Volu m e II - Purdue University Calumet

Over the seven novels, Harry grows into his role as the savior of the Wizarding World until he climactically
sacrifices himself in the image of Jesus Christ.
Throughout her series, Rowling highlights the similarities between Harry and Voldemort. Both
boys were orphans who were raised by muggles, both speak Parseltongue, and both wish to ensure that “the
last enemy that shall be destroyed is death” (DH 328). Harry fears the message on his parents’ grave is the
Death Eater’s motto, but his journey throughout the final novel illustrates the biblical meaning behind the
quotation. Unlike Voldemort, Harry never strives for immortality despite the many deaths in his short life.
Rowling proves this in her first novel when Harry can retrieve the sorcerer’s stone because he wishes only
to find it, not to use it. At the mere age of eleven, Harry understands better than the adult Voldemort that
“to the well-organized mind death is but the next great adventure” (SS 297). Through this admirable
attitude toward death, Rowling depicts Harry as the Wizarding World’s savior and the Master of Death.
Harry’s journey to Christ figure begins with his birth and early childhood. Harry’s and Christ’s
births are both prophesied, and both are nearly killed because of this prophesy. In Christ’s case, the Old
Testament clearly prophesizes his birth in the Gospel of Luke: “For unto you is born this day in the city of
David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2.11). The birth of Christ caught the attention of King
Herod who, afraid for his kingdom, sought to kill the baby before the prophecies could be fulfilled.
Luckily, the Holy Family were able to flee to Egypt and avoid the slaughter of all male toddlers,
unknowingly fulfilling the prophecies that God would call his son from Egypt and that Jesus would be
known as a Nazarene (Matt. 2.3-23).
Like Christ’s, Harry’s birth is prophesied:
The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches…Born to those who have
thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies…and the Dark Lord will mark him as his
equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not…and either must die at the hand
of the other, for neither can live while the other survives. (OotP 841)
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