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Chapter 1

HarryPotter Film Series And Existentialism: An Overview

Harry Potter is a British-American film series based on the Harry Potter novels by J.K

Rowling. The book,Harry Potterhave won multiple awards. They have become the best

selling book series in history and been the basis for a series of films, over which Rowling had

approval on the scripts and was a producer on the final films in the series. The series is

distributed by Warner Bros and consist of eight fantasy films, beginning with Harry Potter

And The Philosopher’s Stone(2001)and culminating with Harry Potter And The Deathly

Hallows-part 2(2001),the highest-grossing film in the series. The series was mainly produced

by David Heyman and stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson as the three

leading characters: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. Four directors worked

on the series are Chris Columbus, Alfonso Cuarón, Mike Newell and David Yates. The

Screenplays were written by Steve Kloves, with the exception of Harry Potter And The

Order Of The Phoenix(2007), which was written by Michael Goldenberg.

Harry Potter series of films chronicles the life of a young wizard, Harry Potter and his friends

Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of

witchcraftand wizardry. After all, Harry Potter is not everyday an adventure comes along that

mixes magic, action and friendship.The Harry Potter movies do all that and more, delighting

fans of Rowling’s books while also entertaining those new to the potterverse. Like the books,

the movies do get darker and more intense as the series progresses. Harry Potter shapes an

entire generation. It has become a household name and nearly everyone knows about the boy

wizard and his two best friends, Ron and Hermione. The stories span seven years, coinciding

with the seven years a student spends at Hogwarts. Specifically, these films span Harry
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Potter’s seven years at Hogwarts. The main story are concerns Harry's struggle against Lord

Voldemort, a dark wizard who intends to become immortal, overthrow the wizard governing

body known as the ministry of magic, and subjugate all wizards and muggles, a reference

term that means non- magical people.

Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone (2001) is the first film in this series of films,

directed by Chris Columbus. The story follows Harry Potter 's first year atHogwarts School

of Witchcraft and Wizardry as he discovers that he is a famous wizard and begins his

education.Harry Potter is an average bespectacled 11 year old boy who has lived with the

Dursley family ever since his parents died in a car crash. For some reason the family has

always mistreated him. On his 11th birthday a giant man named Rubeus Hagrid hands him a

letter telling him that he has been accepted as a student at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft

and Wizardry. Harry learns that his parents were wizards and were killed by an evil wizard

Voldemort, a truth that was hidden from him all these years. He embarks for his new life as a

student, gathering two good friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger along the way.

They soon learn that something very valuable is hidden somewhere inside the school and

Voldemort is very anxious to lay his hands on it.

Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets(2002) was directed by Chris Columbus. This

story is about the experience of Harry Potter in the second year of Hogwarts School. Harry

Potter is forced to spend his summer holidays with his muggle relations, he gets a real shock

when he gets a surprise visitor: Dobby the house-elf, who warns Harry Potter against

returning to Hogwarts, for terrible things are going to happen. Harry decides to ignore

Dobby's warning and continues with his pre-arranged schedule. But at Hogwarts, strange and

terrible things are indeed happening: Harry is suddenly hearing mysterious voices from inside

the walls, muggle-born students are being attacked, and a message scrawled on the wall in

blood puts everyone on his guard - "The chamber of secrets has been opened. Enemies of the
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heir, beware". Everyone thinks that it's him that has opened the Chamber of Secrets because

that is what Slytherin was famous for.

Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban (2004) was directed by Alfonso Cuarón. In the

summer before his third year at Hogwarts, Harry Potter becomes fed up with his horrible aunt

and uncle, and after accidentally inflating his visiting aunt Marge, he runs away.

Unfortunately, there's much more danger in the wizarding world than harry thought;

convicted mass murderer, Sirius Black, has escaped from the wizarding prison Azkaban.

Black is known as Lord Voldemort's most devoted follower, and he's after Harry to avenge

Voldemort and finish the job. But not everything is what it seems, and inside of Hogwarts

there may just be a traitor.

Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fires (2005) was directed byMike Newell. In this film Harry

Potter returns to Hogwarts for his fourth year, where the Trizwizard tournament is becoming

ready to begin.Students must be over 17 to enter, with the winner receiving eternal glory.

Harry can't enter it this year...or can he. When his name is read out from the Goblet of Fire,

everyone assumes that Harry Potter has cheated. Harry insists that he never placed his name

in there, with someone else behind it. Harry must now survive through dragons, sea creatures

and a terrifying maze, all before coming face-to-face with a particular dark wizard.

Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix(2007) wasdirected by David Yates. The story

after a lonely summer on Privet Drive, Harry returns to a Hogwarts full of ill-fortune. Few of

students and parents believe him or Dumbledore that Voldemort is really back. The ministry

had decided to step in by appointing a new defence against the dark arts teacher that proves to

be the nastiest person Harry has ever encountered. Harry also can't help stealing glances with

the beautiful Cho Chang. To top it off are dreams that Harry can't explain, and a mystery
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behind something Voldemort is searching for. With these many things Harry begins one of

his toughest years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince (2009) was directed by David Yates. This film is

about Harry Potter’s experience in the sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft, and in

both wizard and muggle worlds Lord Voldemort and his henchmen are increasingly

active.With vacancies to fill at Hogwarts, Professor Dumbledore persuades Horace Slughorn,

back from retirement to become the potions teacher, while Professor Snape receives long

awaited news. Harry Potter, together with Dumbledore, must face treacherous tasks to defeat

his evil nemesis.

Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part-1(2010) wasdirected by David Yates. The filmis

the seventh and penultimate instalment in theHarry Potter film series, in whichVoldemort's

power is growing stronger. He now has control over the Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts.

Harry, Ron, and Hermionedecide to finish Dumbledore's work and find the rest of the

Horcruxes to defeat the Dark Lord. But little hope remains for the Trio, and the rest of the

Wizarding World, so everything they do must go as planned.

Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part-2(2011) was directed by David Yates. In this

film HarryPotter,Ron and Hermione continue to find the rest of Voldemort's Horecruxes,

until Harry discovers that one is at Hogwarts, they flee there as soon as possible but

Voldemort instantly finds out about their mission. The battle is drawn at Hogwarts as many

people fight to protect Harry Potter. Harry then realises that people are dying constantly for

his mistakes and then eventually fights Voldemort for the last time. Along the way, crucial

secrets are unravelled, and the mysterious but legendary Deathly Hallows reappear.

We canexamine Harry Potter series of films through the lens of existentialism.Existentialism

is a catch-all term for those philosophers who consider the nature of the human condition as a
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key philosophical problem and who share the view that this problem is best addressed

through ontology. Outside philosophy, the existentialist movement is probably the mostwell-

known philosophical movement, and at least two of its members are among the most famous

philosophical personalities and widely read philosophical authors. It has certainly had

considerable influence outside philosophy, for example on psychological theory and on the

arts. Existentialism in the broader sense is a 20th century philosophy that is centred upon the

analysis of existence and of the way humans find themselves existing in the world. The

notion is that humans exist first and then each individual spends a lifetime changing their

essence or nature.

When existentialism comes to Harry Potter series, God or religion does not present. So,

atheistic existentialism is the spine of the series. J.K. Rowling strongly believes that each and

everyone in the world is unique and can make a difference. So believing in that, she rejects

Christian existentialism. No character's life is defined before he or she was born, as Christian

existentialism dictates. This thesis consists of a comprehensive character analysis of the

protagonist and antagonist in the Harry Potter series, on the basis of existential psychology. It

is argued that the outlook of this branch of psychology provides a thorough framework for

the interpretation of characters and objects in Rowling’s fictional world. The greatest

significant theme in the novels is that all the characters in the novels must produce their

identity. One’s own identity is depended on his selection of good and bad. No character in the

films depends upon God to define their purpose. “Those characters and institutions which do

not accept responsibility for their actions practice "bad faith," or refuse to accept

responsibility for personal choices. They desire to become God, or find some justification for

their existence”. This is how each character in the series justifying existential qualities. The

themes presented in the novels lay a great emphasis on atheistic existentialism. The films

convey a message that the readers follow existential traits in the characters and urge them to
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follow Harry and Severus Snape. Audience must take action against apathy and evil, for it is

only action that stimulates positive change in the world.

Existential psychology is a branch of psychology that looks at how existence

determines the human’s sense of self and thus affects the way we lead our lives. Existence

should here be understood to mean the ability to know that one is there and can take a stand

with reference to that fact: it means to be aware of one’s presence in both space and time, and

to know that one is responsible for this existence. According to Eugene Taylor, Ludwig

