On the surface, the Harry Potter novels simply follow the coming of age story of a young boy named Harry Potter who comes to discover that he is not only a wizard, but also the only person to ever survive the dreaded curse of the evil Lord Voldemort. A closer look reveals a very prominent and epic theme of good vs. evil that is central to the plot of all the novels. Unlike other characters in young adult fiction, Harry and his friends must deal with not only the everyday struggles of good and evil when dealing with issues such as bullies, but also must face a good vs. evil struggle of biblical proportions when facing down Lord Voldemort, the ultimate evil.
To most readers, the Harry Potter novels deal very little with any religious messages, yet the theme of good vs. evil is one of the most fundamental themes present in Christian teachings. The most obvious of these being the ultimate good vs. evil struggle that is said to occur between God and the Devil. This epic struggle is mirrored within the series with Harry and his friends, the ultimate good, facing Voldemort and his followers, the ultimate evil. The religious aspect of a good vs. evil struggle are also transferred to the Harry Potter novels using religious symbolism as a means to emphasize a character or groups good or evil tendencies. |
