Week 1 Popular Media Review - Harry Potter and identity

The Harry Potter series has certainly been common ground to dramatize the place of identity as part of adolescent adventures in popular culture. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone introduces the concept of Harry’s struggle between two identities, the average and ordinary child fitting in with non-magical society, and the wizard he is meant to be. In Erikson’s terms, these may respectively correlate with the negative and positive identity since in the wizarding world, one’s ability to use magic is encouraged as it has been integrated into many aspects of school, work and private life. In fact, many of Harry’s acquaintances are or once were forced to internalize the negative identity of the non-magic world to some degree, which is portrayed as unforgiving and even dangerous. What I can take away from Harry’s character is that he is fortunate to have received different identities and is able to reflect on each. Some of his more notable qualities not strictly tied to being a wizard (such as his bravery, leadership, and selflessness) are directly related to his narrowly overcoming various obstacles and dangers during his time at school. From a more simplistic standpoint, young readers may identify with Harry as one who wants to realize his potential, so attending a school of wizardry in The Sorcerer’s Stone is part of his growing up. However, what resonates more closely with the identity crisis in adolescents is that while others are forced to internalize the negative identity of the non-magical, Harry is seen as heroic because he has rationalized and accepted the ways in which he is ordinary and extraordinary.

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