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Harry Potter Mythology

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Harry Potter Mythology

Throughout the Harry Potter series, the protagonist title role learns and develops

independence by carefully choosing which battles to fight depending on whether something is

good or evil. There are elements of horror and comedy storytelling in this narrative, and Harry is

depicted in situations where he must decide whether or not to return to the school of wizardry. In

the magical world, he is cast as a reluctant hero in the struggle against evil (Moosavinia, 2018).

The plot of Harry Potter emphasizes the importance of moral development by emphasizing

several scenarios in which the characters must select the morally right path to combat the evil

spell cast by other characters to win the battle. For Harry Potter to develop a sense of morality

and rely on ethical principles when making decisions, he must first learn to apply moral

reasoning.

Harry Potter series author J.K. Rowling emphasizes the topic of moral reasoning

throughout the novel, and this is especially true when the characters are required to operate as a

team. For example, while playing Quidditch at the wizardry school, the students described in the

story are divided into streams, and then they work together as teams as they compete, and the

schools that gain the greatest points are acknowledged for their efforts (Haritwal, 2021). The

justification for emphasizing cooperation is that it helps people learn about moral responsibility

as they work together to support competition and positive social behaviors while also learning

about themselves. They become more conscious of their responsibilities as members of society.

Emphasizing equal involvement of students in education and communal accountability spurred

people to develop into responsible members of society. Since humans can integrate moral

reasoning into their decision-making, it is reasonable to conclude that the social environment

impacts how they make decisions.

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Moral growth is related to the process when people grow from being egotistical and

selfish to more socially responsible persons. As people progress through the phases of

development, they demonstrate varying levels of moral thinking. For example, Harry Potter, who

is considered to have the highest level of moral reasoning among his contemporaries, is

exemplified by his activities, which include focusing on fair procedures that respect social rights

and how his judgments will affect individuals’ characters. For example, Harry worked hard to

make sure that the learning environment was appropriate for all kids, even if it meant putting his

life on the line to do so in order to do so.

When it comes to the development of moral notions in children, the characters of Harry

Potter and his companions and Professor Dumbledore reflect the ideas that children pick up from

their environment and make decisions based on morality and what they have internalized. In

addition, as they grow and mature, the boys become more conscientious in their decision-making

because ethical values guide them. The series depicts various facets of their development and

even considers social justice. In order to distinguish between good and bad characters, Rowling

contrasts their behaviour and actions when they are confronted with similar issues. Other

characters, including Voldemort and Draco Malfoy, are evil, and comparing and contrasting the

various characters’ decisions reveals that Harry has gone through several stages of moral

maturation.

Incredibly, mythology plays such a significant part in the entertainment business. Many

prominent mythologies include stories of gods with extraordinary powers, so it should come as

no surprise that such myths have impacted literature, film, television, and other forms of media.

These films and books are based on mythology, while others establish subtle parallels to
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mythology to make the piece more pleasant. The narrative of Hercules, the Greek demigod, is

one of the most well-known in history.

Hercules is the son of Zeus and Alcmena, a mortal woman who was also the wife of

Amphitryon at the time of his birth. Hercules was the son of Zeus, the all-powerful god of the

sky and thunder and the ruler of all other gods; as a result, Hercules was a target for evil because

he was the son of the king (Vehkomäki, 2020). Harry’s youth was comparable in that his parents

were well-known and brilliant wizards/witches, similar to Harry’s childhood. When Hagrid

informed Harry that his parents were well-known and that he was likewise well-known, Harry

could not believe what he was hearing. The young Harry Potter had accomplished the seemingly

impossible as a child: he had survived a confrontation with the terrible and powerful Lord

Voldemort, which had left him with a permanently scarred forehead.

The Greek hero Hercules likewise accomplished the seemingly impossible. However, he

used his hands to choke the creatures”. Even though Harry and Hercules were supposed to die at

an early age, they could survive because of their extraordinary abilities (Basir, 2019). They are

also targeted as a result of the notoriety of their parents. Harry’s life is shaped by the presence of

a very strong yet friendly wizard and witch. He is well aware that he will almost certainly have

to confront Lord Voldemort in the future. Hercules says about Zeus, who resides in the shadow

of Hercules.

In addition to the supernatural talents inherited from their parents, both Harry Potter and

Hercules possess extraordinary physical abilities. Hercules has possessed extraordinary abilities

since he was a child. When he was a child, he “killed a lion with his bare hands,” according to

him. In recognition of his achievement, he donned the skin of the lion and its head as a helmet as

a memento of his journey. Following that, the hero defeated a tribe that had been demanding
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tribute from Thebes for years. For his efforts, he was awarded the hand of the Theban princess

Megara, with whom he had three children”. Harry’s childhood follows a pattern that is similar to

this one. Since he was a child, Harry has consistently been held responsible for the strange events

throughout his life. Instead of being able to control his magical abilities, Harry was completely

unaware of his abilities until after the events of Hercules’ death. When Harry was younger, he

would experience supernatural occurrences when he became angry or enthusiastic.

With his abilities, he could conceal himself in unusual locations to avoid being bullied

by his cousin Dudely and his companion. While Harry was not celebrated for his powers in the

same way that Hercules was, he was often punished for them. They are also comparable in terms

of the preparation they make for their fates (Rowling, 2000). After Hercules murdered his wife

and children, “the oracle at Delphi advised him to purify himself by becoming the servant of his

cousin Eurystheus, king of Mycenae,” according to the story. As an act of penance, Eurystheus

created the 12 onerous tasks known as the “Labors of Hercules,” which were encouraged by

Hera”. Harry has not killed anyone, but he will be required to attend school for seven years to

learn how to control his supernatural abilities. Harry, like Hercules, is required to execute

arduous tasks that necessitate the use of his extraordinary skills. Hercules must fulfil perilous

undertakings in order to live the life that was predestined for him or her.

Hercules demonstrates that he is a remarkable individual by undertaking things that

would be impossible for many gods to complete. Harry, like Hercules, accomplished something

that no other human, witch, or wizard had ever accomplished before. When Harry Potter was a

newborn, he narrowly escaped an attack by Lord Voldemort, who was on the prowl. According

to legend, anybody who has ever fought Lord Voldemort has been killed; Harry, on the other

hand, was the sole exception (Haritwal, 2021). He had to slay a tremendously powerful lion as
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his first “difficult job,” and Hercules was determined to complete it no matter what. As may be

expected, this celestial creature possessed special abilities...” It is said in the quote that Hercules’

father Zeus has battled that lion in the past, which is analogous to the conflict between Lord

Voldemort and Harry Potter’s parents. In addition, the quotation claims that the lion has divine

powers similar to those possessed by Lord Voldemort. Another possibility is that the conflict

between the lion and Hercules foreshadows a future confrontation between Harry Potter and

Lord Voldemort.

Any reader can assume that Harry Potter will grow in power to the point where he can

defeat Lord Voldemort. When comparing the conflict between Harry and Lord Voldemort, and

all of the difficult training he would have had to go through, it is easy to see how it would

compare to Hercules’ twelve labors. Because of the wonderful and odd stories contained within

each sort of mythology, this serves to demonstrate that mythology has a tremendous influence

over various platforms in pop culture.

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References

Moosavinia, S. R. (2018). GREEK MYTHOLOGY IN JK ROWLING’S HARRY POTTER

AND THE SORCERER’S STONE. SARJANA, 33(1), 33-39.

Haritwal, B. (2021). The Role of Myth and Realism in Harry Potter. Motifs: A Peer Reviewed

International Journal of English Studies, 7(si), 139-146.

Vehkomäki, A. (2020). Mythological archetypes in the Legendarium of JRR Tolkien and JK

Rowling’s Harry Potter series.

Rowling, J. K. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: Canada: Raincoast Books, 2000. Print.

Basir, Y. (2019). Mythological Intertextuality in “Harry Potter and The Cursed Child” Special

Rehearsal Edition (Doctoral dissertation, Universitas Islam Negeri Alauddin Makassar).

Haritwal, B. (2021). The Role of Myth and Realism in Harry Potter. Motifs: A Peer Reviewed

International Journal of English Studies, 7(si), 139-146.