Good point - I should clarify, too, that I believe Tolkien was being truthful when he said he wasn't intending to write either a Christian Allegory or a War Allegory. I believe he wanted to recrete the Icelandic Sagas and Roman/British history much more than he wanted to recreate the Bible.
In HP, I don't like the phrase "The Chosen One," especially when you think about who actually chose Harry - Voldemort. In the movie they play up the fact that Draco is also Chosen by Voldemort to kill Dumbledore. Being Chosen to kill someone isn't exactly Biblical or holy, haha. So that strikes me as more like something from Greek mythology, with Perseus or Jason being Chosen to kill the king or a grandfather.
But JKR is definitely invoking King Herod killing the firstborns sons of the Jews due to fear that a king more powerful than himself was prophecied. Or Pharoah killing the children of the Hebrews, with Harry as Moses being saved by being hidden, as Harry is with Petunia. I like the touch in HBP when Dumbledore asks Petunia about her Agapanthus - Nile Lilies. I think that's a Moses reference.
In HP, I don't like the phrase "The Chosen One," especially when you think about who actually chose Harry - Voldemort. In the movie they play up the fact that Draco is also Chosen by Voldemort to kill Dumbledore. Being Chosen to kill someone isn't exactly Biblical or holy, haha. So that strikes me as more like something from Greek mythology, with Perseus or Jason being Chosen to kill the king or a grandfather.
But JKR is definitely invoking King Herod killing the firstborns sons of the Jews due to fear that a king more powerful than himself was prophecied. Or Pharoah killing the children of the Hebrews, with Harry as Moses being saved by being hidden, as Harry is with Petunia. I like the touch in HBP when Dumbledore asks Petunia about her Agapanthus - Nile Lilies. I think that's a Moses reference.
Reply
Leave a comment