Comments on: So why does Harry Potter have a scar?

By: Scott

Scott — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 13:58:03 +0000

I hadn’t thought of this before, but I think there’s a lot to it. If we assume that the scar symbolizes treachery (which I think is completely valid), then I think there are 2 ways to look at it.

1) It could have served as foreshadowing in the earlier books to the fact that Harry has the scar (and his parents were killed) due to a betrayal. We might not have guessed it was Snape, but it would have hinted that it was coming.

2) Just as Harry’s eyes were a constant reminder of Lily Potter, the scar could have been a constant reminder to Snape of his original betrayal. Thus for Harry it is a mark of greatness, but for Snape it is an ever present reminder of his treachery.

Thanks for mentioning this – I think we’re definitely on to something!

By: Erin Leigh

Erin Leigh — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 07:27:43 +0000

So I was reading Jude the Obscure the other day, and was reminded that Cain was marked/scarred by God after he killed his brother Abel so that all would know his treachery. I was reminded of this post, and wondered what you thought of Harry’s scar being akin to the mark of Cain…well a reverse of it so to speak.

By: Scott

Scott — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 13:33:26 +0000

Thanks Erin, glad you enjoyed it. I plan on doing more posts like this, but actively searching for underlying meanings is new to me, so I’m not sure how frequent they will be. Hopefully not too few and far between!

By: Scott

Scott — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 13:31:44 +0000

Two more great insights, thanks! I’m going to have to keep doing posts like this just to read everyone’s comments.

I especially like the connection you draw between the scar and Harry as the reluctant hero.

By: Erin Leigh

Erin Leigh — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 05:40:39 +0000

I really enjoy posts, such as this, that exams reading on a deeper level. I would say that although writing was always a strength for me, I rarely was able to pick out the underlying meanings of text during school.

I started getting the hang of it towards the end of college, but beyond that, there hasn’t been much opportunity to have ‘discussions’ of deeper meanings…therefore, I much enjoyed this post. I never assigned a meaning to Harry’s scar, other than the physical. But you’ve made me look at it in a different way.

By: Mome Rath

Mome Rath — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 04:05:36 +0000

Remind me to steer clear of Philadelphia!
I’d say the scar serves two important purposes. One: the scar marks Harry as “great” in the eyes of the wizarding world because of Voldemort’s defeat when he was an infant. Harry is thus more visible than he would choose to be on his own. Two: the scar, once its origin is known, is a physical reminder of the loss of his parents every time he looks in the mirror. Both of these set Harry up to be a reluctant hero. You’re right — Voldemort’s actions do have consequences, and Harry’s course in life is changed because of it.

By: Scott

Scott — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:34:17 +0000

Excellent point! This is a perfect example of why a scar specifically was chosen. It reveals the violence of the event that actually caused it, and of the person who caused.

I don’t think it’s unreasonable to say it foreshadows that violence in store for Harry, either, considering it disappears after Voldemort is defeated and Harry’s life enters “peaceful” mode.

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:20:04 +0000

Another thing about scars is that they are almost always violent. So I think the scar was important (rather than another type of mark) to further reveal Voldemort’s evil intentions to kill Harry.