Riding a broomstick out of Plato’s cave: Elements of Plato found in J.K. Rowling’s <i>Harry Potter</i> series

<p>J.K. Rowling’s <em>Harry Potter</em> series has become a cultural phenomenon. An analysis of the <em>Harry Potter</em> series reveals that underneath the phenomenon status there is great depth. This paper looks at aspects of the novels that mirror elements found in Plato’s <em>The Republic</em>, specifically his allegory of the cave in Book Seven. Plato’s allegory of the cave can be broken down into “four stages,” and in the <em>Harry Potter</em> novels there are characters who fall in each of these four stages. Through the characters in the four stages we see that the “highest form of knowledge” (Plato 246) to be obtained is that of understanding not only one’s own world, or community, but also being able to understand that of the other.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (MA)

Level thesis:degree_level

Open Access Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

English Language and Literature

Year

2008

Author dc:creator

• Parker, Camille Winegar

Contributors dc:contributor

• Ian Wojcik-Andrews, PhD, chair
• Sheila Most, PhD

• Rowling
• J. K. Criticism and interpretation
• J. K. Characters Harry Potter
• Plato. Republic. Book 7
• Children's and Young Adult Literature

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.emich.edu/theses/175

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.emich.edu:theses-1174