Salman Rushdie / The Satanic Verses

Salman Rushdie The Satanic Verses

Date written:
1988

Synopsis:
Arguably the most controversial novel of the late twentieth century, The Satanic Verses was banned in India within a week of its publication, and within six months had given rise to a virulent international controversy over the proper limits on freedom of speech and the true place and function of literature in society. The Satanic Verses is the story of two men, Gibreel Fasishta and Saladin Chamcha, who have survived the fall from an exploding plane and started to develop distinctly inhuman characteristics as a result. Rushdies narrative weaves as easily through modern Bombay and London as through ancient cities of sand, taking the reader into shared dreams, mad pilgrimages, and the violent birth of a new religion with keen insight and sharp irreverence that earned Rushdie international notoriety, and far worse.

Notable figures:
Gibreel Farishta A vain, mentally unbalanced Indian film star who takes on many roles portraying gods. Adored by his fans and tensely tolerated by his industry colleagues, Gibreel is finally thrown off balance by surviving the fall from the Bostan and, in his dreamlike metamorphosis into his angelic namesake, wanders the streets as a schizophrenic. Gibreel is arrogant, jealous, and sometimes dishonest, but his candor about his own problems, even during dreams and fits of insanity, makes him a more sympathetic character than he might otherwise be. Saladin Chamcha A voiceover artist and ardent anglophile, Chamchas transformation turns him into a devilish, goatlike creature to match his shortened temper and anguished disillusion with the western world and former Indian domestic life he believed to be invaluable. Pamela Lovelace Saladins estranged wife, Pamela is a progressive activist and a bombshell westerner whose growing dissatisfaction with Chamcha becomes clear to her only after his reported death. When he returns, in his new goatish body, to find her having an extended affair with his best friend, Jumpy Joshi, Pamela is unfazed and unrepentant. Zeeny Vakil Saladins lover, a doctor and a political activist. Mimi Mamoulian Saladins partner/co-star in many of his voice impersonation/voiceover gigs, Mimi is practical, vulgar and kindhearted.

Rushdie, Salman. The Satanic Verses. New York: Picador, 2000.

Salman Rushdie / The Satanic Verses Rekha Merchant Gibreels former (married) lover, who commits suicide with her children when he leaves her. Rekhas avenging spirit haunts Gibreel at intervals throughout the remainder of the novel.

Alleluia Cone A flat-footed mountain climber, Alleluia was once Gibreels lover but ends up repeatedly saving his life when he winds up at her doorstep in increasingly worse condition over the course of the story. Unfounded and explosive jealousy finally moves Gibreel to murder Alleluia and his old film industry supporter, S. S. Sisoda, in the gathering climax of the novel. Mahound The prophet representing Muhammed in Rushdies text, whose name is taken from an old European slur on the Prophets name. Mahound is not portrayed as an entirely unworthy character, but his human character flaws and growing lust for power at any cost eventually overshadow his better traits. Mahound keeps a harem of twelve wives with him, who through a brothel of women who appropriate their names, become unexpectedly prominent characters in the text. Salman A lapsed believer and Mahounds former scribe, he lost his faith in the Prophet once he began deliberately changing the record of revelation, simply to see if Mahound was enough of a prophet to notice the difference. When Mahound let the changes slip by, Salman became disgusted and finally deserted the camp, coming to an uneasy alliance with the satirical poet Baal of Jahilia. Ayesha (I): the Prophets youngest and favorite wife. Ayesha (II): A young concubine who takes on Ayeshas name and gains the affections of the disgraced poet Baal, posing as a guard in the brothel while in hiding from Mahounds forces. Ayesha (III): A village girl and epileptic prophetess who led the people of her town on a grueling foot-hike to Mecca, taking them straight into the sea she believed she could part. Ayesha (IV): A cruel modern tyrant in Desh who has set herself against a powerful Imam (representing the deposed Shah of Iran). Bilal I: A former slave and faithful follower of Mahound Bilal II: A fanatical acolyte of the modern Imam Hind (I): The powerful, wrathful wife of Abu Simbel and longtime opponent of Mahound, she converts once she realizes that Mahound has gained control of her city. Having personally murdered Mahounds uncle (ripping open his chest and eating his liver) in revenge for slaying her brothers, Hind acts to save her own life and remains a follower of the powerful sect until her death. Hind (II): The avaricious, coldhearted wife of Muhammed Sufyan, who grudgingly gives Chamcha shelter in her home. Mishal Akhtar: Mirzas wife, slowly dying of breast cancer, who forms an attachment to the young prophetess Ayesha and insists on joining the march to Mecca over her husbands furious protests.

