The following work will firstly give a brief definition of the term “evil” and its representations in literature, secondly it will analyze Joanne Kathleen Rowling’s depiction of evil in her Harry Potter-series by means of Lord Voldemort’s development, actions and character on the basis of the storyline and her literary language in order to emphasize how she succeeded in creating the ultimate evil character. Afterwards, a brief comparison of Voldemort and two other antagonists, William Shakespeare’s Iago and Suzanne Collins’ President Snow will be elaborated to shortly delineate the commonalities of this characters and the development of villains in literature.
Although the last movie has been published in 2011 and the last book in 2007, Joanne Kathleen Rowling’s Harry Potter-series still manages to be up-to-date, so that its main plot and leading roles have become some sort of general knowledge. Rowling succeeded in creating such a prepossessing and impressive fictional world, that it made her to one of the wealthiest women of the world. Despite the fact that the story itself prepossesses its readers, the characters that Rowling created are impressive and famous. Especially Rowling’s antagonist Lord Voldemort tends to remain on the reader’s and society’s mind due to his immense cruelty.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Definition of Evil
- 3. The Harry Potter-Series
- 4. Voldemort as The Ultimate Villain: A Language Analysis
- 4.1 Tom Vorlost Riddle's Childhood
- 4.2 Tom Riddle's School Career
- 4.3 Voldemort's Youth
- 4.4 The Dark Lord's Rise
- 5. Comparison of Lord Voldemort to Other Evil Characters
- 5.1 William Shakespeare's Iago from Othello
- 5.2 Suzanne Collins' President Coriolanus Snow from The Hunger Games
- 6. Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to analyze Joanne K. Rowling's portrayal of evil in the Harry Potter series, focusing on Lord Voldemort as the ultimate depiction of evil. It will examine Voldemort's development, actions, and character, using the storyline and Rowling's language to illustrate how she created such a compelling villain. A comparison with other literary antagonists will further illuminate the commonalities and evolution of evil characters in literature.
- Definition and representation of evil in literature
- Lord Voldemort's character development and the portrayal of his evil nature
- Analysis of Rowling's language and narrative techniques in shaping Voldemort's character
- Comparison of Voldemort with other famous literary villains
- The enduring impact and cultural significance of Voldemort as a literary villain
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the paper by highlighting the enduring popularity of the Harry Potter series and its main characters. It establishes the central focus on Lord Voldemort as a particularly compelling and memorable villain, whose immense cruelty continues to captivate audiences. The chapter introduces the paper's objectives: to define "evil" in a literary context, to analyze Rowling's depiction of evil through Voldemort's development, and to compare Voldemort to other notable antagonists in literature. This introduction positions Voldemort’s enduring presence in popular culture as a testament to Rowling’s success in crafting a truly effective villain.
2. Definition of Evil: This chapter explores the multifaceted concept of evil, drawing upon definitions from the Oxford English Dictionary and the literary analyses of scholars like Terry Eagleton. It examines how evil has been depicted throughout literary history, from classic works like Paradise Lost to more contemporary examples like President Snow in The Hunger Games. The chapter highlights the ambiguity inherent in the portrayal of evil, noting the paradoxical appeal of villains in fiction and the frequent lack of readily identifiable motivation or justification for their actions. It lays groundwork for the subsequent analysis of Voldemort by offering a range of perspectives on how evil is represented in storytelling and explores the idea that evil often lacks a clear cause or origin. The chapter concludes by referencing the Christian-Augustinian view of evil as a corruption of good, foreshadowing the analysis of Voldemort, who seems to embody pure, unmotivated evil.
3. The Harry Potter-Series: This chapter provides a concise overview of the Harry Potter series, establishing the narrative framework and context for the subsequent analysis of Voldemort. It touches upon the series' transition from children's literature to more complex narratives for a wider audience, highlighting the themes of good versus evil, and the significance of love and friendship. The chapter summarizes the central plot: Harry’s confrontation with Lord Voldemort, his survival despite Voldemort's attempts to kill him, and the ongoing conflict between the two characters throughout the series. It emphasizes the series’ evolution from simple stories into more profound exploration of complex themes, thus providing background information for the detailed analysis of Voldemort in the following chapters. The chapter explicitly states that this analysis will focus solely on the original books and will not include any details from subsequent works, including the play.
