 1
Fun fact: there are well over 700 characters in the Harry Potter series. Some sources tally it at 772 if you count those mentioned only once or twice. I’d love to see Rowling’s database for keeping all those characters straight.
In addition to the storyline, the characters are a big part of what makes the series enjoyable and relatable. Within that network of personalities there’s an abundance of friends, enemies, drama, and romance. I’ve split this post in half, so today we’ll talk about friends and enemies, and we’ll save drama and romance for next time. Want to know if our favorite characters match up? Read on!
FRIENDS
Character Growth
Rowling did a great job of keeping her characters distinct, consistent, and (apart from the magic) believable. One of the best parts of the series is seeing characters who grow and develop as the series progresses. My favorite example is Neville Longbottom. He starts as an insecure, bumbling first year, yet even then we see a hint of the bravery to come when he confronts Harry, Ron, and Hermione about a decision he considers reckless. As Neville grows, he remains abysmal at potions but finds that he’s good at herbology. He practices his spells harder than anyone else. By the end of the books we’re presented with a Neville who shows leadership, skill, loyalty, and courage.
I think his development is my favorite because it was gradual and well-foreshadowed. I’d contrast this with Ginny’s personality change in book five. I enjoyed her more in the later books, but it was hard to think of her as the same person. Maybe some character manipulation was required to make her the romantic interest she’d become.
Close Friends
Harry, Ron, and Hermione grow as well, but I wouldn’t necessarily say they change. They’re the same at the end as they are at the beginning, but more so. Hermione is smarter and more relatable but still a bit of a know-it-all. Ron is occasionally more confident but still pretty insecure. Harry is more determined and selfless, but he’s shown those qualities all along. While the Big Three don’t have dramatic character shifts like Neville or Ginny, I think their consistency is even more believable.
Harry’s best friends are Ron and Hermione, of course, but his friend set expands with the inception of Dumbledore’s Army. It’s a nice change when the books begin including Luna, Neville, and the rest of the DA in the action, partly because we get to see Harry work in a team and grapple with more group-related issues. From a literary standpoint, this keeps the books from feeling repetitive or stagnant. Well done, Rowling.
Mentors
While Harry has loads of teachers, he has only a few mentors. Remus Lupin is a patient teacher and a wise counselor. His level-headed, unassuming nature is a good balance for Harry’s fear and confusion. Sirius Black is a father (and brother) figure to Harry—something that Harry desperately wants. While he may not have been the ideal role model for Harry, Sirius still acts as an anchor and a reference point even after he’s gone. Harry’s greatest mentor is Dumbledore, of course, but I’m saving my thoughts about him for the next section.
My Favorite Characters
Of all the hundreds of characters to choose from, I have three very clear favorites. First is Harry’s most important influence, Albus Dumbledore. I absolutely love him. His polite deference even to enemies, his understated sarcasm and wit, his gentle tone and selflessness, his weakness for candies—I could go on. He is so well-written. (And yes, of course I consider the movies’ replacement Dumbledore to be a travesty.) Suffice it to say, Albus was one of the most enjoyable characters to read and one of the hardest to let go of. Even though the last book casts aspersions on his motives and choices, I think the ending justifies him. It shows him to be imperfect but humble enough to admit it and apologize to Harry. We all need mentors like Dumbledore.
But at the very top of my favorites is the dynamic duo of Fred and George Weasley, the twins who are always up to no good. No one beats their humor, mischief, comedic timing, fierce loyalty, and overall energy. Their replies are hilarious, and their schemes are so gutsy. They know they’re poor, but it doesn’t eat at them like it does Ron. They make friends, play Quidditch, ask out girls, wreak havoc, and start up a joke shop with complete aplomb. The movies could never do them justice without quadrupling their screen time. I wish I could read seven books about just the twins and their capers. Frankly, I’m not sure I’ve forgiven Rowling for how she treated them in the end.
ENEMIES
Small Fries
Harry has plenty of friends, but he’s got just as many enemies. Dudley and the rest of the Dursleys are a constant thorn in Harry’s side at the beginning of every book. Their neglect and mistreatment of him shape him into the tolerant, resilient boy he becomes, but there’s no doubt the Dursleys belong in the enemy category.