Binswanger and Martin Heidegger were the early voices of the existential-analytic

movement in psychology and psychiatry , and the majority of the concepts within this

psychological movement therefore stem from Heidegger’s theories. By focusing on the

individual’s existence, existential analysis was able to widen and deepen psychoanalysis . A

key figure in this development was Rollo May, who, according to Taylor, chose to embark on

an earlier historical comparison of Kierkegaard and Nietzsche and the relation of their ideas

to psychoanalysis . May argued that, since existential psychology has its basis in

existentialism, Kierkegaard and Nietzsche are to be considered its founders. May further

concluded that almost all the specific ideas which later appeared in psychoanalysis could be

found in Nietzsche in greater breadth and in Kierkegaard in greater depth , thus providing the

basis on which he developed his theories. McDonald also states that existential psychology

and psychotherapy is a movement within the field of psychology that engages in a dialogue

with philosophy, namely existentialism. Kierkegaard and Nietzsche’s existential theories,

combined with Freud’s psychoanalysis, and Heidegger and Binswanger’s existential analysis,

have thus been adapted to form an existential psychological perspective that focuses on the

psychological effects of the human’s awareness of his/her existence, and the need to preserve

it.
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Being should, according to May, be understood to mean potential, the source of

potentiality; being is the potentiality by which each of us becomes what he truly is. It should,

in turn, be understood as the ability to exists in the world – not the capacity to see outside the

world, to size it up, to assess reality; it is rather then capacity to see oneselfas a being in the

world, and therefore to know that one has the ability to fulfil one’s true potential. Thus, to be

a complete and ideal being means to completely fulfil one’s true potential, and each person is

alone responsible for whom they become. It is the process of becoming, of learning to accept

one’s existence and everything that it entails, that is the key to fulfilling one’s potential – to

become an ideal being. If the being is lost and nonbeing is entered, the ability to fulfil one’s

potential is lost: one is no longer a being who can achieve everything that one could be.

Existentialism is a principle that does render human life possible. It affirms that every truth

and every action imply both an environment and a human subjectivity. Existentialism says

that till man makes a significant choice, he is nothing; just he simply exists with meaningless

angst and distress. It tries to give a solution for the problem of knowing meaning within

existence. Human being brings a meaning to life with the adoption of some serious social or

political reason. As in religion there are no meanings before one’s own existence, hence the

man should discover meaning for themselves. Existentialist belief has earned a dogmatic

status for pessimism and even full-blown nihilism. This status is somewhat apprehensible.

The thought of discovering meaning seems nonsense and meaningless. A number of the

popular phrases related with existential philosophy, such as angst, boredom, or fear, likewise

attack the common man with pessimism. But, the existential philosophical never declares a

pessimistic thought of civilization or realism. In fact, this philosophy talks about the people

who are knowledgeable and ethical has the abundant ability to bring a great change in the

world. Positive change is then essential; otherwise existence is a complete void. To put it I in

our own way, it is not just enough to be. One has to be something or life really lacks meaning
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or purpose. From this argument, existentialism has the potential to indeed be a very positive

means of approaching reality.

Some of the existential literary scholars are Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus, Simone

de Beauvoir, Samuel Beckett and Franz Kafka. Among them, Sartre is the promulgator of

existentialism. He became one of the strong existential thinkers of the twentieth century.

Inimitably, Sartre was the only person to turn down the Nobel Prize in Literature award.

Being an activist he dedicated his life to the development of society. In fact, Sartre did the

most to give existentialism form and popularity, and art and literature have been impacted by

existentialism because of its unusually effective methods of expression. The existential

Philosopher Sartre gained importance when he proposed that everybody is responsible for

their actions which depend on their choices but not on their nature. During World War II,

Sartre and his followers worried about the news of atrocities. They started arguing with other

on human existence and human nature, wondering why and how people could allow each

other to suffer from repressive political, social, economic, religious policies or systems. As a

result, Thomas Anderson says Sartre intended for existentialism to encourage people to

change the world. The theory of existentialism has not satisfied all of the philosophers, so as

a result there emerged two divisions: Christian existentialism and atheistic existentialism.

This is a discussion of atheistic existentialism in HarryPotterseries based on Jean-Paul

Sartre's existential philosophy.

Sartre claimed that a central proposition of Existentialism is that existence precedes essence,

which means that the most important consideration for individuals is that they are individuals

independently acting and responsible, conscious beings existence rather than what labels,

roles, stereotypes, definitions, or other preconceived categories the individuals fit essence

The actual life of the individuals is what constitutes what could be called their true essence

instead of there being an arbitrarily attributed essence others use to define them. Thus, human
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beings, through their own consciousness, create their own values and determine a meaning to

their life. Although it was Sartre who explicitly coined the phrase, similar notions can be

found in the thought of existentialist philosophers such as Heidegger, and Kierkegaard. Some

interpret the imperative to define oneself as meaning that anyone can wish to be anything.

However, an existentialist philosopher would say such a wish constitutes an inauthentic

existence what Sartre would call bad faith. Instead, the phrase should be taken to say that

people are defined only insofar as they act and that they are responsible for their actions. For

example, someone who acts cruelly towards other people is, by that act, defined as a cruel

person. Furthermore, by this action of cruelty, such persons are themselves responsible for

their new identity. This is as opposed to their genes, or humannature, bearing the blame.

