Who Invited Harry Potter?

Myths about heroes involve early parental loss,
mentors, battles against evil, and night-sea journeys
during which self-awareness deepens. J.K. Rowling s
books about the hero, Harry Potter, share these plot
similarities, while they engender phenomenal
attention and commercial success. Using the methods
of depth psychological analysis, this book asks, Who
needs Harry Potter, with his adventures, challenges
with evil and decision making? We have invited
Harry, and he has shown up. This work posits that the
archetypal images within the novels represent
connections to the collective unconscious, and offer
meaningful commentary about love, loss, and
transformation in contemporary culture. Throughout
the chapters, excerpts from Rowling s books and other
works of literature illustrate theories of childhood
development, grief and loss, evil, and the
archetypal. Jung s theories about the shadow provide
a framework for understanding Harry s emerging self,
warts and all, as well as the personality of the
antagonist, Voldemort. Enlightening research and
reading for educators, psychotherapists, and Harry
Potter fans, especially for those who believe in the
power of story to transform.

Autorentext

Victoria L. Hippard LCSW, MSW from Tulane University, PhD inMythological Studies with an Emphasis in Depth Psychology fromPacifica Graduate Institute. Psychotherapist in private practiceand adjunct professor at Loyola University in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Klappentext

Myths about heroes involve early parental loss,mentors, battles against evil, and night-sea journeysduring which self-awareness deepens. J.K. Rowling'sbooks about the hero, Harry Potter, share these plotsimilarities, while they engender phenomenalattention and commercial success. Using the methodsof depth psychological analysis, this book asks, "Whoneeds Harry Potter, with his adventures, challengeswith evil and decision making?" We have invitedHarry, and he has shown up. This work posits that thearchetypal images within the novels representconnections to the collective unconscious, and offermeaningful commentary about love, loss, andtransformation in contemporary culture. Throughoutthe chapters, excerpts from Rowling's books and otherworks of literature illustrate theories of childhooddevelopment, grief and loss, evil, and thearchetypal. Jung's theories about the shadow providea framework for understanding Harry's emerging self,warts and all, as well as the personality of theantagonist, Voldemort. Enlightening research andreading for educators, psychotherapists, and HarryPotter fans, especially for those who believe in thepower of story to transform.