Rushdie, Salman. The Satanic Verses. New York: Picador, 2000.

Salman Rushdie / The Satanic Verses

Mishal Sufyan: Hind and Muhammed Sufyans oldest daughter, she supports the angry, goatlike Chamcha through a painful time of coming to terms with his new body. Some Minor Characters: Karim Abu Simbel, Jumpy Joshi, Mirza Saeed Akhtar, Muhammed Sufyan, Khalid I, Khalid II, Hanif Johnson

Book notes (Points of controversy):

On Saladin, the would-be Indian expat: Salahuddin Chamchawala had understood by his thirteenth year that he was destined for that cool Vilayet full of the crisp promises of pounds sterling at which the magic billfold had hinted, and he grew increasingly impatient of that Bombay of dust, vulgarity, policemen in shorts, transvestites, movie fanzines, pavement sleepers and the rumored singing whores of Grant Road (37) Best place for you is here, [Sufyan] said, speaking as if to a simpleton or small child. Where else would you go to heal your disfigurements and recover your normal health? Where else but here, with us, among your own people, your own kind? Only when Saladin Chamcha was alone in the attic room at the very end of his strength did he answer Sufyans rhetorical question. Im not your kind, he said distinctly into the night. Youre not my people. Ive spent half my life trying to get away from you. (261-262) Sacrilegious portrayal of the Prophets revelation: It happens: revelation. Like this: Mahound, still in his notsleep, becomes rigid, veins bulge in his neck, he clutches at his centre. No, no, nothing like an epileptic fit, it cant be explained away that easily; what epileptic fit ever caused day to turn to night, cause clouds to mass overhead, caused the air to thicken into soup while an angel hung, scared silly, in the sky above the sufferer, held up like a kite on a golden threadGibreel begins to feel that strength that force, here it is at my own jaw working it, opening shutting, and the power, starting within Mahound, reaching up to my vocal chords and the voice comes. Not my voice Id never know such words Im no classy speaker never was never will be but this isnt my voice its a Voice. Being Gods postman is no fun. Butbutbut: God isnt in this picture. God knows whose postman Ive been. (114) Baal asked: Why are you sure he will kill you?

Rushdie, Salman. The Satanic Verses. New York: Picador, 2000.

Salman Rushdie / The Satanic Verses Salman the Persian answered: Its his Word against mine. (381) Whores taking on the name of the Prophets wives: How many wives? Twelve, and one old lady, long dead. How many whores behind the Curtain? Twelve again; and, secret on her black-tented throne, the ancient Madam, still defying death. Where there is no belief, there is no blasphemy. Baal told the Madam of his idea; she settled matters in her voice of a laryngitic frog: It is very dangerous, she pronounced, but it could be damn good for business. We will go carefully; but we will go. (392-393)

Gibreels lack of faith despite being the angel of the Prophet: Mr. Gibreel Farishta on the railway train to London was once again seized as who would not be by the fear that God had decided to punish him for the loss of faith by driving him insane. (195) Immediately after this reflection he becomes involved in conversation with Mr. Maslama, a pompous passenger seated next to him, who ends up knocking off Gs hat, noticing a halo and affirming that if Gibreel is insane, the rest of the world has gone insane right along with him: Its a straight choice, he trembled silently. Its A, Im off my head, or B, baba, somebody went and changed the rules. (195)

Rushdie, Salman. The Satanic Verses. New York: Picador, 2000.

