Harry & Aslan
Mike Gray
comparison I find particularly interesting:
If you compare Harry in Deathly Hallows and Aslan in The Lion the
Witch and the Wardrobe, how are they similar and how are they
different?
Mike Gray
Rachael V.
Different:
Aslan knew he would be resurrected; Harry didn't.
Aslan went to face death alone; Harry didn't.
Aslan (we assume, since the narrative viewpoint does not follow him)
really died; Harry kind of didsn't.
Aslan substituted himself for a liar/betrayer; Harry substituted
himself for his innocent friends.
Similar:
Both were jeered by crowds.
Both sacrificed themselves.
Neither told his friends what he was about to do.
Both were threats to the one who killed them.
Mike & Susan Gray
> Different:
>
> Aslan knew he would be resurrected; Harry didn't.
Check.
> Aslan went to face death alone; Harry didn't.
Hm. Aslan wasn't quite alone - Lucy and Susan went with him. In fact, in
some ways I would say that Aslan was less alone. OTOH, it's two very
different kinds of company. Harry had people - like his parent - he looked
up to - people he wanted for support. (Interesting that Dumbledore was *not*
there.) Aslan had two little girls who came uninvited (though not unwanted)
and didn't even know what was happening.
Harry is certainly very different!
> Aslan (we assume, since the narrative viewpoint does not
> follow him) really died; Harry kind of didsn't.
Check. Sort of. I'd drop that one, though.
> Aslan substituted himself for a liar/betrayer; Harry
> substituted himself for his innocent friends.
Yes! The theological word is "substitutiary atonement" - which Lewis employs
very much on purpose. For more of a parallel, Harry would have had to face
Voldemort *for,* say, Snape or Pettigrew or Draco. Which most certainly
didn't happen. Come to think of it ... hmm. That - just as much as an
attempt to console Voldemort's damaged soul - would have been a very
interesting twist indeed.
It ties into Tim's/Dumbledad's observation: Rowling's pacifism & generosity
has its limits!
Mike Gray
_______________________
"Of course, I'm not entirely sure he can read, so that may not have been
bravery...." JK Rowling, The Goblet of Fire.