Human Freedom, Destiny, Choice and the Fall Myth
Choice is a key theme in the Harry Potter books because much of the series deals
with the choices people make, particularly the choice between good and evil. Choice is
therefore a key component in reaching a set of personal values from which we decide on
whether we are of good or bad character. Essentially the ability of humans to make choices
allows humans to develop a sense of morality based on the values they choose. Shannon (2006) suggests that there are a number of elements that lead to people becoming morally
responsible. Two of these key elements are, firstly, that we need “to become aware of the
embedded values in our way of life and to take responsibility for them by either affirming or
rejecting them” (p. 43), which is a personal choice, and, secondly, that we need to learn to
make a decision which also involves learning “how to identify what is different about each
part of the choice, how each part affects me, what are the consequences of my choice, and
how to move beyond simple choice to reasons for the choice” (p. 43).
Choice can only occur if people have the freedom to choose from two or more
alternatives, without such freedom it is not possible to have genuine choice. This freedom of
choice allows humankind to have a say in their future rather than their future being decided
by prophecy or by the whims of some supernatural force. In the Harry Potter book OoP there
is mention made of a prophecy, previously made by Professor Trelawney, regarding Harry
Potter:
The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches … born to those who
have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies … and the Dark Lord will
mark him as equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not … and either
must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives (OoP,
p. 741).
If this passage is taken in isolation then it may be argued that Rowling is providing
Harry Potter with little, if any, free choice regardless of Dumbledore’s previous statements
about choice being all-important in what one becomes (CoS, p. 245). This passage would
place Harry’s destiny out of his hands because it has been prophesised that he must kill
Voldemort to survive, as ultimately both cannot co-exist. Yet, as Granger (2002) states,
Harry’s “choices remain critically important, however, because this destiny is not a fate; he must choose to play the Harry Potter role . . . which is by no means automatic or predetermined
(p. 83). However, it is not until HBP that this is made clear.
In an exchange between Harry Potter and Dumbledore we have a clarification that
Harry does have the power of free choice regardless of the prophecy, which would initially
seem to argue against free choice:
‘But Harry, never forget that what the prophecy says is only significant because
Voldemort made it so. I told you this at the end of last year. Voldemort singled you
out as the person who would be most dangerous to him –and in doing so, he made you
the person who would be most dangerous to him!’ . . .
‘If Voldemort had never heard of the prophecy, would it have been fulfilled?
Would it have meant anything? Of course not! Do you think every prophecy in the
Hall of Prophecy has been fulfilled?’ . . .
‘You see, the prophecy does not mean you have to do anything! But the
prophecy caused Lord Voldemort to mark you as his equal … in other words, you are
free to choose your way, quite free to turn your back on the prophecy! But Voldemort
continues to set store by the prophecy. He will continue to hunt you… which makes it
certain, really, that –‘
‘That one of us is going to end up killing the other,’ said Harry. ‘Yes.’
But he understood at last what Dumbledore had been trying to tell him.
It was, he thought, the difference between being dragged into the arena to face a battle
to the death and walking into the arena with your head held high. Some people,
perhaps, would say that there was little to choose between the two ways, but
Dumbledore knew –and so do I, thought Harry, with a rush of fierce pride, and so did
my parents –that there was all the difference in the world (HBP, pp. 476 – 479)
[Italics in original].
This exchange illustrates that Harry’s free choice is not ruled out by a prophecy but one’s
choices are certainly limited by the actions of someone who believes in a prophecy and acts
on it. This is a reflection on life in general where we all have free choice but that free choice
can be limited by the actions of others. In modern society our free choices can be limited by
the actions of people such as terrorists or through a lack of opportunities because of
government policies, financial constraints, access to educational facilities, our place of birth,
etc.
In discussing the Harry Potter series and Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy,
Lachance (2005), argues that both groups of books make use of the concept of choice to
present a humanist faith (pp. 4-6, p. 63). She states that Pullman and Rowling make their
characters responsible for their destiny and conscious of the repercussions of their actions and
choices without involvement of supernatural forces although she does believe that both
authors follow a Christian narrative tradition (p. 4, p. 86). Instead of being protected and
guided by a superhuman being, the characters have to look within themselves for answers and
choose the path they believe is good according to their moral values (p. 16). The author of
this thesis fully supports this interpretation of choice in the Harry Potter series but does not
support Lachance’s argument that such an interpretation is inconsistent with Christian beliefs
and therefore needs to be classed as a humanist interpretation of choice. Lachance states that
Rowling rejects the idea of faith in a supernatural being (p. 86) but the author of this thesis
feels that a reading of the Harry Potter series does not support such a sweeping statement.
