Mythology Reinvented: Depiction of Animals and its Mythological Relevance in the Selected Works of J. K. Rowling
Abstract
Myth is an essential element of human society. It is not only a set of ancient stories which are fixed in a particular timeframe and place of history but it is an ongoing practice in every culture with evolution of man and society. Myth has guided the human mind in every age and in the modern period too, new myths related to religion, science, space and fantasy guide humans to deal with complex situations of modern life. In literature, employment of mythical elements plays a vital role to entertain and to educate the human mind with knowledge of the universe and social patterns. For a long time, myths fascinate humans in literature and its current example is the enormous success of the Harry Potter series in the era of advanced technology and internet, which has been credited with developing reading habits among children and adults equally. The plot and story of Harry Potter novels is not based on a particular primeval myth but it is surrounded by the world which contains creatures, animals, nonhumans and symbols from mythology. Rowling has drawn heavily from mythology to portray characters, events and even names in the series. Present paper strives to focus on the origin of mythical creatures and the way in which they are depicted in the Harry Potter novels.
Keywords: Mythology, Fantasy, Harry Potter novels, J.K. Rowling, Nonhumans
Introduction
Myth, Literature and Myth Criticism
Myths are imaginative or hereditary stories created by primeval man to explain the truth of the universe. Primeval man was not able to explain ontological events scientifically, so he invented myths to satisfy his curiosity regarding creation of man, universe and other ontological phenomena. Myths include heroes, gods and supernatural elements. Majority of myths are related with creation of the world, social rituals and rites which establish justification for social customs and its observance. Myths are regarded as social and cultural documents by many scholars that have preserved traditions of man. Myths are handed over by generation to generation orally or symbolically or in the written form. ‘Myth’ is a multidisciplinary term that is part of literature, psychology, anthropology, sociology, history, philosophy and religion. According to religious scholar Eliad, myths provide a model for human behavior and religious experience. For well-known anthropologist Malinowski, myth is living reality; for psychologist Carl Jung, myth reveals common inheritance of symbols and mental patterns of humans; for structuralist Lévi-Strauss, all versions of myths are equally important.
Mythology is a systematic study of myths which has loosely become synonyms of myth. The word ‘mythology’ consists of two Greek words ‘mythos’ means story or plot and ‘logos’ means logic. For Greeks, mythology or myths were essential stories whether true or invented. For a long time, myths have been proved an enriched and valuable source for writers and poets of all ages. Many celebrated writers like Homer, Spencer, Shakespeare, Keats and T.S. Eliot have based their memorable works on ancient myths or they have drawn heavily from mythology. Many writers have used myth to address contemporary issues and subjectivity expressed due to power and gender dominance. They have used myths to revisit the past, recreate the present and rethink and predict the future. Homer’s Odyssey, Milton’s Paradise Lost, Spencer’s Faerie Queen, Keats’s Endymion, T.S. Eliot’s The Wasteland, James Joyce’s Ulysses and J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings series are landmark as far as the blending of mythology and literature is concerned .
Myth criticism has its roots back in the sixth century BC with thinker and critic Xenophanes who targeted Homer and Hesiod for use of myth in their works, then the field of myth criticism is contributed by various critics in the different ages like Plato, Euhemerus, Lucian of Samosata, Joseph Campbell, MaxMuller, C.G.Jung, James Frazer, Maud Bodkin, Philip Wheelwright, Richard Chase, and Northrop Frye. These critics have introduced and applied different approaches and methods to evaluate use of myths in the literature. Few of them rejected myth as untrue, outdated and disease of language which is against science; wherein few of them related it with four seasonal cycles or considered mythology as ‘evolution towards science’ and fixed mental architecture that lives in the collective subconscious known as ‘archetypes’. In the Twenty first century, literary critics have accepted myth as a soothing tool which reduces anxiety of modern man in this age of machine and wars. In literary work, mythical elements change as per time, current situations and individual psyche patterns. In literature, myth is used to reveal inner psyche and emotions or to establish distinctiveness of humans, animals, society, community or cultures.
Rowling and Mythical Animals:
In the modern period, J. K. Rowling is a remarkable author who has depicted mythology in her Harry Potter novels at length. One of the reasons for her depth knowledge in mythology is her study of mythology in Germany. Rowling has borrowed heavily from Greek, Norse and British mythology for her seven books of the Harry Potter series. The main theme of the series is continuous struggle of good versus evil. The protagonist Harry, who becomes the victim of the antagonist Voldemort at the age of three, struggles to defeat the dark lord Voldemort and ultimately gets success in his mission. Rowling has created a unique world of wizards in her fantasy novels that exists parallel to the world of muggles (non-magical people). Rowling has depicted many mythical animals and nonhumans who play a significant role and are vital part of the wizarding world. An attempt is made to compare the original mythical animals and the way in which Rowling has portrayed and molded them as per the requirement of the storyline.
