Joseph Campbell’s monomyth theory is evident within J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book as the notion of the “special world” (Vogler 10) is glorified through contrast in relation to the core themes of the texts. Within both novels, the protagonists are only able to truly experience the themes of family, belonging and the supernatural whilst in the special world, placing an emphasis on this realm. Furthermore, contrast is consistently utilised to demonstrate that the ordinary world cannot offer the experiences that the special world can, thus glorifying the supernatural realm through these themes.
Also referred to as the hero’s journey, Campbell’s monomyth theory is specified as the comparative …show more content…
Bod’s first supernatural experience of family occurs the night that his biological family is murdered as, after wandering into a graveyard, the resident ghosts protect him. The “recently dead” (Gaiman 10) ghosts of Bod’s family appear within the graveyard and implore Mrs Owens to protect their child, a task that the Owenses accept; later becoming his adopted parents. This scene parallels Rowling’s scene with the Mirror of Erised as the protagonist’s deceased biological family are able to be seen through supernatural means, an experience not attainable within the ordinary world. The special world is further glorified as Bod spends his childhood growing up under the protection of the graveyard and its residents due to the ordinary world’s unsafe nature. In this way “the graveyard replaces the family home to become a physical and emotional nurturing space, which offers safety” (Giovanelli 3) for Bod, providing a sense of security that the ordinary world can no longer offer. Bod further experiences this safety as well as love and disciple from his supernatural parental figures, the Owenses, and develops such a bond that he refers to his deceased biological family as his “first family”, considering the Owenses as his second and current (Gaiman 195). Each of these experiences of …show more content…
Throughout the novel, Harry is only able to feel a sense of belonging and community at Hogwarts as he feels isolated and alone within the ordinary world; both with the Dursleys and at his muggle school (Rowling 32). This provides a clear contrast in regards to Harry’s experiences of community and how he is accepted and able to belong in the special world and within his Hogwarts house of Gryffindor. The sense of belonging that is inherent from being in a community is foreshadowed as Professor McGonagall tells the first years, “while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts” (Rowling 122). This simile, comparing the school houses to that of family, implies values of belonging and identity through acceptance. Harry becomes an important part of Gryffindor and strongly feels guilt and remorse when he lets them down, explicit as he offers to resign from the Quidditch team out of shame (Rowling 263). This same sense of belonging is never experienced within the special world, thus contrasting the two worlds. Succinctly summarised by Heilman as she states “in moving from the Muggle to the magical world, Harry also moves emotionally from a place of isolation and loneliness to a sense of community and belonging” (125), this comparison emphasises the
Also referred to as the hero’s journey, Campbell’s monomyth theory is specified as the comparative …show more content…
Bod’s first supernatural experience of family occurs the night that his biological family is murdered as, after wandering into a graveyard, the resident ghosts protect him. The “recently dead” (Gaiman 10) ghosts of Bod’s family appear within the graveyard and implore Mrs Owens to protect their child, a task that the Owenses accept; later becoming his adopted parents. This scene parallels Rowling’s scene with the Mirror of Erised as the protagonist’s deceased biological family are able to be seen through supernatural means, an experience not attainable within the ordinary world. The special world is further glorified as Bod spends his childhood growing up under the protection of the graveyard and its residents due to the ordinary world’s unsafe nature. In this way “the graveyard replaces the family home to become a physical and emotional nurturing space, which offers safety” (Giovanelli 3) for Bod, providing a sense of security that the ordinary world can no longer offer. Bod further experiences this safety as well as love and disciple from his supernatural parental figures, the Owenses, and develops such a bond that he refers to his deceased biological family as his “first family”, considering the Owenses as his second and current (Gaiman 195). Each of these experiences of …show more content…
Throughout the novel, Harry is only able to feel a sense of belonging and community at Hogwarts as he feels isolated and alone within the ordinary world; both with the Dursleys and at his muggle school (Rowling 32). This provides a clear contrast in regards to Harry’s experiences of community and how he is accepted and able to belong in the special world and within his Hogwarts house of Gryffindor. The sense of belonging that is inherent from being in a community is foreshadowed as Professor McGonagall tells the first years, “while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts” (Rowling 122). This simile, comparing the school houses to that of family, implies values of belonging and identity through acceptance. Harry becomes an important part of Gryffindor and strongly feels guilt and remorse when he lets them down, explicit as he offers to resign from the Quidditch team out of shame (Rowling 263). This same sense of belonging is never experienced within the special world, thus contrasting the two worlds. Succinctly summarised by Heilman as she states “in moving from the Muggle to the magical world, Harry also moves emotionally from a place of isolation and loneliness to a sense of community and belonging” (125), this comparison emphasises the