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Hero's Journey in Chamber of Secrets, Harry continues along his path |
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 Feb 1 2007, 12:28 AM
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#1
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 Chief Cat Herder   Posts: 3,467 Joined: 10:28am August 6, 2005 Location: In the Corner Booth - home of the elusive Holy Grain!  |
In the PS/SS Book Club, we started to explore the Hero Journey that Harry is on. It seems that each book is its own Hero Journey - this was especially true in the first book. Harry is also moving through an over-arching Hero Journey that started in PS/SS and will terminate at the end of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
In Chamber of Secrets, Harry once again moves through the major steps of a Hero Journey - those of separation, initiation and return. He has trials, crosses thresholds, obtains a boon, has a flight/return, and once again deals with many archetypes: Shadow figures, shapeshifters, helpers, mentors, temptress and goddess, etc. As a reminder, here is a diagram that outlines the Journey: Campbell's Hero Journey and there are other useful references found here and here. To start off the discussion, what can be seen as Harry's Call to Adventure in this second book of the series? Does he experience a refusal of the call? --------------------  To listen and share great filks, check out Swishandfilk.com New stuff: MJ's Can't Sit Waiting & Leaky Sister's Flying Free |
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Feb 1 2007, 01:02 AM
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#2
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WeasleyCast's Hostess With The Mostest  Posts: 6,606 Joined: 2:44am February 20, 2006 Location: At The Burrow taking cooking lessons from Molly  |
Okay Aislinn, I am going to take a stab at this and see if I am totally off-base or if I am finally starting to get the hang of it.
 With this being the second installment of the series, I don't think that we get as clear-cut of a call as we did in book 1, (letters from no one) but I would have to say that when Dobby comes to visit Harry on his birthday and tell him that he must promise him he won't go back to Hogwarts is the call. I know that sounds weird because it kinda seems like the opposite of the call, but it does make sense to me in a way. From there, the next step would be the refusal, which would be Harry refusing to not go to Hogwarts. Anyway, I guess I should wait and see if I am right first.  -------------------- |
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Feb 1 2007, 03:13 AM
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#3
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Madame Pince's House Elf   Posts: 4,111 Joined: 5:46pm January 28, 2005 Location: Telephone box, Wagga Wagga  |
I'd agree with Sooner, except that Harry does get mail like the first book, besides the withheld mail from Hermione, Hagrid and Ron. By OWL also. Mafalda Hopkirk warns him about underage magic being performed.
And Harry refuses Lockhart's call to be as publicity seeking and exploitative of contacts as what Gilderoy is himself. Unlike Gilderoy, the fame seeker, Harry wants to be left alone to get on with life. -------------------- |
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Feb 1 2007, 06:26 AM
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#4
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Organizing the Halo Rebellion   Posts: 3,214 Joined: 2:09pm April 16, 2006 Location: Being angelic, of course |
I agree with Sooner and Wagga's points about the Harry's Call. However, I started to think that perhaps there is another call to adventure that Harry accepts. This call could be when the twins and Ron comes to rescue Harry from the Dursley's with the flying car. Yes, Harry was surprised at first but he did have to make the decision to accept this call.
However, I also think that the Weasley boys coming to rescue Harry may better fit in with "crossing the threshold" because Harry physically goes through a window, and he is also leaving behind the muggle world and stepping into the wizarding world. Which part of the Hero's Journey do you think this scene fits into? -------------------- |
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Feb 1 2007, 11:26 AM
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#5
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WeasleyCast's Hostess With The Mostest Posts: 6,606 Joined: 2:44am February 20, 2006 Location: At The Burrow taking cooking lessons from Molly |
Yes, I was afraid to get ahead of myself in case I was wrong about the call, but I do think that crossing out of the window into the car was crossing the threshold because it took him from the non-magical world of Privet Drive to the wonderfully magical world of The Burrow.
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Feb 1 2007, 03:08 PM
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#6
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Harry's Long Lost Twin Sister  Posts: 1,511 Joined: 12:20pm August 5, 2006 Location: New Mexico |
You also have the refusual of the call in when Vernon tells Harry he will not be going back to that school... then come in the Weasley boys, who fly and bring Harr back into the wizarding world.
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Feb 1 2007, 04:42 PM
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#7
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WeasleyCast's Hostess With The Mostest Posts: 6,606 Joined: 2:44am February 20, 2006 Location: At The Burrow taking cooking lessons from Molly |
QUOTE(SillyPutty @ Feb 1 2007, 02:08 PM) [snapback]1083824[/snapback] You also have the refusual of the call in when Vernon tells Harry he will not be going back to that school... then come in the Weasley boys, who fly and bring Harr back into the wizarding world. Okay, so here is a question I have about the refusal of the call. Can other characters do that, or does it have to come from the hero of the story? -------------------- |
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Feb 1 2007, 06:14 PM
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#8
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Harry's Long Lost Twin Sister Posts: 1,511 Joined: 12:20pm August 5, 2006 Location: New Mexico |
I think others can... take SW - Luke's Uncle Owen, was always stopping Luke from leaving, for Anakin it was Watto. It was Vernon who tried to keep Harry from the wizarding world - trying to keep him from fulfilling his destiny. So, in some cases - I think they can.
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Feb 2 2007, 02:44 PM
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#9
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Organizing the Halo Rebellion Posts: 3,214 Joined: 2:09pm April 16, 2006 Location: Being angelic, of course |
Another possible call to adventure is when Harry agrees with Ron to take the car to fly to Hogwarts. Harry did not initate this idea. However, Harry also does not refuse the call, but he does hestitate and question this call to adventure.
When Harry and Ron crash into the Whomping Willow with the car, this could be consider one of the trials that the hero has to face. The two of them must face several teachers, including the Headmaster. Because of their actions, they have missed the sorting and the welcome ceremony. They also receive a detention and clearly have suffered because of their decisions and are warned to stay on their best behavior. -------------------- |
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Feb 2 2007, 02:48 PM
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#10
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Harry's Long Lost Twin Sister Posts: 1,511 Joined: 12:20pm August 5, 2006 Location: New Mexico |
that seems almost like the belly of the whale and the whomping willow is definatly is symbolic of the beginning of his trails - his initiation for COS?
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