Rowling has borrowed a unicorn from mythology to revive life in the novels. Unicorn is a mythical animal that belongs to world mythology. The existence of unicorns is older than the existence of fairy tales and mythology. Unicorns have existed in the myths of Europe, Babylon, Asia and Africa for ages. As far as physical appearance is concerned, a unicorn looks like a horse that has a horn on its nose, tail like a boar and feet like an elephant. In fairy tales, it is depicted with fairy-like wings. One of the old art works of Babylon, which belongs to 3500 BCE, shows the unicorn's fight with the lion. Moreover, a unicorn is also depicted on the clay seals of Mohenjo-Daro that belongs to the oldest civilization of Indus Valley.
In Europe, the unicorn has existed in myths, folklore and literature for a long time. As George Eberhart notes:
“The Unicorn of Western lore is based on a complex number of traditions and animals that can be grouped into three major trends: Unicorns in classical Western literature, the Unicorn of the medieval bestiaries, and reports of one-horned animals in the Renaissance and afterwards” (567).
According to myths of many cultures, a unicorn looked like a bull so far as appearance is concerned. As per British mythology, unicorn is associated with immense power, strength, beauty, gentleness and divinity. Rowling has portrayed a unicorn for the revival of life. In Potter’s world, unicorns are noble creatures that live in the Forbidden forest near Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Unicorns are introduced for the first time in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s stone. When Harry, along with Hagrid, Draco and Neville, roams in the Forbidden forest at midnight, he finds that a hooded figure is drinking blood from a unicorn that is lying dead. Later on, he comes to know that unicorn’s blood can bring back life to the man who is on the verge of death. Then that man has to live a cursed and pitiful life. As Hagrid states,
“The blood of a unicorn will keep you alive, even if you are an inch from death, but at a terrible price. You have slain something pure and defenseless to save yourself, and you will have but a half-life, a cursed life, from the moment the blood touches your lips” (Rowling, PS 278).
In Potter world, a unicorn's hair is used to make wands and its horn is used in making magical potions. As per Greek Mythology, People believed that the unicorn’s horn cures many diseases. Rowling’s unicorns are more helpful who restore the life of dying man. Rowling’s unicorns have bright white color and their blood is silvery and mercury-like fluid. In the series, the unicorn, the animal of divine beauty, is a symbol of power, dignity, purity and innocence. But unicorns are vulnerable because evil like Voldemort, in his subhuman form, kills them to drink its blood so he can get his human life back, though that life will be a cursed life. Rowling has depicted this mythical animal in the series as a medium of revival of life that evil Voldemort uses to reenter in the wizarding world by regaining his human life. So it can be said that the unicorn plays an important role and it is used as the first step to restore the life of the villain in the series.
Rowling has adopted the famed ancient mythical bird Phoenix in the series. Phoenix has a prominent place in the Egyptian and Greek mythology. Phoenix is associated with restoration of life. According to the mythology, the bird was reborn out of the ashes of its ancestors. There are variations of myths so far as the living and restoration period of the phoenix is concerned. It is believed that the bird lives for more than six hundred years. As per Greek Mythology, the bird lives in paradise or in Phoenicia and before it restores itself, the bird collects different herbs and builds its nest from it. As Bulfinch remarks:
When it has lived five hundred years, it builds itself a nest in the branches of an oak, or on the top of a palm tree. In this it collects cinnamon, and spikenard, and myrrh, and of these materials builds a pile on which it deposits itself, and dying, breathes out its last breath amidst odors. From the body of the parent bird, a young Phoenix issues forth, destined to live as long a life as its predecessor ( 248).
Phoenix of Greek mythology is quite similar to benu bird of Egyptian mythology and many scholars believe that phoenix originated from benu (Eberhart 44). As far as physical appearance is concerned, phoenix looks similar to heron but it has red and golden feathers. As per remarks of Bulfinch, this divine bird lives on frankincense and odoriferous gums instead of flowers and fruits.
