Harry Potter Greek Mythology Essay

With only seven books, J. K. Rowling has created a world so rich in detail and enchantment that has taken the world by storm. When taking a closer look at the series, one can see the detail Rowling has incorporated into Harry Potter, which was, as I estimate/presume, probably very inspired by her Christian faith and her own interest in mythology:

Although not explicit, religious undertones do shine through the novels. Harry’s story is a classic moral fight between good and evil – in the wizarding world, as well as in himself at times -, which is what the chore teachings of the Bible are based on. Moreover, it shares parallels with the Bible in terms of his upbringing and plotline. Messages, often brought to Harry through the wise words of Albus Dumbledore, are comparable to the principles the Christian

The most mythological details can be found in the choice of the character’s names: numerous mythical figures lend their names to Rowling’s characters that clearly share similar plotlines or characteristics - for example, the goddess of wisdom and schools becomes Minerva McGonagall, a head teacher at Hogwarts. Furthermore, the creatures and fantastic beasts in the books have their source in classical mythology as well - the three-headed guardian dog of the underworld becomes the three-headed dog Fluffy, who stands guard to the trapdoor that leads to the Philosopher’s Stone, the basilisk, one of the most dreaded creatures in classical legends, terrorizes Hogwarts in Harry’s second year at the school, etc. Some characters, like Merlin or Morgana, were even directly taken from legends and have been incorporated as they are into Rowling’s story. And lastly, substantial objects in the novels share similarities with ones found in legends, as for example the much sought-after Philosopher’s