Lachance (2005) bases her view of both the Harry Potter series and the His Dark
Materials series presenting a humanist perspective on choice by stating that Pullman
deliberately reverses the Christian belief of the Fall Myth (pp. 20-21). The Fall Myth is a key
Christian concept that comes from a story found in the Old Testament book of Genesis. This
story refers to the fall of humankind from a state of innocence to a state of sinfulness because of an act of disobedience. The common Christian translation of the original Hebrew scripture
suggests that God created Adam and Eve, the first humans, in His image. Adam and Eve are
allowed to live in the Garden of Eden but are not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge because
to do so would show disobedience to God’s instruction. They were innocent beings but a
serpent tempts them to eat fruit from the forbidden tree and when they do eat the fruit they
are transformed. They become aware of a distinction between ‘Good and Evil’. They are
now superior to all forms of life, but their existence is filled with new troubles. They have
become self-conscious; they are ashamed of their nakedness, and conceal their reproductive
organs. God questions their actions and then expels them from the Garden of Eden. Finally
they know, for the first time, they are going to die (Booker, p. 546). All their descendants will
suffer and die because of their actions. Lachance states, in referring to His Dark Materials:
Pullman paradoxically uses the Fall Myth to illustrate his idea of secular faith.
Pullman's "sin" is that he uses a Christian myth to deliver a message that rejects the
idea of God and of religious faith. He uses the same images as in the traditional Fall
Myth: Adam and Eve, the serpent and the fruit, for example. However, Pullman's
version of this religious myth works as a central articulation of his idea of hope, of
humanist faith. He presents the coming of awareness of sexuality, the eating of the
apple, not as a "fall" but as a joyful discovery, as an enlightenment (pp. 20-21).
It is a view of hope that places emphasis on a faith in humanity to make the right choices
rather than a faith in a God to provide us with a good life (p. 3). Harry Potter does have hope
in a better future through the decisions he makes but this does not mean that he either accepts
or rejects the notion of a supernatural being in whom others may find hope. A person can
have hope in their own ability to make choices and make their life better yet it does not mean
that they reject or accept an ultimate hope in being at one with a loving God.
Choice is a key theme in the Harry Potter books because much of the series deals
with the choices people make, particularly the choice between good and evil. Choice is
therefore a key component in reaching a set of personal values from which we decide on
whether we are of good or bad character. Essentially the ability of humans to make choices
allows humans to develop a sense of morality based on the values they choose. Shannon (2006) suggests that there are a number of elements that lead to people becoming morally
responsible. Two of these key elements are, firstly, that we need “to become aware of the
embedded values in our way of life and to take responsibility for them by either affirming or
rejecting them” (p. 43), which is a personal choice, and, secondly, that we need to learn to
make a decision which also involves learning “how to identify what is different about each
part of the choice, how each part affects me, what are the consequences of my choice, and
how to move beyond simple choice to reasons for the choice” (p. 43).
Choice can only occur if people have the freedom to choose from two or more
alternatives, without such freedom it is not possible to have genuine choice. This freedom of
choice allows humankind to have a say in their future rather than their future being decided
by prophecy or by the whims of some supernatural force. In the Harry Potter book OoP there
is mention made of a prophecy, previously made by Professor Trelawney, regarding Harry
Potter:
The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches … born to those who
have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies … and the Dark Lord will
mark him as equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not … and either
must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives (OoP,
p. 741).
If this passage is taken in isolation then it may be argued that Rowling is providing
Harry Potter with little, if any, free choice regardless of Dumbledore’s previous statements
about choice being all-important in what one becomes (CoS, p. 245). This passage would
place Harry’s destiny out of his hands because it has been prophesised that he must kill
Voldemort to survive, as ultimately both cannot co-exist. Yet, as Granger (2002) states,
Harry’s “choices remain critically important, however, because this destiny is not a fate; he must choose to play the Harry Potter role . . . which is by no means automatic or predetermined
(p. 83). However, it is not until HBP that this is made clear.
In an exchange between Harry Potter and Dumbledore we have a clarification that
Harry does have the power of free choice regardless of the prophecy, which would initially
seem to argue against free choice:
‘But Harry, never forget that what the prophecy says is only significant because
Voldemort made it so. I told you this at the end of last year. Voldemort singled you
out as the person who would be most dangerous to him –and in doing so, he made you
the person who would be most dangerous to him!’ . . .