Rowling has portrayed this mythical bird as a healer and the savior of life. Wizards use phoenix’s feathers in different magical purposes like making wand and sending messages in critical situations. It is ironically pointed out that the wands of Harry and Voldemort are made from the feathers of the same phoenix but one wand is used to save the life while the other is used to kill the innocents. Headmaster Dumbledore’s phoenix named Fawkes plays an important role in the series and proves himself a loyal pet of his master till the end. Fawkes is introduced in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets for the first time, when Harry visits Dumbledore in his cabin, at that time, he witnesses the revival of Fawkes. The ill bird catches fire and turns into ashes and like a mythical phoenix, it reborn out of the ashes. Thus, Rowling directly represents Fawkes as the symbol of revival of life. In the chamber of the secrets, Tom Riddle (young Voldemort) wants to kill Harry by releasing a basilisk on him; at that time, Dumbledore sends Fawkes to help Harry. When Harry hears the melodious sound of Fawkes, his heart is filled with courage and he fights back with Tom and the basilisk. Fawkes hands over Harry the sword of Gryffindor that is covered in the Sorting Hat and remains unnoticed by Tom. Then Harry kills the deadly basilisk with the sword. Moreover, Fawkes sheds its tears on the venomous wound on the arm of Harry that is caused by the attack of basilisk. The tears of Fawkes have the healing power that cures the venomous effect of basilisk and soon heals the wound and saves the life of Harry. Fawkes also carries Harry and his friends to the safe ground of Hogwarts from the chamber of the secrets that lies under the deep undergrounds of Hogwarts. It shows the power and strength of the bird.
Rowling has attributed singing quality to her phoenix. Fawkes’s melodious singing always fills Harry’s heart with new courage and hopes because Fawkes suggests direct connection with Dumbledore who is mentor and guide of Harry and the only person who can save Harry from Voldemort. In the graveyard, Voldemort overpowers Harry in the duel; at that time, Harry hears the melodious song of Fawkes and he regains his courage to fight against the dark lord. When Arthur Weasley is attacked by the snake of Voldemort, Fawkes keeps a watch on cruel prof. Umbridge helps Dumbledore to send Harry and Weasley children to a safe place. Moreover, Fawkes sends messages by his golden feathers from one place to another during this critical situation so everyone can remain safe from the reach of Voldemort and his followers. Voldemort and his death eaters fight against Harry and his friends to get ‘prophecy’ in the Department of Mysteries. At that time, Dumbledore and other order members reach there to save the lives of Harry and his friends. Then Voldemort begins a duel with Dumbledore and he casts ‘killing curse’ on Dumbledore, but at that time, Fawkes takes it on himself to save the life of his master and Dumbledore remains safe and alive. It reflects the devotion of Fawkes as a loyal pet. Besides that Fawkes remains faithful to his master till the end and helps him in many ways. And at the last, when Dumbledore is killed, the phoenix laments continuously on the death of his master and he leaves the wizarding world forever. Harry realizes it and he “became aware suddenly that the grounds were silent. Fawkes had stopped singing. And he knew, without knowing how he knew it, that the phoenix had gone, had left Hogwarts for good, just as Dumbledore had left the school, had left the world . . . had left Harry”(Rowling, HBP 526). It reflects Fawkes‘s loyalty, devotion and love for his master. Rowling has uniquely used the mythical bird phoenix by painting him as a loyal pet of the noble and the most powerful wizard in the series.
Rowling has also depicted dreadful animals like the three-headed dog in the series. In Greek mythology, this three headed dog is known as Cerberus who is a watchdog of the underworld. According to Greek mythology, Cerberus is offspring of the fire breathing dragon Typhon and Echidna the serpent woman. Cerberus is also known as hellhound who looks more terrific and monstrous with lion’s claw, dragon’s tail and hissing and coiling serpents formed by his head and back. This dreadful dog strolls on the shore of the river Styx that parts the earth and the underworld (also known as Hades). Cerberus guards the underworld and stops dead to escape and living to enter. As per myth, Cerberus was overpowered only by the Greek hero Hercules who defeated Cerberus and brought him to Greece. One more myth of Cerberus and Orpheus is also popular. As per the myth, Orpheus, the famous musician, wants to bring back the soul of his dead wife Eurydice. For the same, he wants to enter into the Hades (underworld) but the monstrous dog Cerberus stops him. At that time, Orpheus plays the melodious music that lures the dog to sleep and he enters the underworld.
