I've tried to explain recently to several friends that Harry Potter's not a witch. No cosmology of Gods and Goddesses. No special reverence for the Earth. No understanding that working spells requires raising power. Etc.
Here's an article that makes a pretty good argument for Harry Potter, or at least J.K. Rowling, being an alchemist.
Alchemy, a sacred science and the precursor to modern chemistry, has a long, if not entirely proud, tradition in literature. Most people know some alchemists tried to transmute base metals into gold; less known is that this physical transformation was intended as a mirror of higher spiritual transformation. Practiced by the ancient Egyptians, it benefited from the scientific explosion in the Arabic-speaking world near the end of the first millennium, and it was adopted by Christians during the Middle Ages. Its precepts of purification and transformation fit nicely with Christian thought.
As the Enlightenment dawned, alchemy lost sway, brushed aside by chemistry and the scientific method. But its philosophical precepts lingered in the arts, where the “alchemical structure” became a key metaphor in Western Europe for the structure of a plot.
. . . In alchemical terms, Harry is the lead being turned to gold.
Two of the primary substances, called essentials, used in alchemy were sulfur and mercury. Harry’s best mate, Ron Weasley, is an emotional, fiery redhead (sulfur). Harry’s other best friend, Hermione Granger, is a levelheaded intellectual. The name Hermione is the female form of Hermes, name of the Greek god whose Roman name was Mercury. Also, Hg is the elemental symbol for mercury. Granger supposes that it is Ron and Hermione who act on Harry in countervailing ways throughout the series, helping him transform.
. . .
Of course, alchemy can be like numerology: Once you’re looking for it, you start seeing it everywhere, even where it doesn’t exist.
But there are other clues that the Harry Potter series might well be hung around an alchemical skeleton. In England, the first book was titled “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” - that stone being the Holy Grail of alchemists. We learn that Dumbledore himself is an alchemist and is great friends with one Nicolas Flamel. This Flamel was in reality a celebrated French alchemist of the 14th and 15th centuries. And then there’s this stray quote from Rowling herself, who said in 1998: “I’ve never wanted to be a witch, but an alchemist, now that’s a different matter. To invent this wizard world, I’ve learned a ridiculous amount about alchemy.”
. . .
ABOUT THE WRITER
Jonathan V. Last is a columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Missed this one in the hometown paper. Interesting concept! Actually I'm quite disappointed with this Potter series, having read all but the last one. The reason is that the author lives in the British Isles and has mentioned fairies exactly once in about 2000 pages. Alchemy is fine, but you'd think an author would also mine the treasure of her native soil.
ReplyDeleteHecate- I have been reading your blog and comments on other blogs for a while. Very good stuff.This is not on topic but.... I have a daughter who is in her last year of public interest law at Northeastern. She is a ueber-progressive, brilliant, dedicated, personable -yadayada. She is currently doing this quarter of law classes in Central America- while she does immersion Spanish. She is going to do an internship in Zacatecas- Sept-Nov(writing a street law curriculum for Portland Oregon) while she continues the immersion Spansish, After that she will have one more quarter of law classes and one more intership in the spring before she grads. She has interned for the ACLU in Denver and a labor union (SEIU?)in DC. She worked for the National Coalition for the Homeless in DC for a year. Anyway! The reason I tell you all this is I am wondering if you have any suggestions for her to consider post law school? She will graduate with a debt- of course. Your writing has inspired my respect- any advice for a young lawyer?
ReplyDeletePS- I loved the series and I think the last book pulled it all together beautifuly- some great twists for me anyway. The alchemy angle must be part of JK's schema- too many links for mere coincidence.
ReplyDeletelovepat,
ReplyDeleteWow, sounds as if she's built an amazing resume for doing social justice law. Law school debt is a big problem as it often makes it difficult for new lawyers to do the kinds of work they'd like to do. The big money, obviously, is at the big, white shoe law firms. Some new lawyers work there for a few years until they can pay off law school debt and then go on to do social justice law, which, sadly, doesn't pay as well. Others remain at big firms but do as much pro bono as they can. Your daughter might consider government work, which doesn't pay as well but is very secure, generally. She should also look into whether or not some of the debt can be discharged if she, for example, does Peace Corps. or something similar. Good luck!
can't you be a witch and not be pagan? Isn't paganism where the reverence for the earth and the gods come in?
ReplyDeleteI consider witches to be one form of Pagans, sort of like Methodists are one kind of Protestant. Most Pagans, of whatever denomination, share reverence for the Earth and, generally but not always, a polytheistic approach to deity. That said, if you get 12 Pagans in a room, you can probably get 14 or 15 definitions of Pagan, Neo-Pagan, Wicca, etc.
Thank you Hecate- I will pass on your suggestions- I think social justice law is her goal- and knowing her- she probably has a plan to get there. Mom is the worry-wart. Thank you also for your insight re Paganism. Never really understood the concept before but if reverence for the earth is key, it sounds preferable to a lot of our mainstream
ReplyDelete"religions".
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