Poor J.K. Rowling (in a figurative sense). She's always getting sideswiped by literary critics who think she's a bad writer or by Christians who think she's a witch.
A Reverend Mike Turner adds a new idea: J.K. Rowling is an inferior writer to C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien because "she has no understanding of holiness." He writes:
Holiness is a hard concept to grasp, especially in our secular world. Rudolph Otto, in his classical book on the subject, "The Idea of the Holy," said that behind all religious experience is the sense of awe and majesty that he called the numinous. This sense isn't an ordinary feeling that's simply intensified; rather, it's something that stands alone and is experienced only when we encounter the divine. We realize we're in the presence of something larger than ourselves.
That sense of the holy permeates both Narnia and Middle Earth and is the source of the wonder and delight we feel when visiting both places. In Narnia, Aslan is obviously holy as a Christ figure and, because of that holiness, stands out as the central figure in the story. The other figures in Narnia respond to that holiness either in reverence or in fear. (Source)
I agree that Aslan is represented as a Christ figure, and although we may not feel a sense of "awe" about him, so does Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter books. I really liked Richard Harris's portrayal of Dumbledore. Harris was obviously frail at that point in his life and probably knew the end was near. This gave his character a certain otherworldliness and quiet dignity. Dumbledore is a Christ-like figure, and Harris brought out that quality much more than Michael Gambon does.
Turner adds that Rowling's good characters are flat while the evil ones are much more interesting. For a children's book, he insists, this is disturbing. Well, he may have a point about the good characters.
But I'll put a different spin on it. No doubt evil itself can be intriguing. Knowing what I know of God, as revealed in Scripture and in my own life, he is awesome (to understate the matter), and we would do well to fear him in that sense. Knowing that there will be an accounting when Christ comes and that every man will be judged for everything he's ever said and done, I'm astounded that wretched man continues to live in rebellion against his Creator.
The Bible teaches that one day, everyone will know that Christ is the Son of God. What will the unrepentant feel at that moment? It will be too late for repentance. Will they be sorry? Will they make excuses? Will they remain defiant? They will suffer in damnation forever, apart from God. Yet while they're still living, they continually reject God in spite of the suffering to come. To me, such a person is foolishly interesting. I pray for them, but at the same time, I'm left speechless by their nerve. It's like slowing down to watch a horrible accident with blood and limbs strewn about. I can't bear to watch it, yet, I can't turn away.
Turner points out that Lewis and Tolkien were "devout Christians" who understand that "the world is a fundamentally moral place where the presence of the divine can be experienced," and he implies that Rowling isn't a "devout" Christian.
There's much to be said about that statement, but I'll save it for a different post. I'd like to say, though, that Rowling is a member of the Church of Scotland, but she's never talked about her faith. John Granger posits that she hasn't done so yet because learning details about her faith may give away the plots in her books.
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December 17th, 2005 at 5:05 pm
The attractiveness of evil in literature is well known. Many have commented that in Paradise Lost by Milton, Lucifer is a more interesting and fully realized character than any of the heavenly ones. As humans, we seem to be drawn more to the dark side than the light in fascination.
December 17th, 2005 at 11:55 pm
I doubt JKR is intent on making evil attractive in her Harry Potter series, because I fail to see it myself. I suspect the critic prefers that evil people be rendered as 2-D, cardboard cutouts like they are in much "Christian" literature (although not in the Bible). This critic may also want them to be unattractive in every possible way, which isn't true to life and will only leave children less prepared for the real world. Never forget that during 1933-35, German's often referred to Hitler as "Handsome Adolf" because of the number of women who were infatuated with him. One former Liberal British Prime Minister even called Hitler the "George Washington of his people."
I also heard a JKR speech, which I believe was at Prince Albert's Hall, in which she was obviously disturbed by a fan question suggesting an attraction to Voldemor. That, she said, was not good. I could not help but contrast that with a tacky BBC interviewer at the speech, who seems eager to look for fans with that sort of inclination.
