Harry Potter and the Ambition to Power
The magical saga of Harry Potter is a story of three men - Harry himself, his great opponent the Dark Lord Voldemort, and his teacher Professor Dumbledore. What is at stake is the tremendous power not only of magic itself, but of the wizard population’s ability to dominate and enslave non-magic folk. The ultimate decision that Harry must make is how to oppose the Dark Lord. Should he attempt to learn difficult magic or discover amazing weapons? Should he build an army and meet strength with strength?
Currently in theatres is the final film in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. The “Hallows” are three magical items which, when combined, are said to make the bearer a “master of death”. Professor Dumbledore was among those who dreamed of uniting the three hallows, but he learned early in life that his ambition to power was a destructive force, and committed himself to preventing suffering. Ambition to power was also a driving force in Voldemort’s life. In childhood he became enamored with feeling special and powerful. His desire for these things led him to devote himself to the Dark Arts of terror, murder, domination, and exploitation.
Harry Potter, however, is free of such ambition. In the first installment of the series, Harry discovers an enchanted mirror that responds to the viewer’s deepest desires. Harry’s ambitions, revealed to him by the mirror, are not to power or glory, but simply to be surrounded by a loving family and to be at peace. It is the injustice and violence around him that motivate Harry to act, not a self-serving ambition.
In the present film, Harry is presented with some of the most powerful tools and weapons in the wizarding world: a sword which only becomes stronger; a crown that enhances wisdom and intelligence; a stone that allows him to speak to dead loved ones; and the most powerful magic wand ever created. In every case, Harry resists the temptation to elevate his own power at the expense of others. Harry is finally the first wizard to ever possess all three of the Deathly Hallows precisely because he doesn’t want their power.
A story and a saying from the life of Jesus come to mind. The story is that, after he was purified by John the Baptist, Jesus retreated to a place of solitude and stayed there for 40 days without food (Matthew 4; Luke 4). During this time, he had to decide what kind of leader he would be. He faced three temptations, which I will call the temptations to power, glory, and celebrity. Jesus decided to eschew those ambitions, and instead become a servant to all, basing his ministry on direct loving encounters with people.
The saying is: When someone strikes you on one cheek, offer the other also (Matthew 5; Luke 6). This is an encouragement against submitting to domination, but it is also a warning against meeting aggression with aggression. Harry Potter could have tried to accumulate great weapons and tools and strike down Lord Voldemort with violence. Likewise he could have tried to run and hide. He eschews these options, choosing instead to trust in the power of love to defeat evil without aggression.
Whether we are Christians or not, and whether we are Potter fans or not, there is a message here for us. Ultimately, Harry’s only ambition comes true – he is surrounded by a loving family and a peaceful life. We cannot achieve love and peace by pursuing violence and power. True peace and true love can only be found when they are sought in themselves.
Rev. Murray Speer
Claresholm, Alberta