Netton / Text and Trauma

Critical notes: Ian Netton Text and Trauma: An East-West Primer

The Satanic Verses may be likened to a bubbling cauldron whose principal ingredients are two people and three places. (22) On weighted names: Gibreel Farishta / Jibrl + Firishta / Gabriel + angel (22) Saladin Chamcha / Salh al-Dn + chamcha / Medieval Islamic war hero + spoon/humble (23) Azraeel / Izrl / Islamic angel of Death (23) Jahilia / Jhiliyya / a state of ignorance; pre-Islamic paganism, pre-Islamic times (23) Bostan / Bustn / the garden (of Paradise) (25) Mahound / Muhammed / Demonic European slur on the Prophets name (26) Comparisons between the text and Islamic mythology: In conversation with Baal, a disillusioned Salman admits to altering the revelations deliberately as he recorded what Mahound dictated. (34) With the death of his father, Saladin is compared by Rushdie to the orphaned founder of Islam, Muhammad, thus subtly linking him to previous chapters. The difference, of course is that the Prophet of Islam was orphaned at a very early age, whereas Saladins own orphaning is a product of middle age. (38) Rushdies Gibreel in The Satanic Verses is a highly ambiguous figure. Very much a sacred link, he is also portrayed as a flawed link, sometimes seeming to merge with, or at least be reflected by, his very human namesake Gibreel Farishta who is, in any case, a symbolic angel. (123) Opening revelation and miracles of some quality to all: Finally all the pilgrims reach the Arabian Sea and they enter it behind Ayesha, wasing out of their depth. Ayesha, Mishal and the credulous villagers appear to be dromed. However, those few who have survived the expeditionlike sarpanch, Osman, Sri Srinivasgive testimony afterwards that at the very last moment the Sea did indeed part for the pilgrims. (37) On the legend of the Satanic verses: There are a number of variant traditions, but they do not alter the import of what al-Tabar narrated. And some scholars have accepted his version of events. Watt, for example, notes that at one time Muhammad must have publicly recided the satanic verses as part of the Qurn. He finds it unthinkable that the story could have been invented later by Muslims or foisted upon them by non-Muslims.Elsewhere, Watts says: The story is so strange that it must be true in essentials. (85)

Netton, Ian. Text and Trauma: An East-West Primer. Oxford: Routledge/Curzon, 1995.

Ramadan / Western Muslims and the Future of Islam

Critical notes: Tariq Ramadan Western Muslims and the Future of Islam Points on scholarly and modern Islam:
On Sharia: If the idea of establishing rules is indeed contained in the notion of Shariathis translation does not convey the fullness of the way it is understood, unless its more general and fundamental meaning is referred to: the path that leads to the spring. We have seen that this corpus of reference is, for the Muslim consciousness, where the universal is formulated: God, human nature, which makes itself human by turning on itself and recognizing the need of Him, reason, active and fed by humility, and, finally, Revelation, which confirms, corrects, and exerts a guiding influence. (31) On an ethic of citizenship: The concept of citizenship is fashionable. People want to vindicate it, defend it, promote it, and extend it. It is the banner of the progressives and the badge of integrated people. To be honest, the concept of citizens is used to speak of everything and nothing with the understanding that, in the end, there must come into being a European/American-born Muslim citizen. (165) On inter-religious dialogue and difference: Difference might naturally lead to conflict; therefore, the responsibility of humankind is to make use of difference by establishing a relationship based on excelling one another in doing good. It is vital that the balance of power is based not on a tension born of rejection or mutual ignorance but fundamentally on knowledge: O people, we have created you from a male and a female, we have divided you into nations and tribes so that you might know one another. Knowing the other is a process that is unavoidable if fear or difference is to be overcome and mutual respect is to be attained. (203)

Ramadan, Tariq. Western Muslims and the Future of Islam. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003.

LaHaye, Jenkins / Left Behind: A Novel of the Earths Last Days

Tim LaHaye, Jerry B. Jenkins Left Behind: A Novel of the Earths Last Days
Date written:
1995

Synopsis:
For the protagonists of Left Behind, the Rapture is only the beginning of their troubles. International conspiracies, supernatural interventions and murder mysteries bring together an unlikely team of a star journalist, an airline pilot, a college student and a formerly faithless pastor in their newfound faith and the sudden, pressing need to fight an Adversary they never imagined possible.

Notable figures:
Cameron Buck Williams A young superstar journalist, privy to international scoops and cosmic miracles before reaching his mid-thirties. Buck is intelligent, aggressive and skeptical, and is the most involved in the high-level politics of the novel. Rayford Steele A middle-aged airline pilot whose growing dissatisfaction with his home lifeincluding his newly religious wifehas driven Rayford into a mire of selfindulgent moodiness that is rudely shaken off when his wife and youngest son vanish in the Rapture. Chloe Steele Rayfords daughter flees Stanford after millions disappear into thin air. Skeptical and candid but ultimately feminine and domestic, Chloe eventually follows her father into accepting Christ. Bruce Barnes A lay pastor with all the requisite education but, before the Rapture, no real faith. Now truly repentant, faithful and evangelical, Bruce is making efforts to win converts to the church and combat the rising forces of evil that he suspects are now rising in the world. Hattie Durham A flirtatious, somewhat vapid blonde airline assistant with whom Rayford has been considering having an affair, Hattie is not an immoral character so much as a confused and insecure one. She listens patiently to Rayfords apology for his conduct and explanation of his faith, but ultimately rejects his approach, finishing the novel as Nicolae Carpathias personal assistant. Nicolae Carpathia A dashing young Romanian diplomat with a knack for sudden leaps of powerfrom low-level representative to President of his country to leader of the UN, Carpathia is eloquent, handsome, intelligent, and, in case it wasnt glaringly obvious by now, the Antichrist. Whatever dark designs he has for the world are easily masked behind a confident, amiable faade rooted in deep-seated mind control abilities.

LaHaye, Tim and Jerry B. Jenkins. Left Behind: A Novel of the Earth's Last Days. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1996.

LaHaye, Jenkins / Left Behind: A Novel of the Earths Last Days

Chaim Rosenzweig A Pulitzer-prize winning scientist famous for a miracle fertilizer that helps almost all of Israels arid land to become incredibly productive and fertile, Chaim is an old friend of Bucks and a new fan of Carpathias. Minor Characters: Steve Plank, Todd-Cothran, Jonathan Stonagal, Eric Miller, Dirk Burton, Alan Tompkins, Ken Ritz, Stanton Baliey, Lucinda Washington, Irene Steele, Ray Steele Jr.,

Book notes (political/Christian Zionist overtones to content):

Disappearance of unborn God recognizes the unborn as full human beings, regardless of stage of pregnancy. o NC as the only one in the book to distinguish the vanished unborn as fetal material (255) NCs one-world-govt. agenda, down to all the details: o this guy is real hot on getting the whole world onto one currency. (82) o Predictions for NCs involvement in a world religion: Remember my telling you about the 144,000 Jewish witnesses who try to evangelize the world for Christ. May of their converts, perhaps millions, will be martyred by the world leader and the harlot, which is the name for the one world religion that denies Christ. (Bruce / 312) Distinguishing between good/moral young boys and effeminate behaviors: He wasnt effeminate, but Rayford had worried that he might be mamas boy too compassionate, too sensitive, too caring. He was always looking out for someone else when Rayford thought he should be looking out for number one. (103) NCs dubious, un-democratic (un-American) election style masking an aggressive power grab: Democratic elections became pass when, with the seeming unanimous consensus of the people and both the upper and lower houses of government, a popular young businessman/politician assumed the role of president of the country. (113) Very subtle praise of the Reagan administration: o NCs tongue-in-cheek criticism of the admin. for a diminished focus on UN activities o Chloe after hearing NCs speech: What a guy! ...I havent heard a politician with anything to say since I was a little girl, and I didnt understand half of it then. (Chloe, in her early 20s in the mid-1990s, would have been a little girl during the Carter/Reagan years and likely would only have remember Reagans speeches. Admitting unpopular labels (Christian fanatic) to oneself, then moderating the outward face to keep an audience: Hattie was dead silent for a long moment. You havent become some kind of a fanatic, have you? Rayford had to think about that one. The answer was yes, he most certainly had, but he wasnt going to say that. You know me better than that. (281)

LaHaye, Tim and Jerry B. Jenkins. Left Behind: A Novel of the Earth's Last Days. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1996.

LaHaye, Jenkins / Left Behind: A Novel of the Earths Last Days Portraying a media overtly hostile to sincere religion: Israeli police and military personnel have always been loath to enter this area, leaving religious zealots here to handle their own problems. (302) Idealized style of Bucks conversion, not only to the faith but to the political and social identity of a born again Christian all at once: o Was it possible? Could he be on the cusp of become a born-again Christina.Buck had read and even written about those kinds of people, but even at his level of worldly wisdom he had never quite understood the phrase. He had always considered the born-again label akin to ultraright-winger or fundamentalist. Now, if he chose to take a step he had never dreamed of taking, if he could not someone talk himself out of this truth he could no longer intellectually ignore, he would also take upon himself a task: educating the world on what that confusing little term really meant. (396)

LaHaye, Tim and Jerry B. Jenkins. Left Behind: A Novel of the Earth's Last Days. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1996.

Hendershot / Shaking the World for Jesus

Critical notes: Heather Hendershot Shaking the World for Jesus: Media and Conservative Evangelical Culture Notes and examples:
Hendershot argues that most evangelical media are not propaganda designed to induce a political or spiritual conversionmore often, consumers are assumed to already be saved. (3) On fundamentalist/evangelical history over the 20th century: fundamentalist culture changed in response to the scopes trial in 1925 [and] went into hiding (all the while building separatist institutions of education and culture), reemerged via the new evangelical movement of the late 40s, and reentered the wider public consciousness in the 70s. (11) Hendershot identifies a notable generation gap between different attitudes toward Christian versions of secular media outlets: From the adult perspective, CCM [Contemporary Christian Music] works either as a placebo for secular pop culture (according to Focus on the Family) or as a wolf in sheeps clothing (according to Swaggart). (37) On Left Behind (book and film versions): Both the book and the film focus on the adventures of journalist Buck Williams and airline pilot Rayford Steele, but the book also includes classic conspiracy theories about international bankers controlling the world. In keeping with the Lindsey tradition, the Russians are evil. When they want access to a miracle fertilizer, it is naturally assumed that they should not have it: better they starve than eat and gain the strength to resurrect their evil empireNicolae Carpathia (the Antichrist) speaks of world peace, which fools the world into thinking he is good.Authors Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins write that Carpathia displayed such an intimate knowledge of the United Nations that it was as if he had invented and developed the organization itself.Any reader familiar with the political applications of prophecy theology will know right away that Carpathia is the Antichristthis is conspiracy theory lite. (189-190)

Hendershot, Heather. Shaking the World for Jesus: Media and Conservative Evangelical Culture. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2004.

J.K. Rowling / Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone

J. K. Rowling Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone

Date written:
1997

Synopsis:
The first installment in what was to become an unprecedented childrens publishing phenomenon, Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone chronicles the unlikely life of Harry Potter, a British orphan raised by unfriendly relatives in a maddeningly ordinary suburb, until a flurry of letters delivered by owls shakes up everything Harry thought he knew about his life up to that point. Soon a half-giant named Hagrid has entered his life and informed him that hell be attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for the remainder of his formal education. At Hogwarts, Harry is introduced to a new life and new friends, but is also compelled to face a dark past and a menacing new threat that has come up at Hogwarts to loom over his future.

Notable figures:
Harry Potter The brave, honest, but sometimes rash young protagonist of the book, Harrys parents were killed by the evil wizard Voldemort when he was very young. Harry survived the attack and Voldemort subsequently vanished, earning him legendary status in the magical community as the boy who lived. Ron Weasley Harrys tall, gangly, red-headed best friend, Ron feels overshadowed by his five older brothers (all high performers in one capacity or another), but doesnt let his insecurities get in the way of a healthy sense of fun. Ron is sometimes jittery and other times hotheaded, but his honest good nature and comfortable familiarity with the wizarding world make him a choice companion for the Muggle-raised Harry at Hogwarts. Hermione Granger A somewhat snooty bookworm, Hermione provides a sane, stable counterbalance to the rash, rule-breaking male duo. Hermione was raised in a Muggle family but her magical talents and learning abilities are formidable, and can help the children get out of tight scrapes when they need to. Draco Malfoy Archenemy to the Potter/Weasley/Granger trio, Draco is a self-centered, spoiled bully who schemes to get the protagonists into trouble with the authorities or even physical danger when he can. Albus Dumbledore Hogwarts eccentric headmaster, Dumbledore plays a subtle mentor role to Harry in direct and indirect ways. Dumbledore, although good-natured and kind, is one of the most powerful wizards in the world and was the only wizard Voldemort, at the height of his power, still feared. Lord Voldemort Once an evil overlord with tyrannical ambition in the magical world, Voldemort vanished on the night that Harry Potters parents were killed. He is generally

Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. First American edition. New York: Scholastic, 1997.

J.K. Rowling / Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone

hoped to be dead and assumed to be alive among the wizard community. Certain signs of his resurgence overshadow the novel, and he reappears in order to attack Harry and acquire the powerful, much-coveted Sorcerers Stone at the climax of the book. Professor Severus Snape A Potions teacher at Hogwarts, Snape has kept his old enmity toward Harry Potters father, James, alive in the form of hating Harry Potter and antagonizing him throughout his class. James Potter once saved Snapes life, however, and so Snape cannot bring himself to allow Harry to be harmed. Snape is brooding and dislikable, but remains one of the most complicated characters in the series. Professor Minerva McGonagall Professor of Transfiguration and head of the Gryffindor house, McGonagall is tough but fair, and tries to keep the often wayward protagonists out of trouble. Rubeus Hagrid A kindly half-giant, Hogwarts gamekeeper and instant friend and confidante to the protagonists. Hagrid is good-natured but blustery and careless, and can let his immediate desires block out his overarching responsibilities or even his common sense. Professor Quirrell Nervous and stuttering, Professor Quirrell seems an unlikely candidate for Hogwarts Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, but his harmless disguise masks a predatory, calculative mind. Quirrell is later discovered to be hosting a weakened, parasitic version of Lord Voldemort on his own body until Voldemort has the power, throughthe Sorcerers Stone, to acquire a new one. Some Minor Characters: Crabbe, Goyle, Vernon Dursley, Dudley Dursley, Petunia Dursley, Neville Longbottom, Fred & George Weasley, Percy Weasley, Peeves the Poltregeist, Nearly-Headless-Nick, The Friar, The Bloody Baron, Professor Flitwick, Nicholas Flamel, Filch, Mrs. Norris.