Existential psychology looks at a person’s being, which is the totality of who they are. While

fictional characters do not provide the same basis for analysis as a real human being could,

this approach serves to provide a valid analysis of the characters’ attitudes towards their own

existence. While not real, the characters will be analysed in the context in which they exist:

within the confines of their fictional world, their whole being can be studied. All determining

aspects of the characters in focus will here be analysed, based on the information provided in

it. Existential psychology thus focuses on the character’s entire existence, although only

within their fictional world. While psychoanalysis, social-, cognitive- and developmental

psychology would each focus on their particular fields of interest, existential psychology

unites the different aspects, as the entire individual’s existence is the focus. An individual’s

past and childhood is arguably just as important as his/her interpersonal relationships, in

determining what approach she/he has to existence. All aspects of the individual’s past,

present, and future are important factors to be taken into consideration.

Existential psychology and philosophy highlight eleven existentials that determine the

individual’s approach to existence: freedom, responsibility, choice, alienation, temporality,

Being-towards-death, depression and anxiety, the interpersonal world, dogma and the socio-

cultural world, meaning and purpose, and narrative. These existentials are connected to each

other through the individual’s existence. While Heidegger’s term Dasein refers to the

individual’s existence, it is the desire to fulfil one’s being that is the core of this existence.

Freedom, responsibility, and choice are, furthermore, determining factors of the fulfilment of

one’s being: every individual is free to make choices about his/her being, but not making a

choice is impossible; by not choosing she /he isstill making choices about who she/he isand

his/her future possibilities. But with the freedom of choice and free will comes a

responsibility for one’s existence, and this responsibility is one of the underlying causes for

an individual’s perceived sense of anxiety. May states that anxietyis the

stateofthehumanbeinginthestruggleagainstwhatwoulddestroyhisbeing. Although love is a vital

component needed in order to fulfil one’s potential and thereby to become a complete being,

it is also a source for anxiety. If not experienced during the early stages of life love can, rather

than aiding the individual in the process of becoming, be perceived as a threat to his/her

existence. This indicates that love, in addition to nonbeing and freedom, can cause an

individual to experience a state of anxiety. These four existentials, nonbeing, freedom, love

and anxietyare the most fundamental ones, in the HarryPotter series.

In addition to emerging in a Western cultural context, this suggests that Christianity has

influenced the foundation of this branch of psychology. Cicirelli, however, argues that

religion can be used as a coping mechanism for dealing with death anxieties and preparing for

death, indicating that while Christianity might be the founding religion for existential

psychology, any religion might be applicable, since the basis is the human need to deal with

their existential burden by creating systems of meaning that allow them to suppress the
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problem of mortality by adhering to belief systems. Thus, while the presence of Christianity

within existential psychology is apparent, it is arguably due to the human tendency to turn to

religion, to a belief system or a higher power, when faced with the burden of existential

awareness.

Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort are not only the protagonist and antagonist of the

series, but also represent two sides of the spectrum of existential psychology. By mainly

focusing on death, love, and free will Harry and Voldemort’s attempts to fulfil their true

potential are explored and analysed from an existential viewpoint. While they share

similar backgrounds and qualities, Harry is argued to represent the ideal being,

possessing additional qualities that Voldemort does not. Due to these qualities, Harry’s

actions and choices concerning his existence prove to be very different from

Voldemort’s. While Voldemort’s sole purpose in life appears to be to overcome

nonbeing: to achieve immortality, Harry accepts his existence for what it is, he accepts

his freedom and free will, his impending nonbeing, and does not attempt to overcome it,

and he therefore also accepts his anxiety. Harry is consequently argued to act as, and

become, an ideal being, while Voldemort succumbs to his anxiety in his attempt to

overpower death, and is ultimately destroyed by it, indicating that his actions are not
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those of a complete being. Hence, Harry and Voldemort’s actions appear to represent the

two sides of existential psychology: the human awareness of existence affects the

individual’s choices, and actions. Harry symbolises the ideal being, while Voldemort is

the deterrent example of how not to act if one wishes to fulfil one’s potentials, and

preserve one’s being.

When existentialism comes in to Harry Potter series, God or religion does not present. So,

atheistic existentialism is the spine of the series. Each and everyone in the world is unique

and can make a difference. The film is based on it and rejects Christian existentialism. No

character's life is defined before he or she was born, as Christian existentialism dictates. The

greatest significant theme in the films is that all the characters in the films must produce

their identity. One’s own identity is depended on his selection of good and bad. No character

in the films depends upon God to define their purpose. Those characters and institutions

which do not accept responsibility for their actions practice bad faith, or refuse to accept

responsibility for personal choices. They desire to become God, or find some justification for

their existence. This is how each character in the series justifying existential qualities.

