The Popularity Of Harry Potter With Children and Adults - Essay Example

?The Popularity Of Harry Potter With Children and Adults Introduction Harry Potter is a character that is universal, and this is the reason why he isso appealing to people of different ages. He is a hero, he is powerful, he always makes the right decisions, and he is a paragon of universal truth and goodness. He shows that death is not the end. He is able to navigate the adult world with his magical powers, and this is something that children really want in their own lives. His stories give adults a touchstone for their own lives, because his stories are so universal, and this gives adults a way to approach difficult situations and people. In short, Harry is a paragon of Truth and goodness, and, because of this, his story is one that can be used by anybody to help them in their own lives. This essay will explain all the ways that Harry is appealing to both children and adults. Body Harry is an archetypal hero – raised in humble circumstances, living in a cupboard under the stairs, Harry shows his heroism early on at Hogwarts – he stands up to Draco Malfoy, a Slytherin bully, and shows up for a duel with him later on that night. He, with Ron, defeats a troll who is threatening Hermione. Then, most heroic of all, he faces down a three-headed dog, lies to Quirrell and faces up to him, and is able to take the stone because of this. In other words, Harry is an ordinary boy, less than ordinary really, because of his abusive circumstances at home, yet he shows bravery and skill when it is needed. He could have taken the easy way out in each of these circumstances, but, in each circumstance, he sacrificed his own safety for the good of others, wanting nothing in return. This is a journey that children and adults can relate to, and aspire to. One of the reasons why Harry Potter is so popular with adults is because adults can use the lessons that he may teach, and apply these lessons to their own lives. For instance, Robbins (2006) states that Harry Potter can teach attorneys about how to represent clients. Harry Potter is an archetype that people respond to in an intuitive way, and Robbins (2006) advises lawyers to portray their clients in a heroic way, much like Harry Potter. Lawyers can also use Harry’s story when trying to influence judges and juries, by appealing to them on an unconscious level by using Harry’s story of struggle and growth. In other words, Harry’s story is a universal one, and lawyer’s can use Harry’s story to try to influence judges and juries, and also to try to understand their clients. Hershovitz (2010) uses Harry Potter as a way to understand different types of torts laws and principles. Thus, the use of Harry Potter in this context is important because it gives adults a way to understand complicated legal theories, by tying these theories into a touchstone such as Harry Potter. Black (2003) agrees that Harry Potter is popular with children and adults because of its underlying messages and archetypes found in the book. These messages and archetypes meet the underlying and basic needs of these children and adults. Black (2003) used the works of psychoanalysts Bruno Bettelheim and Joseph Campbell, and showed how Harry Potter meets psychological needs which are primal and basic in individuals. Children make new meaning through reading the books, and find different meaning every time they read a particular Harry Potter book. Adults experience the same types of emotional experiences as children, only they can understand what the symbols mean, according to Black (2002). Joseph Campbell states that fantasy stories featuring heroes journeys, like Harry’s, appeal to adult because they offer redemption, comfort and closure with the experiences of these adults (Black, 2002). Moreover, because Harry Potter is based upon universal symbols and archetypes, his story translates to many different cultures (Garces, 2003). Trites (2001) would argue that the reason why Harry Potter is so popular with children is because Harry grows up and has to negotiate the balance of power that is necessary as a child becomes an adolescent and an adult, and power in the novel is a metaphor. Harry is powerful, when he was powerless as a young child who is introduced to the audience, and that, too, is attractive to children, as children often recognize their own powerlessness in the world – when Harry goes to live with the Dursleys, he lives in a cupboard under the stairs and is at their mercy. For instance, the Dursleys punished Harry because a boa constrictor got loose, through no fault of Harry's, and Harry ends up being locked up in his cupboard until summer. That Harry could grow from a boy who is locked in a cupboard for an entire summer to being a powerful wizard is a wish fulfillment for all the children who believe that they have no control over their own lives. As children grow, they recognize that they become more powerful and independent, yet still must submit to both parental and authority figures out in the world. So, too, does Harry, and the way that Harry is able to negotiate these power relationships is something that children learn and can apply to their own lives. Harry is told to stay grounded during his first flying lesson, but defies this rule by taking off after Draco Malfoy, thus defying authority. Harry also defies authority when he is escorted back to his dormitory, only to sneak out to help his friend, Hermione. Harry also defies authority when he arranges to get rid of the dragon won by Hagrid, and is punished