Rowling has directly borrowed the three-headed dog from the Greek mythology and has painted him with his original characteristics in the series. The three-headed dog named Fluffy is depicted as a monstrous dog that guards the philosopher’s stone in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and wizardry. Fluffy is owned by Hagrid, the key keeper of Hogwarts who is fond of raising all kinds of scary and dangerous animals. The headmaster Dumbledore borrows Fluffy from Hagrid to keep the philosopher’s stone safe. Dumbledore places Fluffy on the third floor of Hogwarts to guard the stone so he can stop the stone from falling into the evil hands of Voldemort. In the first year of school, when Harry, Ron and Hermione reach on the third floor of school that is restricted for the students, they see the dreadful dog for the first time:
They were looking straight into the eyes of a monstrous dog, a dog that filled the whole space between ceiling and floor. It had three heads. Three pairs of rolling, mad eyes; three noses, twitching and quivering in their direction; three drooling mouths, saliva hanging in slippery ropes from yellowish fangs….Harry groped for the doorknob — between Filch and death, he’d take Filch (Rowling, PS 172).
It reflects that like Cerberus of Greek mythology, Fluffy is also scary in the appearance. Cerberus guards the Hades, in the same way, Fluffy guards the trapdoor on the third floor of Hogwarts so that no one can enter to steal the philosopher’s stone that revives life and makes the dying person immortal. In addition to that Fluffy can also be tamed by music like Cerberus. Prof. Quirrell (possessed by Voldemort) lulls Fluffy to sleep by playing music on the Harpy, so he can enter through the trapdoor to steal the philosopher’s stone. In the same way, to get past Fluffy, Harry plays the flute to tame Fluffy to sleep that reminds of Orpheus of Greek mythology. When Harry stops playing music, the dog comes out of the trance and again starts barking. It shows that music works as a miracle that turns the monster into tamed one. This three-headed dog appears only in the first novel but it leaves the long lasting impression on readers because of its mythical origin. So far as borrowing of the three headed dog is concerned, Rowling has painted him with all its original characteristics of Greek mythology.
Centaur the popular mythical animal is painted on the larger canvas in the series. Centaur is an animal of Greek mythology that is partly human and partly horse. As per Greek mythology, centaurs are children of the Lapiths king Ixion and cloud Nephele, who have head, neck and chest of humans and legs and body of horse. Centaurs are known as lawless, disobedient, violent and drunkard creatures in the mythology that live on the mountains of Thessaly and Arcadia. As per myth, centaurs were invited in the marriage of their step brother Pirithous. At that time a centaur called Eurytion tried to kidnap the bride after drinking wine. It led to the war between centaurs and other invited guests and many centaurs were killed in this battle. One more centaur named Nessus is also known in the mythology that was the reason for the death of the great hero Hercules. Centaur Nessus tries to kidnap the wife of Hercules so the hero kills him; but before dying, Nessus gives poisoned robe to the wife of Hercules that brings death upon Hercules. Apart from such lustful centaurs, there was a centaur named Chiron who was popular among the Greeks. Chiron was the son of Cronos (Saturn) and Philyra, but Philyra deserted him; therefore he was adopted by Apollo. Chiron was taught war skills, prophecy, herbs, hunting, music and other arts by god Apollo. Centaur Chiron was known as the wisest one who taught many Greek heroes the art of war, use of weapons and different sports. The popular Greek heroes like Jason, Hercules, and Achilles were pupils of Chiron. It makes Chiron different from the other brutal centaurs. Chiron was killed accidentally by his pupil Hercules, but to admire his nobleness and wisdom, Zeus placed him among the stars as the constellation ‘Sagittarius’.
Rowling has adopted original characteristics of mythical centaurs while characterizing centaurs in the series. Centaurs live in the Forbidden forest near Hogwarts. Centaurs are categorized as ‘beast’ instead of ‘being’ by wizards, it has led the relation between two on the rocky path. Centaurs are reluctant to follow the rules that are established by wizards. Centaurs have established their own rules and developed disliking for wizards. Like mythical centaur Chiron, Rowling’s centaurs are also connected with heaven, sky and stars. Her centaurs have the art of fortune telling. “These heavenly connections may explain why the centaurs who live in the Forbidden Forest near Hogwarts-Firenze, Ronan and Bane-look to the stars to read the future”(Colbert 52).Centaurs are proud creatures who believe that humans cannot read the sky perfectly like centaurs and humans are wasting their time to master this art.