Atheistic existentialists base their theory claiming that existence precedes essence. People are

born and live, but their essence, or identity, must come after. A person is merely present in

the world until he or she has acted. Once that person has acted in any way, he or she becomes

the product of his or her actions. Each person is an individual and creates his or her own

existence . Atheistic existentialists do not rely on a Bible or other religious text to guide their

lives. They are the sum of their actions, and each person determines his or her identity.

With Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort as two widely different representations of the

human individual’s attempt to develop, and preserve, a being, the central features of

existential psychology are presentedHarryPotter series. Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort are

not only the protagonist and antagonist of the series, but also represent two sides of the
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spectrum of existential psychology. While they share similar backgrounds and characteristics,

Harry is portrayed as an ideal being possessing additional qualities that Voldemort does not.

While Voldemort’s sole purpose in life appears to be to overcome nonbeing: to achieve

immortality, Harry proves to be the more insightful individual. He accepts the existential

facts of death, freedom, and love, while Voldemort distances himself from them, dedicating

his life to overcome death and achieve immortality. Within the fictional world of

HarryPotter,these two characters are in other words juxtaposed in their attitudes to these

existential givens.By removing Harry and Voldemort from the logical rules within their

fictional world, their actions and thoughts cannot be accurately analysed, since they would be

considered illogical and untrue. Similarly, magical creatures and objects that exist solely

within this magical universe can only be analysed within the confines of this world, as they

do not exist outside of it. Horcruxes and Deathly Hallows only exist in fictional world

portrayed in this series, and can thus only be analysed as parts of it, based solely on the

information provided in the films.Both Harry and Voldemort lost their parents at a young age,

providing them with an awareness of the impending loss of their existence. This further

suggests that their awareness of existence is enhanced: they have experienced nonbeing,

through the deaths of others, and are therefore more aware of what it means to exist. In

addition to sharing similar qualities, they share similar pasts, and an awareness of death. This

indicates that they have rather equivalent foundations on which to build their selves. They

therefore serve as prime examples of how an individual can succeed and fail in the attempt to

develop, and preserve, his/her being. However, while their backgrounds are similar, their

actions, and the motives behind these, reveal significant differences. The protagonist Harry

represent the ideal being, while Voldemort, as antagonist, represents the unsuccessful attempt

to fulfil one’s potential. Additionally, the human sense of being is bound up with the
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questions that are deepest and most fundamental – questions of love, death, anxiety and

freedom.

Christianity has influenced the foundation existential psychology.Harry potter and Lord

voldemort are both highly influenced by the Western culture, and therefore also by

Christianity. This would further entail that there is a sense of Christian morality in both

HarryPotterand existential psychology. This morality certainly affects the way the

characters are both portrayed and interpreted. There are thereby cultural and moral

similarities between HarryPotterand existential psychology. This suggests that the

religious influences in existential psychology do not affect the validity of the theoretical

framework significantly. This would further entail that existential psychology is

applicable as a theoretical framework, when analysing these films.

The purpose of a human being’s existence is to achieve a state of an ideal being, by fulfilling

one’s true potential. The process of becoming, and the fulfilment of one’s being includes the

ability to form and maintain inter-personal relationships. In order to achieve a true sense of

being one needs to be present in three different modes of the world simultaneously. To be

present in what existentialist psychologists refer to as Umwelt means to be present in one’s

worldly surroundings, to have a relationship with the world. The presence in the Mitwelt is

the inter-personal relationships signifying that one has a sense of togetherness with others.

The relationship with others is, furthermore, the mode most emphasized in relation to love: a

presence in the Mitwelt indicates that one has the ability to not only relate to others, but to

care for them. Which in turn suggests that love is a fundamental component needed in order

to fulfil one’s potential and to become an ideal being. Finally, to be present in Eigenwelt

refers to a sense of self-awareness: it is the relationship one has with oneself. Only those who

are able to be present in all three modes of the world are able to fulfil his/her true potential by

achieving a sense of being. It is thus not only a matter of maintaining relationships with other
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people, or solely possessing a sense of self-awareness. These three modes are interconnected,

and it is only by changing one’s relationship with oneself, that one is then able to change

one’s relationship with others. This would further indicate that it is only in the simultaneous

existence in all three modes of the world that one can achieve a state of an ideal being.

