The Christ-Figure of Harry Potter?

Lately, I have a hard time not seeing sermons and theology within movies. Sometimes it is really obvious, sometimes not. But it happens. Today is one of the more interesting thoughts that come to mind. The struggle first came when I read about a Harry Potter Theology Class at Yale. The Harry Potter series has a lot of themes that can be discussed on a theological level including atonement, good vs. evil, and hope. At one point or another I may in fact get to these in a blog of their own. But today I wanted to mention the struggle that was noted in the challenge of a Harry Potter theology course: who is the God figure? Perhaps the most compelling answer provided within the reading is that it was not a character, but love. I think there is a great case for that, and I think it would speak to a modern appeal to understanding the divine--as love, ethereal, with intent yet not a being (and possessing no anthropomorphizational qualities). Divinity as almost a law of nature or driving force. Today however I would like to pose a God-figure, or more specifically a Christ-figure from the Harry Potter series. And likewise, I do not think it is a person.

This came while I was watching the second installment: Chamber of Secrets. It is in this book/movie that this character has its greatest role (although he does make appearances later). I am speaking of course about Fawkes, Dumbledore's phoenix. Interestingly enough, this bird may carry more Christ-like qualities than any human in the Harry Potter series. Let me now present to you reasons why Fawkes in my view is the best comparison to Christ (if you need to know--there may be some spoilers):

• Well let's start off with an easy one shall we, he is a resurrection bird! Fawkes has to die and rise up out of the ashes, it is part of his life cycle. And he goes from looking terrible to a new life. Think of Christ's own resurrection, how beaten he must have been by his death (suffering scourging, crown of thorns, bearing of the cross, piercing from nails/spear) and how upon his resurrection Mary and the disciples on the road to Emmaus did not even recognize him at first. But the centrality of resurrection in the bird's life cycle is an obvious relation.

• Phoenixes carry heavy loads. Christ himself tells those who are weary to come to him and he will give them rest. He carries us through life (any footprints in the sand fans out there), and carries the cross that bears upon it the sins of the world. Specifically in the movie this ability to carry allows Fawkes to be the one who brings them up from the Chamber of Secrets, I can hear the psalmist (30) "you brought my soul up from Sheol" or Jonah's psalm "you brought my life up from the pit". This ability to bear loads allows Fawkes to be their rescuer, and bring them where they could not otherwise go ("I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." John 14.3).

• Fawkes uses his tears to heal Harry. There are three things that can be said here: first is the ability to heal (a prominent feature in Christ's own ministry), but also that the healing comes with the physical exchange of the Phoenix's tears. Jesus never cried into wounds but he did have a tendency to spit on people as part of the healing. Just this last Sunday we read about how Jesus spit on a mute man's tongue (Mark 7.33). Finally may be the fact that the healing tears deliver Harry from death. It reminds me of John 11 when Christ cries at Lazarus' grave, but then delivers him from death. In that instance however it was not Christ's tears but his command "Lazarus, come out!" But the whole scene of tears, healing, deliverance--they carry themes and definitely resemble scenes within the gospel narratives.

• Fawkes comes to save Harry from the Basilisk. Not only does he descend the Chamber of Secrets (Christ's descent anyone?) but there is actually something to be said that his arrival is specifically to face the Basilisk, the ultimate serpent. What is considered perhaps the first prophecy concerning Christ is the words of the woman's offspring against the serpent. In Genesis 3 it says "he will crush your head." Fawkes attack against the Basilisk is to tear out its eyes. This little bird (who Voldemort notes is a poor match for the basilisk) goes for the head. The popular image of Christ crushing the serpent under his heel is mirrored by the phoenix attacking the serpent's head with his feet/talons. Also of note is the way Fawkes changes the entire nature of the battle against Harry. It went from seeming like Harry--without his wand--was powerless against the power of Slytherin's heir and the serpent. But for the most part the basilisk is rendered powerless against this bird. He tears out his eyes, the basilisk's main weapon. But even then it still wages battle against Harry. It seems poisonous, and therefore still lethal. But the bird counters the venom's sting with the healing tears. Thus what seemed still dangerous is actually far less. This is a great theme of Revelation: evil appears to be winning/foreboding but in fact has already lost. The devil has lost his powers against us. Furthermore, in this battle Harry also receives the sorting hat from Fawkes, which gives him the sword of Gryffindor with which he can fight. Similar to Christ bringing us as Ephesians puts it "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" by which one's defense comes.

• Fawkes also arrives to aid Dumbledore against Voldemort in the Order of the Phoenix. Once again the Phoenix is becoming the great aid for those in danger. Since we thoroughly covered that theme in Fawkes' coming to Harry's aid, I won't go further, but thought it was worth noting. However, along with the notion of coming to the aid, there is a particularly interesting event that takes place in his aiding Dumbledore in the duel: Fawkes takes the killing curse for Dumbledore. Like Christ taking the death and the curse for us, and overcoming it, Fawkes does the same here. A very powerful Christ-image indeed.

• The name "Order of the Phoenix" is itself perhaps noteworthy. Those who resist evil, and stand opposed to Voldemort (i.e. the good guys) utlimately rally behind the name/image of the Phoenix. I do not recall if the reasoning for the name is ever mentioned in the books. And while I don't think it is wise to call the church the "good guys" against the "bad guys" in the same dualistic sense, there is definitely the idea of the church being gathered around and by goodness, namely God's. Bo Giertz said that the words "church" and "Christ" are so connected they are in fact interchangeable, that is what the church is: The body of Christ--the order of the Phoenix?

• Fawkes' "final scene" or moment is when he sings a lament at Dumbledore's death. Then he disappears and is never seen. I can't make much of the song of lament, but let me note that the bird flies away like Christ's ascension. A bit of a stretch, but to some extent I think a lot of this is. More on that later. The phoenix's song is given some note within the story and if I remember magical ability to comfort and strengthen. Such would be quite similar to Christ's own words, which hold power themselves when spoken.

• While preparing for this I did a quick search of Fawkes' name because I could not remember how to spell it, and Harry Potter Wikia notes that it was Fawkes' feather that was the core for Harry and Voldemort's wands. I note this because there is an interesting occurrance in the final book. When Harry is practically unconscious and Voldemort is coming to kill him when the Order moves him from the Dersley's place Harry's wand reacts and saves him. To my memory the event is never explained. Harry seeks an explanation but people keep telling him that wands don't just cast spells on their own like that. Perhaps the tail feather of Fawkes may be the explanation--like Christ, the ascension is not the end of his presence, connection, or help for us. But it continues. Like baptism which binds us to Christ, so does his tail feather. This here is all speculation. But perhaps the moment of great hopelessness in book seven is when Harry's wand is broken. Additionally, at the book's conclusion (not the movie's) Harry uses the "greatest" of wands, the Elder Wand, to repair his own. Having that wand was what he preferred. Likewise, baptism, faith, these things are not the most "powerful" or "greatest" things, and yet to those who know what they have--and the dynamic of that relationship, similar to the relationship a wizard has to his wand--it is a far greater treasure. A promise worth returning to, a faith worth mending more than the many other things that would say "me over Christ".

 Returning to the fact that this is a stretch; is that it is. Bottom line is this, it is no perfect comparison. And I'm not sure it was meant to be. J.K. Rowling has mentioned that her faith did leak themes and aspects into her story, but she tried not too make it too explicit and to my knowledge she has not commented on it further than saying it played a role. She never directly identified what parts were. My point here is not to say she intended to make Fawkes the Christ figure. My only point is that she did. That the phoenix carries both powers, actions, and a symbolism--especially in the Chamber of Secrets--where one could argue the Phoenix is the Christ figure. 

This should also be said, it is true that it is not merely Fawkes but "phoenix" that carries much of this. The power of the phoenix and the image/title of the Order of the Phoenix could be broadened. But Rowling chose to have Fawkes as the Phoenix we meet. The term Messiah/anointed one/Christ is used earlier in scripture, and even applied to others than just Jesus. But not only is Jesus the Christ, but it is also how his specific story redefined the nature of Christ. It was his specific work of deliverance and salvation and forgiveness for us to where most Christians would never refer to Saul, God's anointed, as Saul Christ (in fact, I'm not sure I've ever heard anyone do that). But he was, so much so that David regularly emphasized it. So too, there may be other phoenixes, but none ultimately have the claim to the story of Fawkes, who goes down, rescues, raises people from the pit, puts the serpent under his foot, renders him powerless, delivers us without Harry's knowing. So it is with Jesus. There may have been other anointed ones, but none who healed, came down, rescued, raised us up, crushed the serpent, rendered him powerless, and delivers us still often without our even realizing or acknowledging it was him. That's why when we say we're the church of Christ, we don't mean any other one but Jesus.

Now it's not a perfect fit. Harry is still the "hero", he still defeats Voldemort, Fawkes does little else for anyone else, not too mention he's a bird (throwing incarnation out the door). He never was a human--but neither was Azlon. So he's in good company. Having seen the movies many times and read the books a couple times he's my pick for the best bet of a Christ figure in Harry Potter. Who's yours?

Armchair note: For those interested, I have further discussions around Christ figures (namely Harry) when I receive a question about it in a mailbag which can be found here.