The
best-selling Harry Potter series,
written by J.K. Rowling, consists of seven books; all of which focus on a
constant struggle between two main characters: Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort.
The protagonist of the series, Harry Potter, symbolizes innocence and the power
of good, whereas the antagonist, Lord Voldemort, represents the evil that can
consume those obsessed with gaining power. Due to significant differences in
these characters’ beliefs, Harry Potter continually triumphs over Lord
Voldemort, efficiently proving that good is superior to evil. Although Harry
Potter was victorious in the battle of good versus evil, it hasn’t yet been
determined who prevailed in the clash of the most enjoyable character. An assortment
of similarities and differences concerning these characters will help to
determine which is more entertaining.
Harry Potter’s parents, James and
Lily, were murdered by Lord Voldemort when he was 1-year-old. He was brought up
in a home where he wasn’t welcome, wanted, or understood. Harry was raised by
his aunt, Petunia, and uncle, Vernon Dursley, who attempted to hide Harry’s
true identity as a wizard from the moment they discovered him on their
doorstep. Eleven years later, when it was finally revealed to Harry that he
was, indeed, a wizard, his uncle Vernon shouted, “I’m not having one in the
house, Petunia! Didn’t we swear when we took him in we’d stamp out that
dangerous nonsense?” (Rowling 27). Harry receives little attention from his
aunt and uncle, which is entirely negative, while they coddle their son, Dudley
(HarryPotter.wikia.com). Harry’s bleak backstory is presented to readers at the
beginning of each book, which influences a rather uninteresting opinion of
Harry’s character.
Lord Voldemort was born at an
orphanage in London. Although his mother, Merope Gaunt, did not survive more
than a few minutes after the birth of her son, she subsisted long enough to
give him the name of his estranged father, Tom Riddle. He was a devious child,
constantly using his power to harm and influence other children in the
orphanage. During a visit from Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts
School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the young Lord Voldemort eagerly revealed,
“I can make bad things happen to people who annoy me. I can make them hurt if I
want to” (Rowling 186). The depth of Lord Voldemort’s character is revealed
piece by piece in a slow, puzzling process throughout the series.
At Hogwarts, Harry was involved with
making friends, attending classes, and playing seeker for Gryffindor’s
quidditch team. He was happy for first time in his life and quickly came to
regard Hogwarts as his true home. Harry had two best friends, Hermione Granger
and Ron Weasley, who often helped him through the many struggles he faced. As
far as Harry’s scholarly achievements went, he always had the top grades in
Defense against the Dark Arts, but otherwise his schoolwork was mediocre.
When Lord Voldemort arrived at
Hogwarts, he was also quick to think of it as a true home; somewhere he belonged.
He found making friends to be a difficult task. Instead, he enlisted a group of
followers; people who looked up to him because they were less intelligent or
handsome. It was revealed later in the series that Voldemort never had true
friends; only people who wanted to make use of his power or be protected under
his rule. Although it was difficult for Lord Voldemort to make friends, he was
brilliant when it came to his studies. He was always at the top of his class in
every subject.
Though Harry Potter is the hero of
the series, he is dim in comparison with Lord Voldemort when it comes to
evaluating character. Harry Potter is a predictably good person with a bleak
past and bright future. Lord Voldemort is a tortured soul who is born into a
life of disdain and sorrow. He is constantly on the lookout for any possible
way in which to gain power. It is intriguing to readers to be able to delve
into Lord Voldemort’s past in order to discover why he became the man he is. The
way his story is exposed makes all the difference. Harry Potter’s story is
offered to us upfront, which robs us of intrigue. It is obvious that the victor
in the battle of the most entertaining character is Lord Voldemort.
Rowling,
J.K. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood
Prince. 1st ed. New York: Arthur A Levine Books, 2005. Print.
Rowling,
J.K. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s
Stone. 1st ed. New York: Scholastic Press, 1998. Print.
Harrypotter.wikia.com.
‘Harry Potter Wiki.’ N.P. 2014. Web. 10 Oct. 2014.
No comments:
Post a Comment