The choice of Lily Potter, the mother of Harry Potter changes the world for good. She

sacrifices her life for the sake of her son. When Lord Voldemort wants to kill Harry, the so

called boy named in the prophecy that will defeat and kill Voldemort. In order to save her

son from Voldemort’s killing curse, Lily steps in and takes Harry’s place. Voldemort asks

her to step aside. But Lily chooses to protect her son. The choices the characters make are

usually in an effort to defeat cruel regimes. Lily’s sacrifice gives Harry an ultimate power

which no great wizard possess. Since Lily’s death was a great sacrifice, Harry is given

complete protection from evil Lord, and Harry does not die when Voldemort tries to kill him.

Love protects him. Instead, Lord Voldemort himself nearly destroyed. This action of Lily's

enables Harry to become the one who can defeat Lord Voldemort and ensure the wizarding

world's security from Lord Voldemort's second reign of oppression.

All through the series, Harry Potter faces elements of injustice and battles against

power. Harry is just an eleven year old boy when he starts his campaign against corrupt

power in the wizarding world. Harry not only fights with his archenemy, Voldemort but

also at Diagon Alley, his aunt’s house, at School, and even against the Ministry of Magic.

Harry creates his identity in spite of all these odds. Harry's decision not to join the

Slytherin house at school underlines an existential message that identity and social

position can be a matter of choice. According to Professor Dumbledore, Harry's choice to

join Gryffindor, rather than to allow the Sorting Hat to decide Harry's future, suggests he

is a product of his choices. Dumbledore tells Harry about the Sorting Hat's desire to place

Harry in Slytherin, Dumbledore understands that Harry is very clear about his and making
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choices about what he wants to be. Harry's choice of the House demonstrates Sartre's

existential philosophy. He does not want to join Slytherin because of its reputation for

producing the arrogant, the prejudiced, and the most famous Dark wizard in the world.

Harry is not a product of his blood, but rather a product of his actions. In Harry Potter And

The Philosopher’s stone Harry is able to get the Stone not because he intends to use it, but

because he intends to protect it from misuse, an intention that has motivated his actions

right from the start.

Harry's selection of choices for a lifelong fight against unjust power of people and

institutions make him a real hero. In spite of his few choices, he still chooses to fight for

the good side. Whether he is fighting against his proud family or the symbol of death,

Voldemort, Harry never sways in his fight and is very confident that justice prevails. All

of Harry's choices evidence Sartre's existential philosophy because Harry wants only good

to triumph. Harry marks his own signature in leading the people for greater good.

The second character that comes across in the series that practices Jean-Paul Sartre's

existential philosophy is Severus Snape. Severus Snape is Hogwarts Potions teacher. He is

considered as a person of complexity. In the beginning of the series he seems to be hostile

and hateful to Harry Potter but at the end of the series viewers come to know he is a loyal

to Head Master Dumbledore. Snape also saves Harry's life numerous times and risks his

life spying for Professor Dumbledore. Because of Snape's conflicting behaviour, viewers

doubt the loyalty of Snape, whether he is a faithful ally of the Order of the Phoenix or

serves Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters.

The last film of the series, Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows cleared the doubts of

viewers about Snape’s controversial. The truth is though Snape is cruel and wild, is indeed

a member of the Order of Phoenix, intent on protecting Harry Potter from Voldemort and
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death eaters. According to Sartre a person's past choices influence a person to make

similar choices in the present and future. But in the case of Snape it was not possible

because his past actions and motives were unclear.

According to theistic existentialism, an identity is formed before the person born.

Snape exhibits atheistic existentialism through his choice to change from evil to good.

Severus Snape, at different points in his life, was evil, serving as one of Lord Voldemort's

most reliable Death Eaters and murdering innocent people. He proves his identity is not

predetermined by making a drastic change later in his life when he becomes one of the

Order of the Phoenix's strongest and most valuable wizards. He does not maintain a single

identity as one would see in Christian existentialism, but instead Snape has the ability to

shape who he is, which the basic idea of atheistic existentialism.

According to Sartre’s theory, three principles define whether a person practices bad

faith or not. The first one is whether a person advocates freedom or not, second, whether a

person understands their actions and the third is whether a person accepts responsibility for

those actions. Snape repudiates bad faith as he renounces his old ideology. Being a member

of the Order of the Phoenix, he understands his actions. He plays a very responsible role in

protecting Harry Potter. Snape accepts absolute responsibility for his past actions and future

choices, even attempting to make amends for those past choices by risking his life for the

protection of Lily's son. He also regrets his choice to serve Lord Voldemort, a choice that

caused the death of his beloved Lily.

