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The Fortifying and Destructive Power of Love in Jk Rowling‟S

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The Fortifying and Destructive Power of Love in Jk Rowling‟S THE FORTIFYING AND DESTRUCTIVE POWER OF LOVE IN J.K. ROWLING‟S HARRY POTTER SERIES by SAFIYYAH GANI submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS in the subject ENGLISH at the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA SUPERVISOR: DR JT PRIDMORE March 2011 1 Summary The aim of this study is to explore the importance of love in its various manifestations in the lives of the Harry Potter characters and its power to consequently influence the paths that they eventually choose to walk. Love is investigated as the reason behind the choice between good and evil as well as paradoxically both a fortifying as well as a destructive force. Furthermore, it attempts to examine the importance that love plays in the healthy or dysfunctional development of the characters. Numerous philosophies and theories that span two different eras will form the theoretical framework of this research paper. There will be a constant interplay between the theories and the main text, that is, the seven Harry Potter books that together represent the Harry Potter series. Additionally, the author‟s opinion acquired from invaluable fan interviews will be utilized in order to improve the understanding of the characters motivations. The introduction is a brief explanation of key terms and theories that are essential to the exploration of love in the Harry Potter series. The study comprises five chapters. The first three chapters are concerned with the three main manifestations of love represented in the series, namely; parental love, friendship and romance respectively. Chapter Four focuses on the adaptation of the novels into movies and the subsequent result that this has on the depiction of love. Chapter Five highlights the finding of the study conducted. Key Terms: Fantasy, children‟s literature, concepts of love, romance, friendship, parental love, J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter novels, Harry Potter movies. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGES SUMMARY 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS3 INTRODUCTION4-19 CHAPTER ONE20-43 Parental love in the Harry Potter series CHAPTER TWO 44-81 Friendship in the Harry Potter series CHAPTER THREE82-141 Romance in the Harry Potter series CHAPTER FOUR142-161 Harry Potter Movies CHAPTER FIVE162-177 Conclusion REFERENCES178-183 3 Introduction Children‟s literature and young adult literature are two genres that have captivated the imagination of young and old alike effectively eradicating boundaries that have otherwise devalued that worth of remarkably talented authors. Perhaps the reason behind this enchantment is the optimistic nature of the stories that are brimming with hope and the unwavering faith that events will eventually unfold in a favourable light, qualities that are frequently lacking in adult literature and have of recent times become characteristics that have appreciated in worth. One such series that has even been accredited with reacquainting the world with the written word are the Harry Potter novels. The staggeringly unexpected success of the books has turned the author J.K. Rowling into a revered authoress who will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the great writers of the twenty-first century. Her books invite readers to enter a world of magic and mystery filled with enchantingly new creatures that stimulate the imagination of the reader and an array of endearing characters that engage the emotions of her fascinated audience. Her books though are not all sunshine and happiness as they are liberally sprinkled with dark and cloudy days where chances of the reemergence of the sun seem bleak and unlikely. This, however, merely makes for a more enthralling read, one that catches hold of the reader and does not let go until the final page of the seventh book. The credit for the success of the Harry Potter books has often been awarded to its moral content and its life lessons. There is a sense of the profound in the relative simplicity of the writing and teachings and there is something comforting about the grey areas of life and relationships presented in the novels. J.K. Rowling has never been reticent about the trials that she had to face prior to the publication of the Harry Potter novels. Her story is remarkably like that of a Cinderella story sans Prince Charming. This damsel rescued herself with the aid of her incomparable imagination and unquestionable skill with words. After a failed marriage, she found herself in the position of being a single mother facing financial problems. Appalled with her current circumstances and wholly aware that things could not get much worse, J.K. Rowling elected to follow her passion and attempt to get a novel 4 published. Harry Potter was a story that she conceived on a train returning home to London: I was sitting on the train, just staring out the window at some cows. It was not the most inspiring subject. When, all of a sudden, the idea for Harry just appeared in my mind‟s eye. I can‟t tell you why or what triggered it,but I saw the idea of Harry and the wizard school very plainly. I suddenly had this basic idea of a boy who didn‟t know what he was (Shapiro, 2004:49). For years, thereafter, she proceeded to expand on her story until the fateful day that she decided to take a year off during which to complete a full length novel. She has been noted to have revealed the fact that Harry Potter and the Sorcerer‟s Stone, the first book in the series, mentally and emotionally saw her through the tough times (Shapiro, 2004:70). This candid statement from the authoress reassures the reader that they are not alone in their emotional investment in the life of a boy who merely exists between the pages of a book. Harry Potter is a story about an orphaned boy who only discovers on his eleventh birthday that he is a wizard who is famous for having survived the killing curse of Lord Voldemort. Fresh from this discovery, Harry is whisked off into a magical world of witches, wizards, ghosts and numerous other fantastical creatures, leaving behind a life of drudgery and cruelty at the hands of his closest living blood relatives. Thereafter, follows a journey of self-discovery that also sees him triumphing over evil and conquering his own as well as physical demons. Harry‟s journey bears a striking resemblance to that of the archetypal hero as his quest stirs in our memory epic mythical tales of heroes following the same formulaic quest. This quality is not reserved solely for the hero as it is a quality that is woven through the fabric of the series. As Suman Gupta(2003:97) eloquently states: The Harry Potter novels constantly echo the faintly familiar. The names of magical characters, the motifs and rituals of magic, the stories and 5 histories that give body to the magic world appear often to refer back to a shimmering vista of folklore, fairytale and myth drawn indiscriminately from a range of sources and contexts. J.K. Rowling‟s tasteful use of myth adds richness to her novels and furthermore enhances the magical realms‟ claim of old-worldliness. Stepping into the world that she has created feels more like reacquainting oneself with the old and trusted giving credence to the wizards‟ declarations of having lived for more than a century. Aside from its ability to lend authority to the age of the magical world, myths serve an additional purpose; they are symbolic of people‟s hopes, values, fears and aspirations (Gupta, 2003:98). Consequently, myths highlight the deep rooted desires of humanity as a whole and are as such a manner in which to explore the universal psyche of man. The popularity of the Harry Potter novels could, therefore, also be a result of the author‟s ability to identify our desires and fears and bring them to life in her character‟s world therefore engaging her readers‟ emotions on a deeper, perhaps at times subconscious level. The use of archetypal and mythological approaches for the purpose of this study will prove to be constructive because it will both clarify matters as well as draw attention to the issues that may have otherwise been overlooked. Through all his trials, the one thing that sustains Harry as well as assists him in resisting evil is his loving relationships. The people who have died to protect him and the people who are willing to face death to help him are his greatest assets. Thus, love is a key component in the Harry Potter series and the focus of this research paper. Love is a concept that fascinates people at large, regardless of whether they are in awe of it and desperate to achieve it or treat it with disdain and doubt. It encourages the achievement of great feats in its name and the perpetration of unspeakable deeds caused by its more unfortunate victims, be it in reality or the fertile imagination of great writers. Love is an emotion that has become the obsession of nations worldwide and is an ideal that people aspire to achieve. Reams of film and forests worth of paper have been dedicated to exploring the subject and, irrespective of the repetitive nature of the 6 theme, humanity is still captivated by the concept. Anthony Walsh (1991:7) waxes lyrical about love in his preface to The Science of Love when he describes love as: The noblest, most powerful, beautiful, exquisite and meaningful experience of humanity. Because of it we are born, through it we are sustained and for it we will sacrifice life itself. Love insulates the child, brings joy to youth, and comfort and sustenance to the aged.
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