Volu m e II - Purdue University Calumet

in the forest, Rowling shows that Harry experiences the same type of doubts that Christ does in the Garden.
Harry, like Christ, is comforted by messengers from the beyond and is able to accept his death with a
Christ-like dignity.
Though Harry‟s death is admittedly easier than Christ‟s, the important point is neither Harry nor
Christ attempt to defend themselves. Instead they willingly sacrifice themselves to save their respective
worlds. Interestingly blood and love play important roles in the defeat of death in both Rowling‟s series
and the Bible. Harry is not truly killed when Voldemort casts the killing curse at the end of Deathly Hallows
because Voldemort‟s satanic use of Harry‟s blood in Goblet of Fire made it possible to destroy the bit of his
soul in Harry while “[tethering Harry] to life while he lives” (DH 709). Since Lily‟s sacrifice lives on in her
blood and her blood runs in Harry‟s veins, Harry survives Voldemort‟s curse because his mother‟s love is
alive in his would-be murderer. Blood as a form of protection “echoes in story form Christ‟s promise to his
apostles that „whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life‟” (How Harry 71). Harry‟s
blood saves him from death in the same way that Christians look for salvation and victory over death in
Christ‟s blood at communion. This strengthens the bond between Harry and Christ, while also illustrating
the vast difference between Harry and Voldemort. Voldemort inverts the use of Harry‟s blood during his
Black Mass to create life for himself, while Harry illustrates the true power of love, blood, and sacrifice in
his attempt to secure life for others.
Along with his mother‟s sacrifice, Harry can defeat death because he is the true master of the
Deathly Hallows. Harry does not search out the Hallows for his own protection, but rather unites them
without intention. He inherits the Cloak from his father, the Stone is hidden in the snitch bequeathed to
him by Dumbledore, and Harry becomes the master of the Wand when he disarms its former master (DH
743). Harry is unwittingly the possessor of all three Hallows when he walks into the forest to sacrifice his
life. He wears the Cloak to shield him from onlookers, uses the Stone “to enable [his] self-sacrifice,” and
the Elder Wand casts his death curse and recognizes him as its master (720). By possessing the Hallows
277