December 18th, 2005 at 5:11 pm
I'm not sure I agree with this. Until HBP, Voldemort was pretty flat, while, for a children's book, Sirius, Remus, the Weasleys, Dumbledore, etc, have enough individuality that even adults enjoy speculating about what has led them to this point in their lives. I've never seen another children's book with such well-developed and complete "good characters". Perhaps Turner is thinking of Snape as an appealing "bad character, but it remains to be seen whether Snape is evil (I don't believe so, and even Draco is showing signs of redemption.
December 19th, 2005 at 12:30 pm
Given JKR's emphasis on the theme of prejudice, I wouldn't be surprised if she's spending more time on seemingly "evil characters" (like Snape) in order to confront our preconceived notions and then smack us for our prejudice when we discover that Snape is good.
That said, I think his criticism is incorrect anyway. Dumbledore is the most profound character in the series, Hagrid is excellent, and the portrayal of Harry, especially in books 5-6, is by no means "flat."
December 19th, 2005 at 3:03 pm
I agree that JKR's good characters are not "flat," especially compared with so much Christian literature that exists today. I admit that I am not a literary critic, but in my humble opinion, each of the main characters seem very much like real persons.
And I agree that Dumbledore is a figure who commands awe, perhaps not quite so much as a Christ figure in my mind as an Apostle Paul figure - not a perfect man or a savior, but as a role model who shows us the way of love and truth. Paul poured out his life for his spiritual children while standing resolutely against evil, especially the evil that infiltrated his own churches. He walked in Christ's footsteps, teaching and demonstrating the gospel. Dumbledore does the same for Hogwarts, especially of course for Harry. I could easily make 2 Tim 6-7 Dumbledore's epitaph! ("Drink offering" make anyone think of a certain underground lake?)
December 19th, 2005 at 8:15 pm
Correction to typo: 2 Timothy 4:6-7. Sorry!
December 20th, 2005 at 2:50 am
Snape is NOT in any way shape or form GOOD. He may be Dumbledore's man, not Voldemort, but we have seen too much already of the prejudice he shows his students, etc (plus the fact that he is capable of uttering the Ava-Kadevera curse) to think that this makes him good.
Indeed, this is true to life to Christianity. Not one of us who are saved are good people deserving of that salvation, and some who are saved are still pretty despicable hard to like people despite their salvation.
December 27th, 2005 at 1:44 am
I believe that as Christians we can't turn our eyes away from evil that is in the world. It is indisputable that bad things happen, and that we live in a sinful universe. As Christians, we can either ignore evil or seek to understand it and see God's plan throughout that which is bad.
I have been reading Wendy Alec's new book, "The fall of Lucifer," and Alec makes an awe-inspiring story on the origins of evil. She seeks to show sin as the result of man's failure to choose God over himself. She draws the portrait of evil so that we both abhor it, and yet desire to understand it. For us to truly understand God's sacrifice for us, we must unserstand why he had to sacrifice himself: because of sin and darkness. We cannot ignore this in our world, and Alec's book does an excellent job of pointing this out. Anyone who enjoys Harry Potter or the Narnia books for their perspective on good vs. evil would enjoy "The Fall of Lucifer."
December 30th, 2005 at 5:46 pm
I can't recall where I was introduced to this idea
(possibly by my eldest brother, who teaches college
English), but it goes like this:
fictional evil is often quite interesting,
fictional good is often flat and dull
This contrasts with real life, where evil people
are typically either dull or nasty (or both),
whereas good people are often quite fun to be
around.
The conundrum of making fictional evil as unattractive
as it is in real life (and contrariwise with
fictional good) is one of long standing. I feel that
both Tolkien and Rowling have done quite well
in that regard - very few people I've met would
root for Voldemort, and even fewer would want to
spend any time with either Saruman or Sauron.
January 5th, 2006 at 2:23 pm
LMB, you write "I'd like to say, though, that Rowling is a member of the Church of Scotland, but she's never talked about her faith."
Ursula LeGuin once replied to that question: 'People ask me what I believe and I tell them, read my books!' As with other commentators above, I found it hard to grasp our college professors' theorems about the literary value of evil. Literature is about the good of God's Creation and His presence in the world, seeing our ties. I read to understand that goodness.
January 5th, 2006 at 2:26 pm
And a rich tradition it is, jngriffith. Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you visit often.