Star Wars vs Harry Potter: Character plagiarism or just co-incidence?
July 14th 2007 22:18
Fans of both camps – help me out here!
While listening to a communal diatribe the other night on the latest incarnation of Hogwart magic and the vagaries of character development – my mind (as it has be known to do) let itself off its leash - and a little mental calculus began on the similarities between one H. Potter and his cohorts vs one L. Skywalker and his clique.
Now, I’ll admit right from the start that while I’ve enjoyed the filaments of both, I’m hardly an aficionado of either – so has the following got legs – or am I out of step?
Lets take it from the top.
Symbolically at least aren’t there compelling parallels between the two major characters – Luke Skywalker and Harry Potter?
Both are the prodigal sons, and fabled among their peers. Both are indentured with the direction of good and both are sanctified with insight and untapped strength, influence and power. They both carry similar weapons of choice (wand vs light saber) and both are encouraged to delve into the recesses of their minds to unleash an inner force.
Similarly – their right hand man (or woman as happens to be the case - Hermione Granger vs Princess Leia) have similar attributes – and whose roles appear to be to the strength behind the facilitation of power for both lead characters.
Then there’s the third wheel.
In the Star Wars chronicles – its Hans Solo, in Harry Potter – its Ron Weasley.
Then we have the spiritual leaders – Obi-Wan Kenobi and Albus Dumbledore.
Needless to say – their roles and musings are so analogous that I find it hard to separate the two.
Of course there’s the unsung hero – enter stage left - the follicly endowed Chewbacca and the equally hirsute - Rubeus Hagrid.
Once again – both have an unquestionable (and unshakeable) resolve for the principle player and both lay claim to have saved the skins of our male protagonists on more than one occasion – mostly without fanfare.
I would put to the jury that there is also compelling evidence of a comparitive between Voldermort and Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader's role being comparitive to Lucious Malfoy.
I guess the ramble could continue – but those of you in the know – have no doubt second-guessed the additional installments in this line of reasoning. But for those of you who simply wish to purport allegiance to a conspiracy theory – 'May The Force Be With You'.
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Comment by David
I'm not a fan of either Star Wars or Harry Potter but in terms of them containing comparitive similarities with regard to characters? That doesn't surprise me. Most mythical / fantasy writers would be familair with the following two publications:
Joseph Campbell's The Hero with a Thousand Faces.
Christopher Vogler's The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure For Writers.
It's not about telling a new story of good versus evil. It's about telling the same old story of human nature and the old good versus evil tale, and just changing the names, times [dates], ages of the characters, and environments. Make the goodies really good and the baddies really bad.
It's called formula writing. It's very popular with the masses.
Add fantasy, sci-fi and witchcraft to the mix? It's doubly or trebly popular nowadays. It's where the masses' minds are at. Reality and truth are rapidly losing their appeal.
David ...
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
Insightful as ever. Entertaining and educational - you've a heady mix.
Cheers
MNG
Comment by David
The amount of times I've seriously contemplated writing something purely commercial for the masses? Just to make money?
Thoughts like that always occur to me.
What generally holds me back? Corrupting an entire generation of children and having to answer for it when real spirituality kicks in. I do not want to be held responsible for turning children into dumb ignorant dolts like their parents are (the ones who encourage this absolute rubbish).
There aren't many things in life that repulse me, but corrupting children's minds is one of them, and mocking the supernatural is another. Give me a film like The Exorcist any day.
David ...
Comment by Damo
I have forgotten who did the study but I remember the details.
An accedemic did a study of folk tales from Europe and came up with some startleing corrolations with the most popular ones.
There is a young hero figure who has to go on quest.
There is usually a princess or lady involved as the love interest.
A dark lord, knight or evil king who is causing it all.
There is usually a wise man, hermit, wizard, or aging knight that gives the young hero something that will help him on that quest.
Comedic Cowards that show heroics
There is a cynical character that is in it for himself but comes good at the last minute.
There were other points but I forget them now.
However you can see the correlation matching the Starwars storyline.
Luke the young hero
Princess Lea as a princess in need of rescuing
The gay robots as the token Coward jokers
Darth Vader the Dark Lord
Cynical Hans Solo last minute come back at the end.
George Lucas did say in an interview that he followed this method along with variations on the King Arthur story.
It is not surprizing that Harry Potter would do the same and be equally successful.
Comment by Justin
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
Like David - your command of the cinematic chronicles is to be admired. My thanks for your input.
Cheers
MNG
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
Point taken.
MNG
Comment by Damo
What I don't know I make up.
Comment by JoshZ
going to disagree. Not entirely, but enough.
Yes, Harry and Luke do have in common that they lack father figures. But where Harry is bent on destroying Voldemort, Luke was concerned with redeeming his father. The killing of the Emporer became a secondary point for him.
Han Solo was a lot more mercenary that Ron ever was. Ron was Harry's friend from the beginning and was always ready to follow. Han, for close to half of his involvement with the Rebellion, needed an incentive. Money or the Princess, it pretty well came together for him at the end.
Chewie was Chewie. Hagrid ain't him. Chewie was the honourable sidekick. Hagrid is more a kind of comic relief.
Granted, Damo and David have said alot of things which are both accurate and true. Most stories are the same. But they are different in the same ways.
JZ
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
I think we're in agreement that development of the plot differs (otherwise as Damo has suggested we'd all be viewing sequels of King Arthur) - my point probably more surmounts the similarities in character structure and alignment with one another.
Appreciate your feedback though
Cheers
MNG
Comment by CZ
/ Luke, I loved your mother
/ Harry, I loved your mother
Comment by ian waller
Another reason why i think that jedis could kick a wizards ass is because jedis have agility, there always flipping around and stuff, but wizards, they just stand there and flick wands at each other.
P.S
can a wizard use his penis as an emergency wand, becuase if they could then my response would definately change?
P.S.S
if wizards could use there penis's as an emegency wand then wat would female wizards use as their emergency wands?
Comment by campbellbj1
harry= luke
herminoe= leia
Ron= Hans Solo
Hagrid= Chewy
Obi Wan= Dumbledore
Snape= Darth Vader
Vodermort= Emperor Palpatine
Yoda im at a loss for but a think that that perhap you could say that Lupin might fit that description of the guy who teaches him powerful magic
then theres R2 and C3PO who = fred and george
This is simply one mans museing but I was actually thinking about writing a blog about the similarities of each character so this was the easiest place to start