Book notes (Points of controversy):

Name calling/ Insensitivity: Exactly why Dudley wanted a racing bike was a mystery to Harry, as Dudley was very fat and hated exerciseunless of course it involved punching somebody. (20) * Neville, Ron exploded, get away from that hole and dont be an idiot Dont you call me an idiot! said Neville. I dont think you should be breaking any more rules! And you were the one who told me to stand up to people! Yes, but not to us, said Ron in exasperation. Neville, you dont know what youre doing. (272-273) Profanity: No post on Sundayno damn letters today (41) Promoting the impression that non-magical/ordinary is inferior:

Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. First American edition. New York: Scholastic, 1997.

J.K. Rowling / Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone A Muggle, said Hagrid, its what we call nonmagic folk like them. An its your bad luck you grew up in a family o the biggest Muggles I ever laid eyes on. (53) I think Moms got a second cousin whos an accountant, but we never talk about him. (Ron, 99)

Gore and frightening images: Nearly Headless? How can you be nearly headless? Sir Nicholas looked extremely miffed, as if their little chat wasnt going at all the way he wanted. Like this, he said irritably. He seized his left ear and pulled. His whole head swung off his neck and fell onto his shoulder and if it was on a hinge. Someone had obviously tried to behead him, but not done it properly. (124) Insubordination: Harry and Ron were delighted to hear Hagrid call Filch that old git. an as fer that cat, Mrs. Norris, Id like ter introduce her to Fang sometime. (141) Rule-breaking: And what if I wave my wand and nothing happens? Throw it away and punch him on the nose, Ron suggested. Excuse me. They both looked up. It was Hermione Granger. Cant a person eat in peace in this place? said Ron. Hermione ignored him and spoke to Harry. I couldnt help overhearing what you and Malfoy were saying Bet you could, Ron muttered. and you mustnt go wandering around the school at night, think of the points youll lose Gryffindor if youre caught, and youre bound to be. Its really very selfish of you. And its really none of your business, said Harry. Good-bye, said Ron. (154) * Do now they had something else to worry about: what might happen to Hagrid if anyone found out he was hiding an illegal dragon in his hut. (233) Real-live/historical occult references: Nicholas Flamelis the only known maker of the Sorcerers Stone! (219) *Nicholas Flamel, the historical alchemist of the mid-fourteenth century, would have been roughly the same age as Rowlings character upon publication of the book. Dangerous flippant attitude toward death: Dumbledore smile dat the look of amazement on Harrys face. To one as young as you, Im sure it seems incredible, but to Nicolas and Rernelle, it really is like going to bed after a very, very long day. After all, to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure. (297)

Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. First American edition. New York: Scholastic, 1997.

Barthes /Mythologies

Critical notes: Roland Barthes Mythologies Notes and examples:

On the language and abuses of myth: The starting point of these reflections was usually a feeling of impatience at the sight of the naturalness with which newspapers, art and common sense constantly dreeess up a reality which, even though it is the one we live in, is undoubtedly determined by history. In short, in the account given of our contemporary circumstances, I resented seeing Nature and History confused at every turn, and I wanted to track down, in the decorative display of whatgoes-without-saying, the ideological abuse which, in my view, is hidden there. Right from the start, the notion of myth seemed to me to explain these examples of the falsely obvious. At that time, I still used the word myth in its tradition sense. But I was already certain of a fact from which I later tried to draw all the consequences: myth is a language. (intro / 11) The assumptions that build the mythological landscape of America are not as common as might be assumed. Powerful, media-driven subcultures have developed a language and systems of thought that can vary radically from one to anothera partial culprit, possibly, for the vehemence of the debates among religious and secular factions over works of popular literature. On modern criticism: To be a critic by profession and to proclaim that one understands nothing about existentialism or Marxismis to elevate ones blindness or dumbness to a universal rule of perception, and to reject from the world Marxism and existentialism: I dont understand, therefore you are idiots. But if one fears or despises so much the philosophical foundations of a book, and if one demands so insistently the right to understand nothing about them and to say nothing on the subject, why become a critic? (35 / Blind and Dumb Criticism) A problem that clearly has not been solves since the mid twentieth century, pretending to in-depth analysis of a text one has already declaimed as worthless is at the heart of secular critical attacks on the Left Behind series just as much as religious attacks on HP and TSV.

Barthes, Roland. Mythologies. Trans. Annette Lavers. New York: Hill and Wang, 1972.

Neal / Whats a Christian to do with Harry Potter?

Critical notes: Connie Neal Whats a Christian to do with Harry Potter? Notes and examples:
Introduction to the controversy: Christianity Today editorial: the literary witchcraft of the Harry Potter series has almost no resemblance to the I-am-God mumbo-jumbo of Wiccan circles. From CT letter-to-the-editor responses: It amazes me every time I read an article that blatantly ignores Gods Word on the subject and would rather make decisions based on the so-called gray areas of influence around us. The books by JK Rowling I find to be offensive as they influence our childrenI know from personal experience that it is not okay to continue to allow our children to be influenced by the evil one and say that its okay as long as they dont overdo it. Moderation is the devils latest disguise for evil. Wake up! (27) One of Neals first examples of Christian concern over HP is the real significance of the character Dobby in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Those who had filed Harry Potter under childrens literature and had read this book would probably be incredulous that Dobby was called demonic. Dobby the House Elf is one of the funniest charactersif you are reading the book out of the mental file marked childrens lit! (54) Neal goes on to examine the significance of how we define terms within a story and gives examples of commentators who take certain elements of the HP story and transpose them into the context of real-life occult terms and practices, effective and persuasive to anyone willing to accept the frame of reference they have imposed on the books as appropriate. CN differentiates between legitimate discourse over the potential harm or good that may come from the books and unhelpful, counterproductive smear campaigns by those caught up in the anti-Potter mania by citing a chain letter using a satirical article from the Onion as a serious reference on HPs influence among children: And here is dear Ashley, a year old, the typical average age reader of Harry Potter: I used to believe in what they taught us at Sunday School, said Ashley, conjuring up an ancient spell to summon Cerebus, the threeheaded hound of hell. But the Harry Potter Books showed me that magic is real, something I can learn and use right now, and that the Bible is nothing but boring lies. DOES THIS GET YOUR ATTENTION!!...It makes me physically ill, people! (104) CN lists ways to deal with the dangers of using faulty or blatantly false arguments: seek truth, use common sense and check the source, and dont rely solely on someone elses summary of these complex issues (108)All common-sense advice that Neal seems to find lacking in a significant portion of the Christian HP debate. She even refuses to rebuke Rowling for her tongue-in-cheek response (during an interview with Katie Couric) to overzealous Christian critics: A very famous writer once said, A book is like a mirror. If a fool looks in, you cant expect a genius to look out. (111)

Neal, Connie. What's a Christian to do with Harry Potter. New York: WaterBrook Press, 2001.

Neal / Whats a Christian to do with Harry Potter?

CN lists a few of the inaccuracies and problems that arise when trying to compare C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkiens good fantasy to the secular evils of HP: Some may assume that because Lewis and Tolkien were Christian, their faith curbed that which critics of Harry Potter object to today. However, this is not the case. Some opponents extract tightly edited quotes from Rowlings books to prove their point. The same faulty tactics would likewise discredit Narnia and other works of fantasy by Christians. (120)

Later points: In order to realistically keep to a strong Christian faith while not stooping to talking like the devil to discredit HP, it is important to take real steps to avoid actual occult practices, and give children armor (dont build a wall) to protect them from a potentially harmful social environment while allowing them to interact with the world on their own terms. Learn how to set boundaries and when to make exceptions, and teach children how to understand the difference (as the characters in HP learn throughout the course of the series). This way, children will have a strong social education compatible with their faith, and they can learn to take healthy lessons from the literature that they enjoy.

Neal, Connie. What's a Christian to do with Harry Potter. New York: WaterBrook Press, 2001.