for this as well. Harry also sneaks off when he gets the stone. Thus, Harry shows, time after time, that his own morality and conscience is more important than rules, and, by negotiating this delicate power balance, he is able to do the right thing, in spite of what the rules are. Children can fantasize about this occurring in their own lives, while learning from it as well. Defiance of authority for the greater good is shown not just in the character of Harry, but also in the character of Hermione Granger, who, in the beginning, was a girl who followed all the rules, but was able to bond with Harry when she told a lie to the teacher when Harry and Ron are reprimanded for trying to save her from a monster. Hermione also sets Snape’s clothes on fire, enabling Harry to regain control of his broom and make a crucial play in a Quidditch match. This shows to Harry that sometimes loyalty and compassion for others comes before procedures and rules, and this is something that all of us can learn. Deavel & Deavel (2002) states that Harry Potter is a story that is about character, and this is why it appeals to both children and adults. Deavel & Deavel (2002) state that the story centers around character, which is a Greek word that denotes an instrument for marking or the external mark, which is a brand. Harry Potter has just such a brand, which is his lightning-shaped scar, which is a literal character. Harry displays great character development, in that he starts out with such humble beginnings, but still goes and seeks his destiny. Moreover, Harry has the freedom to make choices, and he does make the right choices. Harry is resourceful, determined and able to get his way, even if there is a disregard for certain rules. Moreover, Harry shows that things have value, just because we choose it, which is in keeping with libertarian values regarding choice (Deavel, 2002). What Harry seeks is the ultimate in good, and he is seeking not just that is good for the moment, or only for himself, but good for the universe and the people around him – he wants to get the Socerer's Stone not for himself but because it is for the good of everybody, because the Stone, if in the hands of the evil Voldemort, would make Voldemort more powerful and able to overcome mortal wounds. This is what makes the character of Harry so appealing to children and adults – they want to be like him, and be able to make the same moral choices that he does, because the moral choices that he makes are the right ones in the big scheme of things, including society in general. He had the choice between following the rules and not getting the stone, and getting the stone, thus breaking the rules, and his choice was the right one for society. Granger (2004) further states that Harry Potter might appeal to children and adults simply because the books are religious in nature, which is juxtaposed by how people usually interpret the books. Granger is a religious scholar who initially opposed the books and did not want his children to read them, then, after reading them, made them required reading in the family. This is because, according to Granter (2004), the books have spiritual messages that are in the literary structures of the book, along with the themes and symbolism of the books, stating that the themes and symbolism are timeless in that they reflect a strong Christian ethic. Rowling shows that death is not final, but, is the beginning of resurrection and catharsis, which is a Christian theme, and also shows how Harry’s actions are ways for the soul to be purified. Neal (2002) agrees that Harry Potter is spiritual and religious, and that this would be another reason why the books are so appealing. Conclusion Harry Potter appeals to children and adults for the basic reason that they are archetypal stories. This means that they appeal to some basic instinct within all of us. It is a hero’s journey, which is appealing, in and of itself, but Harry also displays many other characteristics that each of us aspire to. Harry overcame difficult circumstances to attain his destiny, and, along the way, he grew up, became moral and always made the right choices. His choices were choices that are universal and sound. People can use his examples to illustrate certain concepts, such as legal concepts, and may give professionals, such as attorneys, ways to approach difficult people and judges. Finally, Harry is powerful, which is something that children fantasize about, and adults do as well. Black, S. (2003) The magic of Harry Potter: Symbols and heroes of fantasy. Children’s Literature in Education, vol. 34, no. 3, pp. 237-255. Deavel, C. & Deavel, D. (2002) Character, choice and Harry Potter. A Journal of Catholic Thought and Culture, vol. 5, no. 4, pp. 49-64. Garces, C. (2003) Translating the imaginary world in the Harry Potter series or how Muggles, Quaffles, and Nickles travel to other cultures. Quaderns, Revista de traduccio, vol. 9, pp. 122-145. Granger, J. (2004) Looking for God in Harry Potter. New York: Tyndale House. Hershovitz, S. (2010) Harry Potter and the trouble with tort theory. Stanford Law Review, vol. 66,pp. 67-90. Neal, C. (2002) The Gospel According to Harry Potter. London: Westminster John Knox Press. Robbins, R. (2006) Harry Potter, ruby slippers and Merlin: Telling the client’s story using the characters and paradigm of the archetypal hero’s journey. Seattle University Law Review, vol. 29, pp. 767-809. Trites, R. (2001) The Harry Potter novels as a test case for adolescent literature. Style, vol. 35, no. 3, pp. 472-488. Read More