How the Harry Potter books perfectly pulled off the ‘Chosen One’ trope (but the movies ruined it)

As someone who has spent countless hours immersed in the magical world of Harry Potter, I find myself deeply moved by the intricate and thought-provoking exploration of the “Chosen One” trope in J.K. Rowling’s narrative. The way she subtly subverts this well-worn storyline by having Voldemort himself choose the hero is nothing short of brilliant. It’s a poignant reminder that sometimes, our destinies are not preordained but shaped by the actions of those around us, for better or for worse.

On Halloween night of 1981, Lord Voldemort appeared at the Potter residence in Godric’s Hollow with the intention of killing his prophesied adversary – a 15-month-old Harry. Little did Voldemort know, that very act set in motion events leading to his own demise. If he had acted differently, Harry Potter might not have become the one destined to defeat him.

Indeed, if the circumstances were different, the series might not have been named “Harry Potter”. However, let’s save that topic for another time.

What is ‘The Chosen One’ trope and is Harry Potter an example of it?

For those who are new to this concept, ‘The Chosen One’ refers to a common story pattern where one central character is revealed as the future savior of the plot, guided by fate or ancestry. Typically, The Chosen One ultimately rescues the world. Occasionally, though, the narrative takes an unexpected twist, such as with Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars prequels and Paul Atreides in Dune.

In “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” Harry Potter is revealed to be ‘The Chosen One’ embodied from the very start. The scruffy, glasses-wearing 11-year-old boy, who discovers he’s a wizard and is escorted through Diagon Alley by Hagrid, exhibits traits suggestive of a future savior of the world. By the end of the tale, Harry, an unassuming, orphaned outsider with a distinctive mark prophesied to defeat the Dark Lord, is not only figuratively but literally known as “The Chosen One.

The story could have ended satisfactorily if it had followed that path, but J.K. Rowling introduced an unexpected turn of events, making a typical plot device a crucial part of the storyline instead.

Sybill Trelawney’s prophecy

The fundamental catalyst behind the occurrences depicted in the Harry Potter series is a prophecy initially uttered by Sybill Trelawney during her job interview with Albus Dumbledore at the Hog’s Head Inn for the position of Divination teacher at Hogwarts, which took place in 1980.

“The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches… born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies… and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not… and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives… the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies….”

In simpler terms, during a conversation, Severus Snape secretly listens to part of a prophecy being discussed between Dumbledore and someone else (Aberforth). He is then asked to leave. As a Death Eater at that time, Snape shared the details of this prophecy with Voldemort.

Initially, it appears to be a simple prediction concerning Harry, born to parents who were members of the Order of the Phoenix and engaged in battles against Voldemort during the First Wizarding War, on the 31st of July. However, there were others who matched this description as well.

The Twist

Neville Longbottom, born on July 30 to Frank and Alice, both aurors who bravely resisted Voldemort as many times as James and Lily Potter did, met the requirements of Trelawney’s prophecy. Yet, Voldemort chose Harry instead, possibly because they shared half-blood heritage and the Dark Lord recognized a reflection of himself in him, according to fans.

In a chilling turn of events, Voldemort strides into Godric’s Hollow and slaughters James. He then proposes to Lily that she move aside and surrender Harry, but she vehemently rejects this offer. Instead, with an act of unparalleled courage and love, Lily lays down her life to shield her son, a selfless deed that endows Harry with a protective charm for the years ahead.

In a surprising twist, the spell cast by Voldemort results in it rebounding upon him, leading to the loss of his physical form. This event effectively erases Voldemort from existence, though he continues to live, albeit in a fragmented state due to his Horcruxes (and perhaps plot protection), while young Harry only bears a scar on his forehead, shaped like lightning.

In my view, by picking Harry, Voldemort inadvertently designated him as his peer, as implied by an aspect of the prophecy he was unaware of. Essentially, he empowered a baby to bring about his downfall. If he had merely ignored the prediction, he could have maintained his invincibility.

In trying to end your life, Voldemort unwittingly equipped you with the skills necessary for this task,” Dumbledore explains to Harry. “It was due to Voldemort’s actions that you could read his intentions and even comprehend the serpentine manner in which he commands.

In essence, Harry Potter isn’t chosen due to his lineage or destiny by fate, but because the villain personally selected him for this role. The prophecy made by Professor Trelawny forms a self-fulfilling loop in time, where its validity hinges on Voldemort recognizing and acting upon it, which he indeed does.

How the Harry Potter movies do injustice to the original story

In a creative turn of events, the Harry Potter series reimagined the overused concept where the hero is selected, not by destiny or strength, but by the very villainy that required vanquishing. This narrative element allows room for speculation about other possible Chosen Ones, thereby highlighting the burden rather than the glory associated with this role.

However, the films didn’t delve into the intricate details. Instead, Neville Longbottom was merely portrayed as Harry Potter’s uneasy friend throughout most of the series. It wasn’t until the last film that his role became significant – he drew Gryffindor’s sword from the Sorting Hat and slayed Nagini in the climactic battle. The films failed to clarify Neville’s role in the prophecy.

Harry and Neville had something beyond just a common birthday. They were both offspring of conflict, with their parents giving their lives while striving for a noble cause. Similarly to Harry, Neville spent his childhood without his biological parents.

Frank and Alice were pushed to the brink of madness by Bellatrix Lestrange and other Death Eaters following Voldemort’s fall. Unlike James and Lily, they didn’t die, but their state was arguably worse. For the remainder of their days, the couple remained immobile and nearly brain-damaged at St. Mungo’s Hospital. The films omitted the tragic story of the Longbottoms, as well as a scene showing Neville with his parents in Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix.

There remains an opportunity to delve deeper into this aspect within the upcoming, more literature-centric Harry Potter TV series by HBO.

How things would have turned out if Voldemort went for Neville

A Reddit speculation posits that Trelawney’s prophecy might as well have referred to either Harry or Neville, but the course of events would have dramatically changed if Voldemort had picked Neville instead of Harry.

According to fan theory, Lily’s selfless act of sacrificing her life to protect Harry from Voldemort was effective due to Snape’s plea to spare her. Typically, Voldemort disregarded such pleas, but in this instance, he granted Lily a choice to step aside. However, Lily chose to die instead of letting Harry perish. This selfless act is believed to have strengthened the protective charm on Harry, making it work more effectively.

To clarify, if Voldemort had targeted Neville’s family instead of Lily and James Potter, it’s possible that Neville might not have survived either. This alteration could have significantly changed the course of events in the Wizarding World, potentially making Voldemort even more powerful and difficult to defeat.

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2024-12-07 17:41