In novels and fictional stories we often meet good and evil characters,
characters which fight each other. This fight between good and evil makes the
story really interesting and exciting because it hurries the action along. But often
the reader is not able to say which character really belongs to the good or the evil
ones. It is the ambiguity of the characters and their changes during the story that
grip the readers. This paper will have a look at one exemplary character and try to
solve the question whether it is good or evil. Besides, the thesis that animals and
creatures in The Prisoner of Azkaban cannot be categorized as clearly as the main
characters will be dealt with. In this way different aspects of the terms "good" and
"evil" shall be demonstrated. "Good" and "evil" represent a pair of opposites that is part of many stories and
of our whole life. Actions which are against virtues and values, which are
reprehensible and damnable, are generally seen as evil. Pleasure in destroying, in
lying, in betraying and in being cruel, in neglecting the rights of human beings,
these aspects are declared to be evil.1 They belong to actions and their
consequences which are caused by human beings, for example torturing innocent
people in a war. Due to St. Augustine, these are moral evils or deficiencies of
man's will. He thinks of the moral evil as the true evil because human beings have
free will and the choice to do good or evil. So it is their choice to commit evil
actions or not.2 [...]
1 See Rudolf Eisler, ed. Wörterbuch der philosophischen Begriffe 1, 4th ed. (Berlin: Mittler und
Sohn, 1927), p. 227.
2 See Ester S. Buchholz and Joshua K. Mandel, "Reaching for Virtue, Stumbling on Sin: Concepts
of Good and Evil in a Postmodern Era.", Journal of Religion and Health 39.2, (2000): p. 130.
Table of Contents
1) Contents
2) Introduction
3) The concept of good and evil
4) The eternal struggle of good and evil
5) The fusion of good and evil character traits in Sirius Black
6) Creatures and animals in The Prisoner of Azkaban
6.1) Good and friendly animals and creatures
6.2) Evil and dangerous animals and creatures
7) Are the Harry Potter stories evil in itself?
8) Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the multifaceted nature of morality within J.K. Rowling’s The Prisoner of Azkaban. By analyzing character archetypes, particularly the ambiguity found in Sirius Black, and exploring the roles of various creatures, the author addresses how the novel complicates the traditional binary of good versus evil and challenges external criticisms regarding the story's influence on young readers.
- Philosophical definitions and the moral struggle of good and evil
- Character ambiguity and the transformation of moral perceptions
- The role and categorization of animals and magical creatures
- Critique of attempts to condemn children’s literature for occult themes
Excerpt from the Book
5) The fusion of good and evil character traits in Sirius Black
When reading a story, the reader often thinks he or she knows which group a character belongs to. This first impression is decisive for the assignment to the good and evil characters. But is it really so obvious? Is it not possible that a character changes in the course of the story, that the reader has to change his judgement about the character? The answer has to be "Yes"! Only very few characters are really stable and have only good or bad traits. But in most cases we have ambiguous ones with a mixture of good and evil traits, Sirius Black for example.
In the past, Black was the best friend of James Potter, Harry's father. They were at school together and trusted each other without hesitation. After school, Black became the Secret-Keeper of the Potters to protect them from Lord Voldemort. Until this point in time, the reader would talk of Sirius Black as a good and honest character who never did harm to anybody. But as turns out a few moments later, he betrayed the Potters by playing a double-agent role: In the presence of the Potters he pretended to be a friend and Harry's godfather but in their absence he revealed their hiding place to Lord Voldemort and later killed several people. So he turned out to be an evil character who offended the norms of the wizard society. As punishment and sanction he was taken to Azkaban, a prison where only really evil persons have to go.
Summary of Chapters
2) Introduction: Defines the scope of the paper, focusing on the ambiguity of characters and the categorization of magical creatures in the novel.
3) The concept of good and evil: Explores historical and philosophical definitions of morality, contrasting moral and natural evils.
4) The eternal struggle of good and evil: Analyzes the central conflict between Harry Potter and his antagonists, illustrating how the struggle drives the narrative.
5) The fusion of good and evil character traits in Sirius Black: Investigates character complexity through the evolution of Sirius Black from perceived villain to ally.
6) Creatures and animals in The Prisoner of Azkaban: Discusses whether non-human entities can be categorized morally, given their lack of human free will.
7) Are the Harry Potter stories evil in itself?: Addresses and refutes the conservative arguments that the series promotes dangerous occultism.
8) Conclusion: Summarizes the findings, reinforcing that the story is a fictional construct that does not intend to corrupt its audience.
Keywords
Harry Potter, The Prisoner of Azkaban, Good and Evil, Morality, Sirius Black, Dementors, Magic, Occultism, Character Ambiguity, Children's Literature, Moral Philosophy, Ethics, Fantasy Literature.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper explores the representation and moral ambiguity of good and evil within J.K. Rowling's novel The Prisoner of Azkaban.
What are the core themes explored in this work?
Key themes include the struggle between good and evil, the complexity of moral character development, the categorization of magical creatures, and a response to the controversy surrounding the books' perceived occult nature.
What is the central research question?
The author seeks to answer whether characters and creatures in the story can be clearly defined as "good" or "evil" and whether the series itself is inherently harmful to its readers.
Which academic approach is used?
The author employs a literary analysis method, incorporating philosophical definitions from figures like St. Augustine and Socrates to evaluate the narrative events.
What topics are covered in the main section of the paper?
The main section covers the definition of good and evil, the conflict between Harry and Malfoy, the dual nature of Sirius Black, the role of creatures like Hippogriffs and Dementors, and a debate on the social impact of the books.
Which keywords best characterize this research?
The research is characterized by terms such as Harry Potter, moral ambiguity, good vs. evil, character development, and ethics in children’s literature.
How does the author categorize the Dementors?
The author identifies Dementors as unequivocally evil creatures due to their lack of free will and their destructive, fear-inducing nature that drains human joy.
Why does the author defend the Harry Potter books against critics?
The author argues that the books are pure fiction, encourage reading, and that the "violence" contained within is less direct and more interpretive than other forms of media, rendering the calls for bans unnecessary.
- Quote paper
- Andreas Kellner (Author), 2002, Aspects of Good and Evil in "Harry Potter - The Prisoner of Azkaban", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/23409
