Harry Potter and the Philosphers Stone was written by J.K Rowling and the film was directed by Chris Columbus in 2001. This fantasy film shows a diverse range of representations in good and evil through the use of characters and their actions. Each character throughout the movie represents good and evil, some more obvious than others. It also shows how different characters are able to adapt and possibly defeat evil in their good will.

 

At the beginning of the film, Harry Potter is depicted to be an innocent orphaned child that lives with his cruel and un-wanting adoptive family. However, through the progression of the film he significantly becomes strong, determined and independent through the help of his friends Hermione and Ron. Harry shows how purely good he is through the use of his actions and the sacrifice of his own wants and needs in order to protect all other characters present within the film. Eventually he defeats the evil and his character is pictured to be the good in the film. One major example of good through the use of this particular character is when he defeated the evil which is represented by the character, Voldemort. Harry, do you know why Professor Quirrell couldn’t bear to have you touvh him? It was because of your mother. She sacrificed herself for you, and that kind of act leaves a mark…. No, no. This kind of mark cannot be seen. It lives in your very skin. Love Harry, love. This scene towards the end of the movie depicts Harry to be fighting off evil through his good will. Even though he is aware that he may be killed, he continues to fight and resist temptation in the chance of protecting the rest of Hogwarts and eventually wins as he uses the good and love within him to defeat the evil. There is a Christian parallel present in this scene of the film as he is trying to be persuaded by evil to join the evil side and have everything that he has ever wanted. “Your mother died to save you. If there is one thing Voldemort cannot understand, it is love. Love as powerful as your mother's for you leaves it's own mark. To have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection forever.” This direct quote from the movie goes to show that like God, Harry had someone supporting him to resist evil and continue to be good.

 

 

The character of Snape in this film represents both good and evil as it is always not made clear of  what he is representing. As the film progresses, Snape is shown to be evil and is believed by Harry to be behind all wrong doings when in fact it is found out the later in the movie this is not the case. An example of this is when Harry is playing Quiddich and Snape is to be seen by Ron and Hermione chanting an evil curse in order to harm Harry. The truth is not discovered until later on in the film when it is revealed that it was a good curse to prevent the evil curse chanted by Quirrell in order to save Harry.  The view of Snape being evil is also shown when it is believed that he is the one trying to steal the stone. Harry knew Ron and Hermione were thinking the same as he was. If Snape had been in on protecting the Stone, it must have been easy to find out how the other teachers had guarded it. He probably knew everything – except, it seemed, Quirrell's spell and how to get past Fluffy.

 The truth is not discovered until later on in the film when it is revealed that it was a good curse to prevent the evil curse chanted by Quirrell in order to save Harry. The representation of good and evil in this particular scene depicts the fact that accusations of what evil may be, are not always correct. Through the unclear use of what is good and evil through this character Snape, it gives a representation that what is seen to be evil could potentially be something good.

 

Voldemort in this particular film is depicted as the evil. This character is present throughout the film but is not shown until the very end. It is a greatly feared character and is shown to be trying to turn everything pure and good into something evil. An example of this is the scene where Harry and other characters travel into the dark and scary woods as punishment for their wrong doings, however Harry the good is confronted by Voldemort the evil that is drinking the blood of a unicorn. This gives an very clear picture of what is good and evil as it shows that evil may win however, the consequences of destroying something so pure and good will eventually defeat evil. "That is because it is a monstrous thing, to slay a unicorn," said Firenze. "Only one who has nothing to lose, and everything to gain, would commit such a crime. The blood of a unicorn will keep you alive, even if you are an inch from death, but at a terrible price. You have slain something pure and defenceless to save yourself, and you will have but a half-life, a cursed life, from the moment the blood touches your lips." This quote from the film shows how the actions of evil are viewed by good and how severe the consequences for evil actions are. A Christian parallel is clearly shown in this scene through, though shall not kill. This particular one of the 10 commandments is quite directly depicted as by the evil killing the good it is seen to be monstrous and terrible by the good characters present in this scene. The use of evil used through this character is used effectively giving a clear view of how evil destroys good but will eventually be overtaken.

 

For todays youth, this film sends a strong message that good will always overcome evil. Although evil can sometimes have more power than good, the film depicts that no matter what the outcome may be, evil will always have a weakness and eventually be defeated. “Call him Voldemort, Harry. Always use the proper name for things. Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself.” This quote provides evidence that if good does not fear evil, there is the strength needed in order to defeat all evil. Through the support of good friendship, evil is defeated which shows todays youth that by not giving into peer pressure and by standing up for what you think is right is the good thing to do. Find quote about standing up to friends. “It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.”

 

Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone is a film that clearly and effectively depicts the images of good and evil in a ranges of ways through out the duration of the film. Each character plays an important part in defeating what is evil and thus therefore giving a clear view of how good and evil can be present within modern day society.

 

Review written by Melissa Plucknett 2016