drawing bright lines in the sand

Friday, July 15, 2005

children's literature and one of its amazing values

there are two kinds of literature to which i am especially drawn. one is the essay, because i really like to see the logic of a particular idea presented in a systematic fashion. it helps me to cultivate not only a more informed opinion about a subject, but also a more general comprehension of logic and its uses.

the second kind of literature that i find myself enjoying is chilrdren's literature, namely fantasy. if i were to draw up a list of my ten favorite authors, you can rest assured that Macdonald, Lewis, and Rowling would all make it onto that list for their amazing works. i have been reading the Harry Potter books over the last two weeks and devoured them.

there are many things about children's literature which appeal to me. but i will speak in brief only about the power of the metaphor. as i have read Rowling's story, striking sets of imagery have become prominent within the story arc. the three forbidden curses are imperium, cruciatus, and avada kadavra. the first gives the cursing party tyrannical control of the cursed's will. the second immerces the afflicted in excrutating pain, and the third is instant death [kadavra=cadaver].

knowing very little about Rowling's personal faith, i am still hard-pressed not to buy into a very Christian set of morals running in the background of this author's mind. the three most evil powers are tyranny [the removal of freedom], torture [the infliction of pain upon the innocent], and death [the taking of life]. these all smack of sin. we are born in bondage, we live in pain, and we--who were meant to live--die.

this will not come as a shock to most of us. but at the same time, Rowling's embodiment of these depravities inculcates within me a fresh horror and mortification towards them.

Lord Voldemort's employs these curses in the enslavement of the wizarding world. he uses them on Harry Potter, who manages to survive all three, but in a climactic encounter in book 4 Harry endures a very prolonged exposure to the cruciatus. i hurt for Harry, and really hate Voldemort for doing such things.

and i think that this is Rowling's aim.

when i withdraw from the narrative, i may leave cruciatus behind, but i do not leave behind an abhorrence for torture. i come back to the world with an awakened sensitivity to the impact of evil upon us humans, and not only despise it in others, but despise it in myself. i want nothing to do with tyranny, affliction, or murder in any form.

it is not just my sensitivity to the darkness which is magnified, but also my sensitivity to the light. Potter serves as a Christ-type in many ways [cruciatus=crucifixion, anyone?]. he is the only wizard who can defeat Voldemort, Voldemort tries to kill him at his birth, he afflicts and tempts Harry through life, but Harry continues to prevail. Dumbedore also serves as a Christ-type in the books. there's a moment in a battle where Rowling goes so far as to say, and i quote, "Dumbledore stood in front of the golden gates." if that's not a shout-out to heaven, i wonder what is.

it's not only rowling who does this. lewis and macdonald both do it very well too, that is, use imagery to awaken my heart and mind to reality a little bit more.

there are loads more where that come from, but i've said enough already. but pick up a kid's book and read it sometime.

[until ever after]
brian

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