Ultimately, Harry Potter and Voldemort represent the two
polarities of good and evil. While they demonstrate some similarities, the two
characters choose opposite paths based on their values.
Upon arriving at Hogwarts, students are sorted into houses.
While Gryffindor represents courage and bravery, Slytherin represents ambition
and self-preservation. Furthermore, Hagrid explains, “not a single witch or
wizard who went bad who wasn’t in Slytherin” (80). Harry possesses
characteristics of both houses, as the Sorting Hat describes his “courage,” as
well as his “thirst to prove [himself]” (121). However, Harry asks not to be
placed in Slytherin, since he disagrees with its ideals. Thus, Potter proves
his courage and shows that he is different than Voldemort.
The Mirror of Erised further reveals their differences. When
Harry looks into the mirror, “it shows [him] his family,” which demonstrates
his love for his parents (213). However, Voldemort seeks power through the
mirror, as he attempts to obtain the Sorcerer’s Stone. Once again, this displays
their conflicting values. While Harry values other people, Voldemort obsesses
over his own power.
Furthermore, Voldemort’s biggest weakness is his inability
to love. This serves as the main difference between him and Harry Potter and
eventually causes his downfall. For example, Firenze explains “only someone who
has nothing to lose, and everything to gain” would drink the blood of a
unicorn, as it results in a “cursed life” (258). Voldemort finds no value in
relationships with other people, which is why he has nothing to lose. Instead,
he seeks power, regardless of the consequences. Similarly, when Voldemort kills
Harry’s mother, her love “gave [him] some protection” (299). Dumbledore
explains it gives Voldemort great “agony to touch a person marked by something
so good” (299). Since Voldemort cannot understand love, it protects Harry from
evil. As a result, “Voldemort’s power somehow broke” when he failed to kill
Harry, as his mother’s love shields him (12). In the end, love proves too
strong for Voldemort, which helps Harry defeat him.
Above all, love separates Harry and Voldemort, as they hold
different values. Although Voldemort stops at nothing to obtain power, Harry decides
to do the right thing. Despite their similar characteristics, Harry chooses
good, while Voldemort only knows evil.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI definitely would agree that while Harry represents good, Voldemort represents evil and what separates the two is Harry’s ability to have and feel love. I still think it’s interesting that Harry was both placed into Gryffindor and Slytherin which is the more “evil” house. This shows that even though Harry represents good, he still has tendencies to do bad things and isn’t perfect as he lies, and sneaks around even if it’s for good reason. The sorting hat claims, “it’s all in your head, and Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness, no doubt about that” which shows how Harry does posess similar qualities to Malfoy and the more “evil” house (121). Also, in an attempt to get rid of Hagrid’s forbidden dragon, Harry and Hermione, sneak out yet get caught when Filch sees them because, “they’d left the Invisibility Cloak on the top of the tower” (241). After getting in trouble and costing Gryffindor points, however, Harry tries to not get involved in anything risky yet can’t help himself and continues to eavesdrop and investigate. This shows, that while Harry has good intentions, deceit and more evil acts must sometimes be necessary for success and the benefit of others. Harry’s more “evil” actions, however, always have good intentions which separate him from Voldemort and the evil side that only seeks self-preservation. This idea is also stated at the end of the novel as Harry is able to obtain the stone because he only “wanted to find the Stone”, while Voldemort can’t have it because he wants it for selfish reasons and to exploit its power (300).
ReplyDeleteWhile it is true that Harry has some Slytherin qualities, they manifest themselves differently than those of Voldemort. Harry can be cunning at times, but it is often for good reason. He uses his cunning more to help others than for personal gain. For example, Harry, Ron, and Hermione devise a plan to sneak Hagrid's dragon out of Hogwarts using the invisibility cloak. Harry does this out of concern for Hagrid. After they catch Malfoy sneaking into Hagrid's hut, Harry becomes worried that he will tell others that Hagrid is hiding a dragon. Harry tells Hagrid, "Give it two weeks and Norbert's going to be as long as your house. Malfoy could go to Dumbledore at any moment" (236). Harry does not want to see Hagrid get into trouble for having Norbert, so he devises a plan to save him from future punishment. Furthermore, Harry's cunning takes Hagrid's emotions into account; he recognizes the bond Hagrid has formed with Norbert and arranges for Ron's brother Charlie to bring Norbert to a safe place. Harry is cunning for selfless reasons. He is not simply trying to get ahead, but he is being strategic to help those he cares about. This is in great contrast to Voldemort. Voldemort uses his cunning solely to gain power. He does not wish to help others, but only himself. He even tells Quirrel, "There is not good and evil, there is only power, and those too weak to see it" (291). Voldemort has no innate sense of morality, and because of this, he is willing to use any means necessary to achieve his goals for power. To him, there is no "evil," so nothing can be wrong if it is done in the pursuit of power.
ReplyDelete