4. Voldemort as The Ultimate Villain: A Language Analysis: This chapter delves into a detailed analysis of Lord Voldemort, starting with his childhood as Tom Riddle in a Muggle orphanage. It explores the circumstances of his birth, including his mother's use of a love potion on his father, often cited as a potential explanation for his evil nature. The chapter critically examines this theory, questioning whether a lack of love in one’s upbringing inevitably leads to becoming evil. It highlights Voldemort’s early display of cruelty, revealing his already established malevolent tendencies from childhood. This chapter sets the scene for the exploration of Voldemort's development into the Dark Lord by focusing on his early life and the initial signs of his evil nature.
Keywords
Lord Voldemort, Harry Potter, evil, villain, literary analysis, character development, Joanne K. Rowling, fantasy literature, themes of good versus evil, language analysis, comparative literature, President Snow, Iago.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Language Analysis of Evil in the Harry Potter Series
What is the main focus of this academic paper?
This paper analyzes Joanne K. Rowling's portrayal of evil in the Harry Potter series, specifically focusing on Lord Voldemort as the ultimate representation of evil. It examines his development, actions, and character using the storyline and Rowling's language. A comparison with other literary antagonists helps illuminate commonalities and the evolution of evil characters in literature.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The key themes include the definition and representation of evil in literature; Lord Voldemort's character development and the portrayal of his evil nature; analysis of Rowling's language and narrative techniques in shaping Voldemort's character; a comparison of Voldemort with other famous literary villains; and the enduring impact and cultural significance of Voldemort as a literary villain.
What aspects of Voldemort's character are analyzed?
The analysis delves into Voldemort's development from his childhood as Tom Riddle in a Muggle orphanage, exploring his early life, his school career, his rise to power, and the circumstances surrounding his birth. It examines the potential explanations for his evil nature, questioning whether a lack of love inevitably leads to becoming evil. The analysis also includes a close examination of Rowling's language and narrative techniques used to portray his character.
Which other literary villains are compared to Voldemort?
The paper compares Voldemort to Iago from Shakespeare's Othello and President Coriolanus Snow from Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games. This comparison aims to highlight commonalities and differences in the portrayal of evil across different literary works.
What is the scope of the Harry Potter analysis?
The analysis focuses solely on the original Harry Potter books and does not include any details from subsequent works, such as the play.
What is included in the provided preview?
The preview is a comprehensive language preview including the title, table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
What does the chapter on the definition of evil cover?
This chapter explores the multifaceted concept of evil, drawing upon definitions from the Oxford English Dictionary and literary analyses. It examines how evil has been depicted throughout literary history, highlighting the ambiguity inherent in its portrayal and the paradoxical appeal of villains in fiction. It also explores the idea that evil often lacks a clear cause or origin.
What is the purpose of the chapter summarizing the Harry Potter series?
This chapter provides a concise overview of the Harry Potter series, establishing the narrative framework and context for the subsequent analysis of Voldemort. It summarizes the central plot and highlights the series' evolution from children's literature to more complex narratives, emphasizing the themes of good versus evil, love, and friendship.
What methodology is employed in the analysis of Lord Voldemort?
The analysis employs a close reading of Rowling's text, focusing on her language and narrative techniques to understand how she created such a compelling and memorable villain. It also uses comparative literary analysis to place Voldemort within a broader context of literary representations of evil.
What are the keywords associated with this paper?
Keywords include Lord Voldemort, Harry Potter, evil, villain, literary analysis, character development, Joanne K. Rowling, fantasy literature, themes of good versus evil, language analysis, comparative literature, President Snow, and Iago.
- Quote paper
- Talia Baskaya (Author), 2017, Villains in literature. How Joanne K. Rowling succeeded in creating Lord Voldemort as the ultimate depiction of evil, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/513416
