A Hero's Journey Begins: Harry Potter Vs. Heracles

Breanna Kramer

HONR:1300:0005

A Hero’s Journey Begins: Harry Potter vs. Heracles

The entire semester we have talked about how modern superheroes are completely rooted in Greek mythology. We have discussed the comparison between weapons, the end of the world, but most importantly we have talked about the hero’s journey. Every great superhero has an intriguing backstory, as well as an emotional, adventurous journey that keeps the reader coming back for more. J.K. Rowling knew of the lasting effect of myths in modern literature, and she included many hidden comparisons between characters and Greek myths into her own work. When first analyzing the journey of Harry Potter, you may be tempted to compare the character closely to Achilles. Thetis,

Achilles mother, dipped him in the river of Styx in order to make him immortal much like Lily Potter’s love made Harry invincible to Voldemort. After the death of Patroclus, Achilles became devoted to the battle for revenge, comparable to Dumbledore’s death and Harry’s motivation to find and destroy the horcruxes. However, if you delve deep enough into the abyss of Greek mythology, you will find many more resemblances in the backstory and heroic journeys between Heracles, the emblem of masculinity and strength, and Harry, the scrawny teenage wizard.
Heracles and Harry both demonstrate the epitome of the reluctant hero in their beginnings.

Neither had free will or the option of a normal life, but instead was forced into heroism due to the jealous nature of their enemies after they had unknowingly been given some of the enemy’s power during infancy. Heracles was the son of Zeus and one of his numerous mistresses, Alcmene. In order to give Heracles strength, Alcmene tricked Hera into feeding Heracles her milk. After learning of Zeus’s infidelity, Hera became determined to torture and gain revenge on Heracles in many different ways including forcing him to kill his own children. In comparison, Voldemort unintentionally gave Harry parts of his power after attempting to kill Harry due to Professor Trelawney’s prophecy that stated a newborn would have a power that the Dark Lord does not. Once Harry arrived at Hogwarts, Voldemort attempted time and time again to kill Harry for revenge and to ensure his immortality. Likewise, a man who desperately wanted eternal life also targeted Heracles. The King of Lydia attempted to give Heracles’s life for his immortality while Voldemort sought to kill Harry to become an undefeatable, eternal wizard. Perhaps the strongest characteristic shared between the two is the power and ability of love. Heracles lived a happy life with Megara and his children until Hera intervened, while Harry fell in love with the Weasley family and Hermione. Harry always had irrefutable proof of his mother’s love,

as did Heracles with his mother who managed to trick a goddess into giving him some of her divine power. In the very beginning of their heroic journey both heroes were given powers by their enemies in their infancies, targeted by vengeful, jealous opponents and rivals looking for immortality, as well as having an overwhelming capacity to love.
In regards to heroic journeys, Heracles tackled the twelve labours, while Harry hunted horcruxes and cleverly escaped Voldemort’s clutches.

After Hera induced Heracles to kill his family, he was sent to King Eurystheus who gave him ten, which turned into twelve, labours as a reprieve from his sin. The quest of completing these twelve labours for Heracles is very similar to the Harry’s quest of hunting Voldemort’s horcruxes: both were necessary excursions to return to normal lives. More specific examples of parallels in heroic journeys include Heracles managing to kill Hydra, the multi-head snake, with the help of Iolaus much like Harry killed the basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets with the help of Fawkes. In order to get to Hades for another labour, Heracles had to pass a three-headed dog, popularly known today as Fluffy the three-headed dog protecting the passageway to the Sorcerer’s Stone in the Potter series. The most notable example of the intentional comparison between the two heroes by J.K. Rowling is the insignia of the lion. Heracles slaughtered the Nemean lion, which is known as a constellation, Leo. It isn’t a coincidence that Leo happens to be the Zodiac sign of Harry’s birthday, July 31, nor is it an accident that Gryffindor’s emblem is a lion. J.K. Rowling intentionally wove Greek mythology and journeys of Heracles into the Potter series with some examples being the basilisk, three-headed dog, lion symbol, and quests needed to return to

normalcy.
While Harry does indeed resemble Achilles, Heracles is a much better mythological comparison in terms of heroic beginnings and journeys. While their physiques are stark contrasts, from bold muscles to a pre-teen scrawniness, Heracles and Harry share courage, intense self-criticism, and the capacity of love. Neither had the free will of heroism, but instead were thrusts into the lives out of necessity once gaining some of their enemy’s powers in infancy. Hera and Voldemort attempted time and time again to hurt their respective hero out of jealousy of their power and revenge. The following quests were just as surprisingly similar, for instance the search for normalcy, triumphing over the basilisk and three-headed dog, and the lion insignia. The entire Harry Potter series is full of references to Greek mythology and is not exclusive to Heracles. For instance, does Rubeus Hagrid remind you of Hagrid Rubes? Both were giants who were framed for a murder and became a caretaker. While Heracles is not the only mythological reference in the series, his backstory and expeditions are much more comparable to Harry’s than the Achilles reference many people first discover while reading the modern mythological hero series.