The animosity between Harry and Draco Malfoy is a big deal at the beginning of the series, too. Draco is more sophisticated than Dudley (really, a rock would be more sophisticated than Dudley), but he’s equally spiteful. Draco is always looking for ways to make Harry look bad or to humiliate Ron and Hermione. This tension intensifies throughout the series, but as Harry grows, so do his enemies.
Big Fish
One of Harry’s bigger problems comes from Severus Snape. The potions master loathes Harry from the beginning, and his constant needling must have felt like having a wicked, powerful Uncle Vernon at school. I know the end is supposed to justify him and transform our perspective on his motivations, but quite frankly it wasn’t enough for me. Nothing could excuse his behavior toward Harry. Yes, Snape was talented, mistreated, and brave, but he was nevertheless a jerk. You won’t catch me wearing any “Always” merch.
And finally, Harry’s greatest enemy: Voldemort. From the time he was a year old, Harry was marked out by Voldemort as a target and a threat. A couple of the books don’t revolve around Voldemort’s ascension, but most do. As the plot thickens in the last three books, Harry realizes that his fate is inextricably linked with the Dark Lord’s. He goes through the various stages of grief, finally arriving at acceptance. In the end, it’s Harry who has the more powerful weapon: love. A bit cheesy, perhaps, but still good for kids to read.
The Last Enemy
On the tombstone of Harry’s parents is the Bible verse, “The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” There are enemies to be fought, evil to expose and overcome, and yet the last enemy will always be death. Rowling’s incorporation of this theme is powerful and yet lacking the full depth of the truth. Sadly, you’ll have to wait until the final post for more thoughts on that because I’m signing off for today.
Mischief managed.
Harry Potter, Personally: Storyline
How much of the full series’ plot did J.K. Rowling have in mind when she first began writing Harry Potter? Quite a bit, from what I’ve read. Even so, I’m sure the storyline progressed as she went along. That’s a lot of planning and a lot of work! What makes these stories so readable (and re-readable) despite some common concerns about them? Read on to find out.
Creative, yet Relatable
“Harry’s Wonderous World” isn’t just the name of an iconic bit of film score by John Williams. (By the way, can we admit that the Harry Potter movies would be a mere fraction of their current coolness if Williams hadn’t written the themes for the first several films?) “Wonderous” is a description of the world Harry finds himself part of on his eleventh birthday. Different powers, places, creatures, currency—everything is new and fantastic. He goes to school in a castle, learns to use a magic wand, encounters mythical creatures, and hunts down the most notorious villain of the age. Seems a far cry from our reality, doesn’t it?
But a story that was completely unrelatable would be too discombobulating to read. We’d feel adrift in a sea of confusion. All the best books, even those with wild settings and fanciful beings, have relatable elements. Sure, Bilbo is a hobbit, but we relate to his desire for comfort and safety. Yes, Jabba is a Hutt, but he’s also like every other mobster bully. And Harry’s wonderous world is still a world of school assignments, hormonal angst, and relational drama.
Familiar Rhythms and Relationships
When I read the books, I feel nostalgic thinking about the rhythms of a school year. I love the beginning-of-term orientation, spooky Halloween celebrations, cozy Christmas breaks, pre-exam jitters, and end-of-year relief. Despite the magical setting, readers are sure to see themselves at Hogwarts because of its familiar school calendar.
In addition to the schedule, the relationships also feel relatable. The books aren’t “girly” by any means, but I found them to be replete with crushes, secrets, jealousy, an fights. Honestly, those parts of the story are hard for me to enjoy as an adult, but that’s ok. Adults aren’t the primary audience. While I was never too dramatic even as a student (a fact for which my parents have remained grateful), the books’ drama probably would have been more tolerable a few decades ago. But regardless of enjoyment, the relational dynamics mostly ring true to a student’s experience. And, to make up for the crushes and such, the books also feature training in magic, figuring out clues, learning practical skills, monsters, gross humor, and plenty of fighting. There’s something for everyone.
