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Harry Potter Hero's Journey

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J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is a children’s fantasy book describing Harry Potter's life from years one to eleven. The book depicts Harry’s journey from an ordinary boy living a mundane life to a hero in the magical world. Harry’s story fits a pattern of narrative identified by Joseph Campbell called the Hero’s Journey, or monomyth. In The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Campbell explained the Hero’s Journey: “A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.” The Hero’s Journey is normally divided into three …show more content…
“This is the point when the person experiences a love that has the power and significance of the all-powerful, all encompassing, unconditional love” (“Harry Potter”). Though the Mirror of Erised is a trial for Harry because he is tempted to “dwell on dreams and forget to live,” it is also when he experiences this love for the first time. The Mirror “shows us nothing more or less than the deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts.” For Harry, an orphan since the age of one, this is being surrounded by his family. He sees his mother for the first time, “smiling, but crying at the same time” (Rowling). Harry’s parents died to save him, and this is the first time he is able to be with them and feel their …show more content…
“This is the center point of the journey, and all the previous steps the hero has taken along their quest have moved towards this moment.” Harry’s Atonement with the Father comes immediately after his Meeting with the Goddess, rather than after the Woman as Temptress stage. When Harry returns to the Mirror of Erised for the third time, the headmaster, Professor Dumbledore, greets him. Dumbledore helps Harry make peace with his lack of family and refocus on his Quest. Apotheosis occurs when the hero dies a physical death or dies to self. He has discovered his purpose and knows his place in the world. Harry battles Voldemort, the evil, Dark Lord and Quirrell, his servant, to prevent them from obtaining the Sorcerer’s Stone, a magical item that will restore Voldemort to his former power. Though Quirrell is a much more powerful wizard than Harry, his mother’s love prevents Quirrell from touching him without experiencing excruciating pain. Harry refuses to give Quirrell the stone, dying to self to protect the rest of the world from Voldemort and almost physically

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