Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows story based on Mathew & Corinthians

On the Gravestones of the Wizard Dumbledore’s Mother and Sister

On the gravestones of the wizard Dumbledore’s mother and sister, portions of biblical verse are written in the narrative. Where your treasure is, there will also be your heart, is a verse from the Bible that Albus Dumbledore wrote on the tombs of his mother and sister (Deathly Hallows pp. 325). Dumbledore took inspiration for his writings from Matthew 6: 21 in the Bible. The events surrounding his sister Ariana’s death inform Dumbledore’s selection of the Sermon on the Mount verses to place on the tombs of his mother and sister. Dumbledore admitted that the sister’s death was caused by the powerful earthly treasures ’Deathly Hallows’.

The Tragic Tale of Ariana Dumbledore

The story presents Ariana as the most tragic character who lived most part of her life with little happiness and needed the most attention from the brother to comfort her colossally hurt life. Dumbledore failed to protect his sister that being one of his main duties as the elder brother because of his tireless pursuit for power and earthly pressures. The case of Dumbledore and Ariana draws from the biblical story of ’No man can serve two masters’ (Mathew 6:24). The biblical teaching holds that chase of the wealth of power, even for benevolent causes, can ultimately only lead to death or ruin. Dumbledore is his words understood the biblical teaching as he admitted saying that even him the most powerful wizard of his day, was not to be trusted with power.

Severus Snape’s Struggle

The story gives another case Mathew 6:24 of one trying to serve two masters that ruined the life of Severus Snape. Snape was too divided in pursuing two courses at the same time when he was torn between protecting his love for Lilly Evans, Harry Potter’s mother, and his quest for power. During the last days of Dumbledore, Snap made revelations to Headmaster his Patronus, a doe which was the same as Lily’s Patronus. Dumbledore then realized that Snape had remained dedicated to Lily and his love for her was his master. However, Snape had another master that was his pursuit of power. In the end, Snape realizes that he could not serve two masters since his credits were ruined and made up his mind to serve one master and so remained committed to his love for Lily and shunned his opportunity to take the throne.

The Epitaph of James Potter and Lily Porter

On James Potter and Lily Porter’s tombstone had an epitaph “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” The writings are drawn from the biblical verse word-by-word from 1 Corinthians 15:26. After Dumbledore had died, grief had weighed greatly on Harry as he made his way to the grave. After Harry in the company of Hermione had discovered Dumbledore mother’s grave and that of Dumbledore’s sister, they came across the grave of Harry Porter’s parents James and Lily Porter (Deathly Hallows pp. 328). The Porter’s had their tombs made just like the one for Kendra and Ariana. Harry got close to the tomb and read out the last inscriptions. The writing was to bring out the meaning that James and Lilly had accepted death. Before his death, James accepted death when he decided to fight Voldemort to his last breath at their home. Lily too had accepted the verdict of death when she made a decision to protect her son willingly. At the end of the story Harry too accepted death and embrace it for the well-being of the people he loved, and so death was not any more of an enemy.

Conquering Death

The story borrows from the same verse in 1 Corinthians 15:20-26 in bringing out the biblical lesson of conquering death. The biblical verse narrates after Jesus resurrected and became the first fruits of those people who sleep (died). “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive...for he must reign, till he hath all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:20-26). The scriptural context brings out the concept of crucifixion, death, and literal resurrection meaning Jesus conquered death. The inclusion of the quote in the context of the several deaths that earlier occurred in the story and reasons behind each death, brings out the meaning that in the end of Deathly Hallows, after Harry surmounts death by accepting and giving himself into Voldemort and is then reborn, makes him just like Christ.

Interpreting the Epitaph

The first time Harry read the Epitaph on Porter’s tombstone, he asked himself after a horrible thought came to his mind and he panicked “Isn’t that a Death Eater Idea? Why is that there?” (Deathly Hallows pp. 328). Hermione explained to Harry a different interpretation “It doesn’t mean defeating death in the way the Death eaters mean it, Harry,” “It means...you know...living beyond death. Living after Death” (Deathly Hallows pp. 328). The interpretation given by Hermione is in line with the biblical teaching St. Paul was sending to the Corinthians in his letter teaching on life after death. Paul’s letter to Corinthians about the resurrection of Jesus Christ was symbolic that followers of Christ would in the end resurrect. The resurrection teaching for believers is an indicator that death will be destroyed and those who believe in Christ would live beyond death or rather in the typical teachings will have eternal life.

Christian Symbolism

While still at the yard, Hermione was still grief-stricken holding Harry’s hands tightly, taking deep, sharp gulp of the night air in efforts to remain stable and regain control (Deathly Hallows pp. 329). Hermione then raised her hand in a circle through the air after which a wreath of Chrisms roses bloomed in front of them (Deathly Hallows pp. 329). Harry then took the wreath of roses and laid it on his parents’ grave. The scene of laying Christmas roses on the tomb of Lily and James Porter draws from the biblical tradition of Christian symbolism. Christmas rose is used by Christians to symbolize nativity. The monument of Porters family having James Porter, Lily Porter, and the Young Harry Porter is equally a symbol of the first family of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus.