Mark of the Beast in Harry Potter

For my research paper I wrote about the undeniable connections between Harry Potter and Christianity. One theme I did not get to go over and discuss was the connection of the Mark of the Beats and its presence in the books an movies. The Mark of the Beast is a prophecy in the Bible known as a symbol or mark that would be given to all of humankind and without this mark you would not even be able to purchase or sell goods or services, and ultimately be killed. "He causes all... To receive a mark on their right hand or their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except  the one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." (Revelation 13:16-17). The previous verse states not worshiping the image of the beast will have you killed. 

In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 and throughout the other films in the series, we see many instances of Voldemort's followers who bare his symbol on their left forearms and use it to summon him. This mark on the death eaters symbolizes the Mark of the Beast, with Voldemort being the Beast. Voldemort is seen as a symbol for the Devil throughout the series, due to his evil and diabolical ways of living. In a scene from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, Voldemort marches his army to Hogwarts with the body of Harry to show the battle is over. Voldemort says to the remaining wizards that they must join him or die which can be correlated to the verse of Revelation 13:15 which states that those who do not bare the Mark of the Beast will be killed. Although not stated in the movies, it is assumed that in joining Voldemort you must be given the mark since all of his other followers yield this on their forearms to show their allegiance. Although there are a few differences, the mark given to Voldemort's followers is directly a symbol for the Mark of the Beast and further proves the connections between the Bible and the Harry Potter series. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The "Prodigal Son Theme" in Movies

The "Prodigal Son Theme" in Movies In Luke 15: 11 - 32, Jesus shares the story of the Prodigal Son with His disciples. The story goes as follows: A father has two sons. The younger son asks for his inheritance and goes off and squanders it. After some time, he becomes poor and decides to return home to his father. He returns home with the intention of begging his father to be made one of his hired servants, expecting his relationship with his father is likely severed. However, the father welcomes him back and celebrates his return.  This story line can be found as an underlying theme in many movies today. 1) Big Fish  During the film, Will and his elderly father, Edward, have a falling out over Edward's stories about his life, and do not speak to each other for 3 years following the fight. However, when Edward falls deathly ill, Will returns home and although there is tension between the duo, their relationship has not been destroyed. Over the course of the mo...
Read more

C.S. Lewis - The Four Loves - Phileo Love

C.S. Lewis states that the necessity of friendship is not mandatory to our biological survival. Unlike the other loves it serves as the least "instinctive, organic, biological, gregarious and necessary" (58). Many films touch upon the idea of love in its eros or agape form but phileo love seems to always be the side product of the story line which is very affirming of what C.S. Lewis states in regarding phileo love. The idea of friendship is not something as valued in our society but as seen in war movies such as The Thin Red Line  the necessity for camaraderie in friendship comes into play. As C.S. Lewis states, "“Lovers are always talking to one another about their love; Friends hardly ever about their Friendship. Lovers are normally face to face, absorbed in each other; Friends, side by side, absorbed in a common interest” (61). Visually in films lovers are directly face to face and friends are often seen as companions side by side such as in war films or superhero fi...
Read more

The Decalogue - 1 & 5

The Decalogue is a series of films about the Ten Commandments. Decalogues 1 & 5 are thought provoking and pull the strings of feelings that all humans share, regardless of religion, race, etc.  The first film in the Decalogue is about the the First Commandment; " I am the Lord thy God; thou shalt not have strange gods before Me". The film focuses on a father and son, having a very close relationship. The father is a professor at a university, and places all of his trust within formulas, calculations, and anything that is backed by fact or reason. The father represents someone who lacks faith and does not search for truths that cannot be attained through calculations or proof. The father's God is represented by his computer, where he trusts his calculations blindly. His son is young and innocent, asking questions that we all have wondered at some time in our own lives. The father cannot provide his son with adequate answers for these deep and profound questions of li...
Read more