‘If Voldemort had never heard of the prophecy, would it have been fulfilled?
Would it have meant anything? Of course not! Do you think every prophecy in the
Hall of Prophecy has been fulfilled?’ . . .
‘You see, the prophecy does not mean you have to do anything! But the
prophecy caused Lord Voldemort to mark you as his equal … in other words, you are
free to choose your way, quite free to turn your back on the prophecy! But Voldemort
continues to set store by the prophecy. He will continue to hunt you… which makes it
certain, really, that –‘
‘That one of us is going to end up killing the other,’ said Harry. ‘Yes.’
But he understood at last what Dumbledore had been trying to tell him.
It was, he thought, the difference between being dragged into the arena to face a battle
to the death and walking into the arena with your head held high. Some people,
perhaps, would say that there was little to choose between the two ways, but
Dumbledore knew –and so do I, thought Harry, with a rush of fierce pride, and so did
my parents –that there was all the difference in the world (HBP, pp. 476 – 479)
[Italics in original].
This exchange illustrates that Harry’s free choice is not ruled out by a prophecy but one’s
choices are certainly limited by the actions of someone who believes in a prophecy and acts
on it. This is a reflection on life in general where we all have free choice but that free choice
can be limited by the actions of others. In modern society our free choices can be limited by
the actions of people such as terrorists or through a lack of opportunities because of
government policies, financial constraints, access to educational facilities, our place of birth,
etc.
In discussing the Harry Potter series and Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy,
Lachance (2005), argues that both groups of books make use of the concept of choice to
present a humanist faith (pp. 4-6, p. 63). She states that Pullman and Rowling make their
characters responsible for their destiny and conscious of the repercussions of their actions and
choices without involvement of supernatural forces although she does believe that both
authors follow a Christian narrative tradition (p. 4, p. 86). Instead of being protected and
guided by a superhuman being, the characters have to look within themselves for answers and
choose the path they believe is good according to their moral values (p. 16). The author of
this thesis fully supports this interpretation of choice in the Harry Potter series but does not
support Lachance’s argument that such an interpretation is inconsistent with Christian beliefs
and therefore needs to be classed as a humanist interpretation of choice. Lachance states that
Rowling rejects the idea of faith in a supernatural being (p. 86) but the author of this thesis
feels that a reading of the Harry Potter series does not support such a sweeping statement.
Lachance (2005) bases her view of both the Harry Potter series and the His Dark
Materials series presenting a humanist perspective on choice by stating that Pullman
deliberately reverses the Christian belief of the Fall Myth (pp. 20-21). The Fall Myth is a key
Christian concept that comes from a story found in the Old Testament book of Genesis. This
story refers to the fall of humankind from a state of innocence to a state of sinfulness because of an act of disobedience. The common Christian translation of the original Hebrew scripture
suggests that God created Adam and Eve, the first humans, in His image. Adam and Eve are
allowed to live in the Garden of Eden but are not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge because
to do so would show disobedience to God’s instruction. They were innocent beings but a
serpent tempts them to eat fruit from the forbidden tree and when they do eat the fruit they
are transformed. They become aware of a distinction between ‘Good and Evil’. They are
now superior to all forms of life, but their existence is filled with new troubles. They have
become self-conscious; they are ashamed of their nakedness, and conceal their reproductive
organs. God questions their actions and then expels them from the Garden of Eden. Finally
they know, for the first time, they are going to die (Booker, p. 546). All their descendants will
suffer and die because of their actions. Lachance states, in referring to His Dark Materials:
Pullman paradoxically uses the Fall Myth to illustrate his idea of secular faith.
Pullman's "sin" is that he uses a Christian myth to deliver a message that rejects the
idea of God and of religious faith. He uses the same images as in the traditional Fall
Myth: Adam and Eve, the serpent and the fruit, for example. However, Pullman's
version of this religious myth works as a central articulation of his idea of hope, of
humanist faith. He presents the coming of awareness of sexuality, the eating of the
apple, not as a "fall" but as a joyful discovery, as an enlightenment (pp. 20-21).
It is a view of hope that places emphasis on a faith in humanity to make the right choices
rather than a faith in a God to provide us with a good life (p. 3). Harry Potter does have hope
in a better future through the decisions he makes but this does not mean that he either accepts
or rejects the notion of a supernatural being in whom others may find hope. A person can
have hope in their own ability to make choices and make their life better yet it does not mean
that they reject or accept an ultimate hope in being at one with a loving God.
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