Standalone Books in a Series
Even if you haven’t read the books or watched the movies, you probably know the gist of the story. Harry, a seemingly-ordinary boy, discovers that he’s actually a wizard. He goes to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where he learns more about magic, his own past, and Voldemort, the evil wizard who killed his parents and tried to kill Harry as a baby. Each book could be a standalone story with its own crisis and resolution, but they’re obviously intended to be part of a series, and not finishing will leave you with unanswered questions.
At the beginning of each book, Rowling refreshes the reader’s memory about the characters, places, and previous context. While thorough recaps are actually one of my pet peeves (like preparing for a test only to have the teacher announce that it’s open book), I can see why she did it. The books were published with anywhere from one to three years between, so readers may have gotten fuzzy on some of the details. Kids who want to grow along with Harry by reading one book per year will benefit from the recaps too.
The books are structured like 6 separate battles that culminate in one final battle to end the war. After readers have followed Harry and his friends through the books, they will agonize over the choices and outcomes in the end. But after finishing the last page, I bet they’ll be tempted to reach for The Sorcerer’s Stone and experience it all over again.
Part of a Bigger Story
So why, despite the fact that the series is over 4,000 pages long, have so many people read these books over and over? For many reasons, but I’ll just suggest two. First, we like Harry because he’s a nice, relatable guy. He’s just an average kid—an underdog, really. Instead of letting fame go to his head, he chooses to associate with other underdogs. He consistently chooses what’s right over what’s easy, but he doesn’t do it in a priggish sort of way. He cares about others and does what he can to protect them, even when it costs him everything. He’s got a great friend set, too, which makes the books fun to read.
Second, we all want to feel like we’re part of a bigger story, and Harry Potter offers this to us. “What the fascination with Harry Potter really illustrates,” writes Chuck Colson, “is what C. S. Lewis meant by Sehnsucht—the longing for the mysterious, the wonderful, the other-worldly that our daily experience does not satisfy.” While Rowling wrote the Harry Potter series with the Christian storyline in mind, I wouldn’t classify them as Christian books. But they can sharpen a desire for books that are, like Narnia, The Lord of the Rings, and The Princess and the Goblin. Christian books like this “not only recognize this yearning for wonder and magic,” Colson continues, “they also reflect a well-developed understanding of the majesty and mystery of God.” While Harry Potter can be fun and even edifying, it can also be a door into more valuable literature—books that not only pique the longing for the eternal but point readers to the longing’s Satisfaction as well. Enjoy Harry, but for heaven’s sake, don’t stop there. Reach for Lewis next.
Next time we’ll look at what makes Harry Potter’s characters so special, so don’t miss out!
Harry Potter, Personally: Concerns
Some people feel convinced that Harry Potter is a satanic series. Others see Christian themes and symbolism woven throughout the books. The majority of Potterheads, however, just enjoy them as good stories.
Wherever you fall on this spectrum, please bear in mind that I’m not out to convince you one way or the other. I’m not getting commission from Rowling (I wish) or from anyone else. I’m just sharing my opinions about what makes the books great and even edifying for me. If you’re not comfortable reading the series for whatever reason, I give you my full blessing to skip the next few blog posts and the whole Harry Potter series. A life without Harry can still be a life well lived. (Please note I would not say the same about a life bereft of Lewis and Tolkien.)
So, without further ado, let’s look at a few common concerns about Harry Potter.
“Harry Potter is written by a real witch.”
As far as I can tell, Rowling isn’t a witch, Wiccan, Satanist, occultist, or anything else creepy. Actually, she’s a member of the Church of Scotland, a branch of reformed Protestantism. When asked, she identifies herself as a Christian. She regularly attended her local church while writing the series and ensured her daughter was baptized into the church. I don’t know if she still attends church regularly, but I doubt that she’s joined a Satanist cult since then either.
Does all this make her a born-again, Bible-believing, Jesus-loving Christ follower? Not necessarily. Jesus says that the way to heaven is by repenting of our sinful hearts and accepting his perfect life and forgiveness on our behalf. The fruit of this is a life that reflects the truth of the Bible and the love of God. Anyone who has experienced this is a true Christ follower, including J.K. Rowling. Anyone whose life does not reflect these realities has not yet come to know Christ, including J.K. Rowling. But to answer the question of whether she’s an actual witch, I think the evidence points to a resounding, “No.”