Centaurs are aggressive and violent like centaurs of Greek mythology but centaur Firenze is an exception among all. Centaur Firenze is kind and helpful to humans. Firenze saves Harry in the Forbidden forest. When Harry finds a hooded person drinking blood from a dead unicorn, that person (Prof. Quirrell, possessed by Voldemort) tries to attack Harry. But centaur Firenze saves Harry from the attack and he asks Harry to sit on his back so he can take Harry to the safe place. But centaur Bane gets angry and scolds Firenze for allowing a human to sit on his back and says, “What are you doing? You have a human on your back! Have you no shame? Are you a common mule?”(Rowling, PS 276). It clearly reflects centaurs’ disliking for humans. But Firenze neglects the rage of Bane and lands Harry in the safe hands of Hagrid. It shows his kindness. Moreover, He has also foreseen the bad future of Harry therefore he wishes good luck for Harry. Centaur Firenze also helps headmaster Dumbledore by accepting his request of teaching his students the subject of fortune telling. Firenze starts working as a teacher in Hogwarts and teaches students prophecy, it reminds of Greek centaur Chiron who was also an excellent teacher.
Other centaurs oppose Firenze and attack him because he has accepted to teach humans and to share their secret knowledge of prophecy with humans. Centaurs feel that Firenze has betrayed them by accepting the job of a teacher, therefore they try to kill him but Hagrid interferes and saves the life of Firenze. These centaurs boycott Firenze and ban him from entering the Forbidden forest. They also turn hostile to Hagrid because Hagrid saves Firenze. It reflects the violent and brutal nature of centaurs that is quite similar to mythical centaurs. These centaurs are always armed and they believe that the Forbidden forest is their own place. If anyone tries to pass through it, they think he invades their territory and they attack him. After Hagrid saves Firenze, centaurs also restrict Hagrid from entering into the Forbidden forest. In the fifth year of school, when Harry, Hermione and Hagrid enters into the forest, centaurs threaten them and one of the centaurs tries to attack them but centaur Magorian stops him from attacking Harry and Hermione and says, “the slaughter of foals is a terrible crime. We do not touch the innocent. Today, Hagrid, you pass. Henceforth, stay away from this place. You forfeited the friend- ship of the centaurs when you helped the traitor Firenze escape us”(Rowling, OP 645). It clearly reflects that Rowling’s centaurs are not lawless like that of centaurs of Greek mythology. Centaurs have established their separate laws from wizards and they follow their own laws. As per their laws, they cannot slaughter foals (children), therefore they spare Harry and others. They are more kind hearted than the mythical centaurs.
In the same year, when Hermione misleads Prof. Umbridge and brings her into the forest to save Harry from her cruel punishment and torture, at that time, Umbridge behaves rudely with centaurs and insults them by calling ‘half-breeds’ and ‘near human intelligence’. Prof. Umbridge, who is also representative of the Ministry of Magic, scolds the centaurs for crossing their boundary which is decided by the ministry of magic. This rouses their anger and one of the offended centaurs shoots an arrow on Prof. Umbridge, still Umbridge uses abusive words for centaurs and casts magical spell and uses her wand to bind the centaur Magorian with rope. It raises the anger of centaurs and they take Umbrage with them into the deep forest to punish her. This incident clearly suggests that for centaurs’ harsh behavior wizards are also responsible. Wizards have suppressed them with the power of their wand. And few wizards, like prof. Umbridge, abuse them and consider them inferior to wizards.
Rowling has also included other mythical animals like dragon, hippogriff, griffin, basilisk etc. in the series. All these animals are drawn from mythology and they play a significant role in the novels and make it more interesting. Rowling has painted many mythical animals with their original characteristics of mythology while she has painted few of them differently by attributing them unique characteristics to fit in the novels; like phoenix sings melodious songs and apparatus as per his wish and in the same way, unicorn’s blood restores life to a dying man or hippogriff is shown as a proud creature in the series.
Conclusion:
Rowling has borrowed the majority of her mythical animals and creatures from Greek mythology. She has reinvented or twisted them as per the demand of the situation and storyline. But she has painted them in such a way that they seem realistic and an inevitable part of the story. They sound equally important like other human characters in the novels. In the series, unicorn, centaurs or phoenix seem a vital part of the current human world instead of creatures of the remote past. The depiction of mythical creatures in the novels is one of the reasons for the enormous success of the Harry Potter series. Rowling also conveys the moral message to the children and young readers by portraying mythical animals that represent virtues and vices. Portrayal of mythical animals not only makes the potter world multihued but it also encourages young readers to value, to understand and to reread the mythology.
Works Cited: