“A Story About How Humans Are Frightened of Death”

In a series where life and death are continually explored and discussed, the Harry Potter novels present innovative approaches to the depiction of death. The early reference to Harry as “the boy who lived” places an immediate emphasis on the defeat of death. This chapter explores the representation of death in Harry Potter through textual and spatial analysis of the deaths of Albus Dumbledore, Sirius Black and Severus Snape. In relating their demises to their spatial surroundings and props at the scenes, connections are generated between spaces and props and the deaths themselves. This chapter also relates the Harry Potter novels to wider, cultural conversations about death, considering John Donne’s poetry, Shakespeare’s King Lear, and biblical allusions. Investigating these textual relationships and shared themes reveals clear and fascinating connections from the Bible, through the Renaissance to the present day, demonstrating how Potter contributes to the enduring “story about how humans are frightened of death”.