To what extent is Harry Potter a type of Christ?

Question

The chosen one, the boy who lived against high odds, the leader of a band of rag-tag disciples, one who refuses the temptation to use the killing curse - and what about the Godric's Hollow war memorial that momentarily transforms into a holy family nativity scene on Christmas Eve?

Thanks to Vintage Photographs for all the interesting parallels !

Answer 1

Are you trying to Link Harry Potter series with the Narnia Series?

TW K

Answer 2

It's a far stretch to seriously link Potter with Christ but what I think you might be noticing is, "The Hero's Journey" elements of mythology. I am not saying the accounts of Christ are myths by any means, nor am I saying that Rowling was thinking about Christ when she wrote Potter. What I am saying is that there are certain elements inherent in every human being's life. (If we would take an honest look at our own lives we would find these elements in our lives as well, at least to a lesser degree.) Sometimes those elements reach epic proportions either through great trials, or, in the case of a fictional character, the author is aware of the need for those same elements to be in his or her character's life so that the reader may identify with the character.
Here is a partial list of those necessary life/story elements.
1. The call to adventure.
2. Refusal to answer the call.
3.Crossing the threshold (willingly or unwillingly)
4. The belly of the whale.
5. Meeting the temptress (not always a woman)
6. Meeting the Father (think Darth Vadar, not Ozzie Nelson)
7.Facing the test
8. Finding the prize, answer, etc
9. The return to the known world (bringing back the prize)
10.Sharing the prize.
This is just a quick, general list and it is not complete nor detailed but I hope it helps you a bit.
Rowling either knew these elements or stumbled upon them.
Her writing is not the best but the storyline and story elements work so that some of her readers are willing to overlook the roughness of her writing.
If you'd like more info on "The Hero's Journey" then get the book, The Hero of A Thousand Faces, from your local library.
If they don't have it, and they should, they can get it for you through interlibrary loan.

Answer 3

As Vintage Photographs illustrates so clearly, OF COURSE Harry Potter is a Christ figure, as was BILLY BUDD, and THE IDIOT, and the Lion in the Narnia books (I've heard) and countless other protagonists in countless other books. I think even Lestat the Vampire has some of the elements, but i've forgotten too much to cite anything. Even as a non-Christian, I have learned a lot about Chrisitanity from English classes, because this kind of this is common and pervasive. One learns to watch for moms named Mary, the persecution of unusually innocent or virtuous young attractive men, people taking shelter in barns, groups of three bringing gifts to the young, fish dinners, etc., ad nauseum.

And Christ in turn is a variation on the Hero, as also pointed out above. A Periclean Greek person would, instead refer to Christ in literature as an Apollo-like figure. These are all symbolic figures that speak to something deep and essential in the psychology of all human beings. Really, it's that psychology that gives these figures a lot of their importance in the first place.

And there is NO WAY that the author was unaware of it because she was not in a deep hypnotic trance virtually unconscious when she wrote.

Answer 4

I agree that Harry Potter fills many of the requirements for a Christ-type. A lot of the answers are looking at it from a different perspective than I do. They are seeing how Harry is not living up to Jesus's level. Harry is a completely human, and therefore flawed, being. Many people in literature and real life have those characteristics of being self-sacrificing, a leader of people in the cause of good, facing evil head-on, etc. They do good things and they also reveal their weaknesses. Jesus was perfect and we are not, but we can still look at what people do and appreciate that "Christ-likeness".
Tolkien used a number of his characters that way, so we see the characteristics of Christ as well as their flawed nature. Frodo, although he was dedicated to carrying the ring to get rid of it, was continually tempted by it, to the point of turning on his friends.

Answer 5

To add to what others have already said, Harry's "dying" for the others kept them from being hurt (reference the scene in the Deathly Hallows book where Harry and Voldemort meet, at last, in the Great Hall, around page 735 or so). Harry points out that the work of Voldemort's Death Eaters and their dark magic could not hurt the others. But, as Bellatrix's demise shows, the evil characters are wholly unprotected by Harry's sacrifice. This is very Christian in ideals. Those who believe in Jesus are thusly protected by His death, His great act of selfless love.

Answer 6

I cannot even consider H. P. as a type of Christ. I read the first 6 books all in about 9 days. I found all the books very dark and depressing at times. He may have been the hero and focus of the books, but He bears little resemblance to Jesus Christ. In particular, I found his resentment/hatred of his enemies very far off compared to Jesus.

Many of the themes you mentioned are found commonly in books. They all make for intertaining and interesting literature. If you wish to find types of Christ in literature you might want to look at Frodo Baggins in the L O T R trilogy.

I'm not trying to disrespect H. Potter. I just cannot find in him much similarity to the Jesus Christ I worship!!!

Answer 7

They are both saviors. Christ is the savior of mankind while Harry Potter is a savior of the wizard world. At one point in their life, the very people they live with didn't believe them. But JK Rowling I believe didn't do this on purpose.

Answer 8

He is the Savior of the Wizarding word. He was resurrected. He sacrificed himself for wizard kind.

Answer 9

I doubt very much that JK Rowling created the Harry Potter books as some of sort of Christian allegory. What purpose would it serve? Having said that, the surroundiong culture of the UK is predominantly Christian, so some of that may have influenced the general milieu of her novels.

Answer 10

Unless Harry dies for the good of others like a martyr, I don't find him very Christlike. He's a good hero archetype who is self-sacrificing, but I've never seen any strong resemblance to Jesus in him.