Harry and Voldemort
Harry and Voldemort are
fighting on opposite sides of the battle for good and evil in the Wizarding
World. Despite Harry and Voldemort’s differences in allegiances, they have a
lot in common with one another. However,
they also have important differences that set them apart, making Harry a hero
and Voldemort a villain. Rowling highlights these similarities and difference
that show Harry and Voldemort as opposite sides of the same coin.
Both Harry and Voldemort
are famous for being powerful wizards. Voldemort is a powerful dark wizard whose
power is feared by wizards across the Wizarding World. Harry’s power is more mysterious since no one
knows exactly how he survived and weakened Voldemort as a baby, but whatever
power he had is greatly admired and celebrated by other wizards. Just the mention of Harry or Voldemort’s name
seems to have power to it. Voldemort is
so feared by the other wizards that most of them refer to him as You-Know-Who
or He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Dumbledore
comments of the absurdity of not using his true name, “All this You-Know-Who
nonsense- foe eleven years I have been trying to persuade people to call him by
his proper name: Voldemort” (11). This
statement is enough to make Professor McGonagall flinch. Even though avoiding using Voldemort’s name
might seem silly or odd, just the mention of his name instills fear in the hearts
of many wizards. Harry’s name similarly carries
a lot of weight and emotion for most wizards.
Harry is the “chosen one,” or “the boy who lived.” When Harry comes into
the Leaky Cauldron he is greeted with shock, awe, and admiration from the
wizards there. The bar tender says, “Good Lord,…is this- can it be-?” followed
by, “Bless my soul… Harry Potter… what an honor” (69). The bar tender can not
believe it is really Harry Potter. He
rushed up to meet him and shake his hand with tears in his eyes. Every wizard is so grateful to Harry, that just
seeing him, or even hearing his name gives them a sense of happiness and appreciation.
Harry and Voldemort also
share similar wands. A wizard’s wand is a unique part of the wizard and no two
are the same, however Mr. Ollivander is surprised by the similarity between
Harry and Voldemort’s wands. He says, “It just so happens that the phoenix whose
tail feather is in your wand, gave another feather- just one other. It is very curious indeed that you should be
destined for this wand when its brother- gave you that scar” (85). Once again Harry and Voldemort become more
connected as the story progresses. Mr.
Ollivander leaves Harry with a chilling thought, “I think we must expect great
things from you, Mr. Potter… After all, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great
things- terrible, yes, but great” (85).
This is an important note because is explains that people can be forces
of greatness both for good and evil.
Harry has the potential to be a great wizard by following in Voldemort’s
footsteps and becoming a dark wizard, or by standing up for what is right and
becoming a powerful force for good in the Wizarding World.
The similarities and differences
between Harry and Voldemort are an important part of the novel. Rowling shows us that there are two sides to
every conflict, and the power to do great good or great evil is inside each of
us.
You make strong arguments about the similarities and differences Rowling highlights between Harry and Voldemort. That they are similar in their notoriety/fame is something I never picked up on before, but the connection between Harry and Voldemort is undeniable. While this becomes even more important in later books in the series, it is first established in the Sorcerer’s Stone. When Voldemort goes to the Forbidden Forest at the same time Harry is there, Harry feels a pain “like he’d never felt before... it was as though his scar were on fire” (Rowling 256). That part of Voldemort lives within Harry is no coincidence, but a conscious decision by Rowling to show just how similar and connected to one another Harry and Voldemort are.
ReplyDeleteThere is a careful balance between good and evil that Rowling emphasizes through Harry and Voldemort’s characters. With all of the similarities between them that you mentioned, it would be easy for Harry to become as power hungry as Voldemort and other dark wizards. What differs between them, most significantly, is that Harry uses his fame for good, and disagrees with the idea that “there is only power, and those too weak to see it” (291). This is a testament to Harry’s character, and he is rewarded for his beliefs and actions when he prevails over Voldemort at the end of the series.
J.K Rowling not only develops the good and evil theme between Harry and Voldemort, but also between Harry and Dudley, and between Harry and Draco Malfoy.
ReplyDeleteRowling reveals that growing up good or evil is differentiated by the upbringing. Harry lives underneath the staircase in the Dursley house and has few things to call his own. Dudley, however, is raised like a spoiled pig. Dudley even gets upset when he doesn’t get enough birthday presents, complaining, “Thirty-six…That’s two less than last year” (Rowling 21). Rowling explains with the foil between these two characters that a humble but kind upbringing must be implemented to raise a healthy, happy child.
Draco Malfoy plays a similar role as Dudley does, but Malfoy does so in the wizarding world. Just like Dudley, Draco has a sense of flawed entitlement that Harry does not. When Harry first meets Draco, he makes fun of Ron and says to Harry “You’ll soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don’t want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there” (Rowling 108). The Potters and Malfoys are powerful wizarding families, but the difference between Draco and Harry comes in their upbringing. Harry was not raised to treat others by their status; Harry learned to respect people based on their character.
Harry’s interactions between Dudley and Draco exemplify that being good or being evil rests solely on one’s upbringing and interactions with others.