Philosopher’s Stone was laden with references to the legends of King Arthur, from Harry’s life in secret as a Muggle, unaware of his heritage and the protection of a Merlin-esque wizard to specific plot points (remember the King and his crown on McGonagall’s chess board?). As we reached the story’s conclusion, Ms. Rowling seemed to reach deeper into Arthur lore for Harry’s heroic quest — corny word? nah –with Harry falling in love with Ginevra and the Graille elements of Harry’s Horcrux search and fascination with the three Deathly Hallows.
Travis Prinzi, as usual, is right on this over at Sword of Gryffindor; what are your thoughts on the Arthuriana in Deathly Hallows and the series as a whole? Ms. Rowling uses the alchemy to advance both her traditional and postmodern themes and concerns; how do the Arthurian backdrops and set-pieces, not to mention the names and story points reinforce what she has to say about love’s victory over death? Prejudice? Choice?
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
The use of Arthurian names and symbols has always been a big part of these stories, but I don’t think it ever leapt out at me with such force until Harry saw that sword, glinting like a silver cross, shimmering under the dark, cold water. I suddenly found myself flooded with thoughts about swords in stones and ladies in lakes.
When Arthur pulled the sword from the stone, it was the sign of his coming kingship, his royalty. What was interesting to me about Gryffindor’s Sword in DH is that we never really see Harry take it and possess it and wield it decisively. I don’t think we had to see that (or that Harry needed to do it) as he’d already done that in Chamber of Secrets, where the calling up of the sword and the use of it proved his “royalty” — or rather proved that he was a true Gryffindor, courageous of spirit.
What’s interesting to me in DH is all the other men who take the sword and use it to great effect:
– Snape, who isn’t a Gryffindor but whose love for a Gryffindor has been the guiding light of his broken life (and who, on the instructions of yet another Gryffindor, presents the sword to Harry in a time of great need… interestingly enough, Snape apparently is the one who comes up with the sword in the water idea…and water is the Slytherin element, isn’t it?)
–Ron (who actually pulls it from the depths while saving Harry — and by the way, what a great reverse kind of echo of Harry bringing Ron up out of the water in Goblet of Fire)
–Ron again, who wields it to destroy the locket horcrux.
–Neville, who pulls it from the sorting hat in a wonderful Chamber of Secrets/Harry echo, and who uses it to slash off Nagini’s head at highly crucial moment in the final battle, essentially clearing the path for Harry to be able to face Voldemort
Harry does use the sword in Gringotts, but not so much as a weapon. It’s the instrument he uses to reach the cup.
No great insights here…I’m just thinking aloud about what the use of the sword (receiving it, gifting it, wielding it) might mean for all these characters. Thoughts?
_________
No great insights here…I’m just thinking aloud about what the use of the sword (receiving it, gifting it, wielding it) might mean for all these characters. Thoughts?
__________
Beth, it might be another iteration of the theme that choices matter. It isn’t only Harry who can wield the sword (remember all the Heir of Gryffindor speculations?) as the “Chosen One.” Ron, Neville and Harry can all wield it because they are all Choosers– they have chosen Gryffindor’s way of valor in the service of a righteous cause. It’s not a privilege restricted by birth– if you choose to be the right kind of person, it’s available to you when you truly need it.
Arthur received Excalibur (not the Sword in the Stone; that was a different sword) from the Lady of the Lake; I thought of that when I read about the sword in the water.
I think Beth is spot on in her discussion of Arthurian references in the books. However, in my case the finding of the sword in the water in DH amounted to a clever instance of authorial misdirection. When Harry, weighed down by the horcrux around his neck (echoes of Lord of the Rings), is unable to retrieve the sword, while Ron accomplishes the deed, I thought Harry would surely die. He was meant to be the sacrifice while Ron was meant to be “king” or leader.
Yet it turned out that three Gryffindors actually wielded the sword: Harry, Ron, and Neville. So membership in the house of Godric Gryffindor, along with personal heroism, was the sign of royalty, or of the leader.
I found the tip of the hat to Arthurian themes quite refreshing. There is only one point of them that is not consistent with the legend: the adultery of Lancelot and Guinevere.
Perhaps it wouldn’t have worked in the series, and maybe it would have been uncalled for. The only thing that stands out is this: We have the picture that “All is well.” nineteen years after the closing chapter of Deathly Hallows. However, if this part of the legend – left out of the series – were to be held as true, what does that say for Harry’s future? Would Ginny become disloyal to him and ultimately bring about the downfall of Harry, the new Ministry, Hogwarts or some other institution? Sorry to bring this up, but I have grown lonely after the release of Deathly Hallows – speculating about the books was the best bit, and I am none too anxious to give it up just yet.
But the sword in the lake was a very nice allusion. Too bad it was Ron who grabbed it instead of our “Arthur” hero Harry. Or perhaps that means Hermione will have the affair now? Makes you wonder?
Okay, I’ll stop it. Enough speculation.
TheHarryinMe–
The adultery of Lancelot and Guinevere is not part of the original Arthurian legends. It is a later French addition added to please an unhappily married woman who wanted to read a romance about adultery. So set your mind at rest about Ginny.
Although they are used differently in HP than in Arthurian legend, both tales share the motifs of True and False Sword (Arthur’s sword is swapped out for a fake by Accolon) and the Kidnapping of Guinevere/Ginevra (by Meleagant/Voldemort).
{ 1 trackback }