While Harry Potter character stands for true existentialism, Severus Snape embraces both

good and bad existentialism. When coming to Lord Voldemort, his whole existence is driven

by a belief in fate and a refusal to accept responsibility for his actions. Existentialism claims

that all humans are free from fate, destiny, or any other pre-conceived identity, but
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Voldemort and his Death Eaters, live as though their lives are predetermined and their

destiny is to rule over the wizarding world, refusing to accept responsibility for their own

actions. In order to rule the wizarding world, however, Voldemort believes he must first

conquer Great Britain's wizarding population, beginning with muggles, or non-magical

people.. Lord Voldemort’s choices and actions demonstrate bad faith in existentialism. He

believes in fate and always blames others for his position in the world. He blames all

muggles for the death of his mother and his life in an orphanage. When his parents separated,

he started hating muggles discovering that his muggle father abandoned him and his witch

mother. He consistently blames others for his life's circumstances, always denying

responsibility for his choices. Voldemort exists as an opponent of freedom and a challenger

of existentialism.

Voldemort's choice to believe in the prophecy killed an entire innocent people. Because of

his choice, Voldemort ultimately provides Harry with his own unique powers. They

include the ability to speak with snakes, known as parse tongue, and through the scar an

ability to see Voldemort's inner thoughts and feeling of emotions. Voldemort's choice to

single out one child creates unforeseen consequences, especially because Voldemort's

actions affect the options and motivations of others as they make their own choices.

Voldemort confirms his evil identity through his choices and affirms this identity to others

through his actions. He wages a second war against muggles and overtakes the Ministry of

Magic, employing his new motto: Magic is Might. His new motto illustrates what he values

is magic. By placing value on magic, Voldemort affirms to his followers what their values

should also be. As Sartre says, when a person makes a choice and values one thing above

another, he or she is creating a certain image of many of his own choosing.

Harry Potter, Severus Snape, and Lord Voldemort are not only just three characters in J.K.

Rowling's series that exhibit the elements of existentialism but also characters such as Albus

Dumbledore exhibit the good qualities of existentialism, while characters such as Minister

Cornelius Fudge exhibit bad faith. Rowling signifies her message very clearly through the

division of good and evil. She illustrates to be a good person; one must accept responsibility

for their actions, while evil people do not take the responsibility for their actions and practice

bad faith.

Harry Potter has previously been analysed from several psychological and philosophical

perspectives, there seems to be a division within the field. While existential themes, such as

death, freedom, and interpersonal relationships have all been analysed, they have been

studied separately. While Hook provides a psychological perspective on death, her focus is

solely on the grieving process and the different ways in which Harry and Voldemort deal

with their bereavement. In The Real Secret of the Phoenix death signifies a moral

regeneration: Harry’s death and rebirth signifies his transformation into a complete and true

self. Although it is not their intent, their observation mirrors the existentialist concept of

Being-towards death. Although these scholars all focus on death as a recurring theme in

Rowling’s novels, they analyse it as being completely severed from other aspects of the

individual. These interpretations thus indicate that there is a further need to study the effects

death has on the individual, not as a separate aspect but as a part of his/her existence.

When Harry realizes that he must die in order to vanquish Voldemort he confronts his

nonbeing more intensely than ever before. In order for Harry to become whole once again,

he must die to release the Voldemort link. It is only when the bond between him and

Voldemort has been severed that Harry can achieve the state of an ideal being. Harry must
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thus face his own nonbeing, and die willingly. Ultimately, Harry sacrifices himself. As Harry

walks to his own execution he is alone, the way Christ was alone when he went to the cross.

This is an indication of a deliberate exploitation of the mythical resonance of the Jesus figure:

similarly to Jesus, Harry walks to his death willingly, emphasizing both his sacrifice for the

world, as well as the differences between himself and Voldemort. Harry faces nonbeing to

the point of mirroring his mother’s sacrifice: he dies to save the world. Thus, while

Voldemort’s existence appears to be ruled by his anxiety concerning nonbeing, Harry accepts

the end of his being.

By accepting his inevitable death, Harry has arguably confronted nonbeing, and the

anxiety that comes with it, and is able to live life more fully than before. Since Harry has seen

the death that his future holds, he is able to fulfil his potential and enter a state of an ideal

being. While Voldemort avoids his own death, Harry accepts and faces his eventual death at a

very young age. His awareness of nonbeing is symbolised by this.. Since it is only after

Harry has seen Cedric die that he is able to see these creatures. The death of Cedric Diggory

is a catalyst for Harry’s awareness of nonbeing. The deaths of his godfather Sirius, his mentor

Dumbledore, his trusted owl Hedwig, the faithful house-elf Dobby, and his friends Lupin and

Tonks are therefore vital components in Harry’s awareness of what nonbeing signifies. He

has to experience these losses while being aware that no spell can reawaken the dead.