“Harry Potter promotes witchcraft.”
Rowling may not be a witch, but do her books promote witchcraft? This is tricky because I believe it depends more on the reader than the books. Some people are more susceptible to the draw of the occult than others are. While one person could read the series and come away with no desire to dabble in magic, another person could have their curiosity sparked as a result of what they read. Believe it or not, C.S. Lewis knew his own propensity toward the occult and chose his entertainment accordingly. It’s a mark of maturity to recognize your weaknesses and avoid your triggers. That’s why I don’t work at Krispy Kreme.
But in general, the magic in Harry Potter is not the same as witchcraft. Christian thinker Charles Colson clarified that the magic in the books is “purely mechanical, as opposed to occultic. That is, Harry and his friends cast spells, read crystal balls, and turn themselves into animals—but they don’t make contact with a supernatural world.”
Mechanical versus Occult Magic
This distinction is important. Real occultists have no power of their own but must tap into the demon world. Remember the story of Doctor Faustus from the mid-1500’s? Faustus sells his soul to Satan in exchange for 24 years of power on earth. He does have fun, but in the end he’s completely wretched when Satan drags him down to hell. Creepy? Sure. Instructive? Definitely. My point is that even the presence of real satanic forces doesn’t make this story dangerous because the theme is, “Don’t be a short-sighted idiot like Faustus.” Generally speaking, theme trumps content.
On the other hand, there’s plenty of modern entertainment that crosses the line between “mechanical magic” and actual evil. Personally, I think Marvel’s Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness is one example. Sorcery, witches, dark magic, possessions, and gore are used by the good and bad guys alike. Even the first Sherlock Holmes movie shows satanic rituals enacted by the villain and reenacted by Holmes himself, although they’re not portrayed as great life choices. In contrast, the magic in Harry Potter is portrayed as a skill that some are born with and others aren’t. Those born magical can practice to get better, but even the bad guys aren’t powered by demons. Rowling keeps a clear line between good and evil, showing good to be admirable and evil to be miserable. That’s one trait of good literature.
“Harry Potter is too mature for kids.”
With certain caveats, I would agree that Harry Potter is too mature for kids. Again, it depends on the book and the kid. The first three books, while definitely including intense moments and unsettling situations, seem appropriate for a mentally- and emotionally-mature tween or young teen. Beginning with the fourth book, however, the plot takes a mature turn and continues that way for the rest of the series. Each book portrays increasing loss, peril, and darkness.
So while the first few books may be appropriate for a tween, I wouldn’t say the same for the last three or four. A good rule of thumb is to read the books when you’re the same age as Harry. The series begins when Harry turns 11, and each successive book takes place the following year, concluding when Harry is 17. A mature 11-year-old could enjoy Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, but he should wait to read The Chamber of Secrets until he’s 12 and The Prisoner of Azkaban when he’s 13, and so on. That plan would take a lot of will power for an avid reader, but I still think it’s wise.
“Harry Potter isn’t right for my kids.”
Now this is a valid argument, and it’s what I’ve been driving at throughout this post. Just as it’s unfair to say the books are bad for everyone, it’s equally wrong to say they’re healthy for everyone. If you’re a parent who has genuinely done the research about the books and has considered the maturity and tendency of your child, then you’re fully equipped to make this decision. There are thousands of books that are as good as or better than Harry Potter that can help your child thrive. Potter isn’t a necessity.
So will I let my own kids read the books? Not for a while since they’re still toddlers, but hopefully some day we can read them together, enjoy the stories, and have great discussions. My husband and I want to raise our kids to love Jesus, seek truth in the Bible, and evaluate all of life in light of what God says. I hope they’ll grow into kids, teens, and adults who can ask themselves good questions about what they encounter in Harry Potter and all of life. “Is this true? Does this please God? Does this make me more like Jesus? What are some mistakes and false beliefs I can learn from and avoid in my own life?” These are questions we should all be asking ourselves on a regular basis.
I hope you found this post helpful. Make sure to join me next time as I discuss the storyline of Harry Potter and why the story resonates so deeply with so many. Until then, brush up on the books to avoid any spoilers!
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