The Two Alchemists in Harry Potter: Voldemort, Harry, and Their Quests for Immortality

J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series contains numerous references to alchemy. On a symbolic level, both Harry Potter and his archenemy Voldemort can be read as rival alchemists, one pursuing alchemy as a spiritual discipline and the other engaged in a purely material quest for physical immortali...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of religion and popular culture
Main Author: Cohen, Signe (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Journals Online & Print:
Drawer...
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: University of Saskatchewan [2018]
In: Journal of religion and popular culture
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Potter, Harry, Fictitious character 1980- / Voldemort, Fictitious character 1926-1998 / Alchemy / Belief in immortality
IxTheo Classification:AB Philosophy of religion; criticism of religion; atheism
AG Religious life; material religion
Further subjects:B Harry Potter
B Alchemy
B Religion
B Popular Culture
Online Access: Volltext (Resolving-System)
Volltext (doi)
Description
Summary:J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series contains numerous references to alchemy. On a symbolic level, both Harry Potter and his archenemy Voldemort can be read as rival alchemists, one pursuing alchemy as a spiritual discipline and the other engaged in a purely material quest for physical immortality. Voldemort's eventual defeat can be interpreted in light of his flawed understanding of the moral and spiritual side of the alchemical work.
ISSN:1703-289X
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal of religion and popular culture
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.3138/jrpc.2017-0038