However, when one accepts death, and thus the anxiety it causes, one’s existence is enhanced,

rather than destroyed: one is one step closer to accepting one’s existence completely. It is

Harry’s willingness to die that keeps him from reaching a state of nonbeing, and in turn also

what keeps him existing. Harry, in his acceptance of death is able to overcome any possible

fears concerning death, and by choosing to die he is in control of his existence. He has faced

his own death on a number of occasions and his acceptance of it is evident. The fulfilment of

his being, as a result of his acceptance of nonbeing is further symbolised by his resurrection:
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as Harry sacrifices himself, he dies, but still appears to have the ability to return to life. It is

due to his acceptance of his future nonbeing that his being can truly and fully exist: he

accepts his existence completely and does not question any aspect of it. Death is an

unavoidable part of his existence, and by accepting that Harry is able to fulfil his true

potential.

Throughout the eight films there are two major expressions of the dread of not being: ghosts

and Voldemort. While both Voldemort and ghosts could be argued to share a fear of

nonbeing they do, however, fear different aspects of it. There is both a natural death and a

spiritual death. Natural death is not only the point of transition into a future life; it is also the

decisive point at which one’s eternal testing becomes clear. This claim highlights the

religious aspects of existential psychology: there is a belief in souls in an eternal existence,

beyond death. While Voldemort seeks to conquer his natural, and biological death, ghosts

have already suffered this and instead they spend eternity avoiding a spiritual death. Instead

of facing his death completely, he chose a feeble imitation of life instead. The ghosts of

Hogwarts thus serve as a symbol for the fear of complete death. They do no longer exist, in

the sense of being-in-the world: rather, they live among the existing beings in the world.

They have died, but cling so desperately to the slight flicker of life left only in the remains of

their souls that they manage to live alongside those who still exist.

According to existential psychology, children are born as one with the universe (Umwelt),

their mother (Mitwelt), and themselves (Eigenwelt). This view is shaped by a heteronormative

Western perception of love, as it presumes that a mother figure is a necessary component for

a successful development of interpersonal relationships. It is the presence of a parent that is

of importance, not the gender. In order to achieve the human’s purpose to unite love and will,

these three modes have to remain stable: one must be equally present in Umwelt, Mitwelt,

and Eigenwelt. The need to be present in the three modes of the world is clearly visible in the
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individual’s relationship with him- or herself, but the relationship with others is, however, the

mode most emphasized in relation to love.His mother Lily’s love for him is what determines

Harry’s Mitwelt: his ability to love others the way he himself has been loved. This parental

love is one of the cornerstones of Harry Potter series; throughout the subsequent films, this

embodied parental love supports Harry physically and emotionally. It is due to his mother’s

love for him, and his early relationship with his mother, that Harry has the foundation he

needs in order to be fully present in his Mitwelt: he has the tools he needs in order to form

healthy relationships with others.

Harry and Voldemort’s experiences with parental love are, however, portrayed as

drastically different. In contrast to Harry’s mother, who gave her own life in order for her

child to live, Voldemort’s mother “refused to raise her wand even to save her own life. While

Lily loved her son to the extent that she was willing to give her life for his, Voldemort’s

mother chose death in spite of a son who needed her. Their relationships with their mothers

affected their abilities to form and maintain interpersonal relationships: due to Voldemort’s

mother dying shortly after his birth, he has never experienced the sense of Mitwelt that a

parent will provide. Furthermore, since having parents is part of man’s being, both Voldemort

and Harry are therefore exposed to the most serious crises. It is here the love and care that

parents are assumed to provide that is of importance, not who provides it. Harry finds

replacements for his parents during the series. Molly and Arthur Weasley are the most

evident parental figures that he appears to adopt as substitutes for his own: although they are

his best friend’s parents they treat Harry as if he was one of their own children; they provide

Harry with the love and support close to that of real parents. Voldemort had the opportunity

to do the same: he could have found replacements of his parents; a mentor or a parental figure

to help guide him through life – but refused to do so. This is the fundamental difference

between Harry and Voldemort: the basis on which their remaining differences are built. Harry
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was, through his mother’s love, given the foundations needed build his Mitwelt. This

foundation is developed further as he finds new parental figures, in the form of Sirius, Hagrid,

Dumbledore, and the Weasleys, to provide him with the interpersonal relationships that he

would have had with his parents, had they not died. Since Voldemort did not have any

parental figures to provide him with this foundation, on which to form a sense of Mitwelt, any

hope of developing an ability to love and form interpersonal relationships thus vanished as his

mother died.