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THE USE OF IMAGERY AND SYMBOLISM IN THE WORKS OF J.K ROWLING
Discuss The Use Of Imagery And Symbolism In The Works Of J.K Rowling
- K Rowling is a much-praised author for her incredible work that uses strong visual imagery and symbolism. She tops the list of the most successful authors of our time. Harry Potter series is undoubtedly her magnum opus. Harry Potter series comprises some of the most sold literary works in the world. Mastery, creativity, and ability to narrate mystical stories in an enthralling manner have endeared her to a broad audience, especially young readers. She has authored more than 20 other literary works ranging from short stories to non-fiction novels. Most of her works are centered on themes such as death, magical realism, supernaturalism, friendship, and evil. Symbolism and imagery, which are literary devices, have been iniquitously employed by the author in her works.
Magic and wizardry are dominant in most J. K Rowling works. Symbolism and imagery of the two have been manifested multiple time through the use of ordinary things. For example, the use of the mirror of “erised,” harry potters scar, wands, quidditch, the leaky cauldron, and the sorceress stone brings out magic and wizardry. (Crum, 2017) It’s therefore evident that imagery and symbolism advance themes and motifs such as friendship, struggles, evil, death, and love. Wands, in this case, symbolize a person’s character and personality. In this work, almost all the characters possess unique wands symbolizing different personalities. Harry Potter is portrayed to have spent a lot of time at the shop of Mr. Ollivander trying to find a wand that fits him well.
The author, for instance, has incorporated a stylistic device, alchemical imagery, which is a magical power that transforms a common substance by modifying a small portion of something into a substantially big-value element. The novel continually advances in the use of imagery from the onset to the conclusion. Equally, other Rowling’s books demonstrate imagery and symbolism; for example, the lead is turned to gold in alchemy (Roper, 2009, p. 54). At the beginning of the episode of, the goblet of fire, the author seems a bit edgy, but as we read the book further towards the end, Harry seems to ignore what people think of him due to the storms of life he overcomes throughout the novel.
According to Ashley Rose of Time.com, Rowling, most of the times employs repetitive imagery to demonstrate Harry’s scar in the entire series of novels (Ross, 2017). The scar speaks volume to the readership as it creates a mental picture of what Harry has endured becoming who is as a strong person. Therefore, “the lightning-shaped scar” symbolizes the struggles and triumph. Rowling uses this imagery to help the reader dig into Harry’s past and understand his role as the central character in all the episodes. Further, the author also used visual and gustatory imagery to simplify the complexity of the work to the readers (Geyer, 2002, p. 27). Visual imagery is demonstrated severally in the wizarding world.
By use of stylistic devices like visual imagery in literate, readers get a mental picture of how something mentioned in the novel represents, for instance, it gives them a clear understanding of how Hogwarts and dormitories and common rooms look like in real life. With this technique in literate, the author enables readers to get a glimpse of the physical appearances of the characters in the play or novel. Gustatory imagery also represents the food that sustains both Harry and his buddies during their stay in Hogwarts, for instance, they eat candy as food while on the train ride to Hogwarts. In summary, J.K Rowling has employed imagery and symbolism to make her work more understandable and exciting to the readers; hence, they experience the world of the author.
References
Crum, M., (2017). Here’s How J.K. Rowling’s First Agent Knew ‘Harry Potter’ Was A Smash Hit. New York: Huffton Press.
Geyer, V., (2002). Myths and Symbols in J.K. Rowling ́s Harry Potter and the Philosopher ́s Stone. New York: GRIN Verlag.
Roper, D., (2009). The Lord of the Hallows: Christian Symbolism and Themes in J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter. Manhattan: Outskirts Press.
Ross, A. (2017, October 19). Time. Retrieved from jk-rowling-harry-potter-lessons: http://time.com/3974157/jk-rowling-harry-potter-lessons/>