Seminar: Human MonstersSpring 2019Dr Li ShirFinal Version: Research Topic, Argument & SourcesName: Aya Azem1. My Research Topic: Love and The Lack of It in Harry Potter: As a Moralising Force and a Creator of Monstrous Evil.(The topic is somewhat similar to a title –it must include the relevant key words)
Explain in your own words: My research topic discusses the effects of love on the two main characters of the Harry Potter series- Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort. From the very beginning of the series, it is evident that both Harry and Lord Voldemort share many similarities- both are half muggle half witch, both speak Parseltongue, and both are of house Slytherin.
However, throughout the story, the two characters take two very different ways of life. Despite their many similarities, both come from different backgrounds.
Harry’s mother, Lily, died trying to protect her baby boy, and in doing so, shielded him from the most terrifying wizardin the world by putting a spell on him. This spell was more powerful than dark magic, which protected him for the rest of his life.
Her death was the ultimate gesture of self-less, all-consuming love. Voldemort, on the other hand, was consumed under Amortentia, a love potion given to Tom Riddle by Merope Gaunt, which caused him to become obsessed with her, rather than have affection towards her.
Neither the father nor the mother were a part of Voldemort’s life since the day he was born – his father abandoned both of them after he was stopped from getting potions, his mother died after child-birth. The lack of love in general and motherly love in particular in Voldemort’s life caused him to have different moral choices than Harry.
Voldemort’s story shows us the extreme effect of lack of love. It isn’t just an unhappy life,they are monstrous and evil life choices that lead to death.
How did the backgrounds of each of Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort’s affect their moral choices?
b. How did love play a role in these effects?
c. How does J.K Rowling convey these effects throughout the Harry Potter series?
