Cultural values of Harry Potter

Assess the values portrayed in the film ‘Harry Potter & The Prisoner Of Azkaban’

Harry Potter. A simple name worth billions of pounds in books sales, movie franchises, merchandising spin offs, and so on. You cannot fail to be astounded at the success of what is in effect a simple idea: a story following a young boy as he discovers he is a wizard (‘and a bloomin’ good one at that!’) and his journey into the magical world hidden behind secret spells and enchantments that keep the ordinary world in blissful ignorance.

Such a simple story has created quite a complex dilema for Christian parents: what values do the Harry Potter books and films portray to their young readers? It is this issue that the following essay, submitted as part of my youth and children’s ministry degree, seeks to engage with.

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