Star Wars And Harry Potter Comparison Essay

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Possibly the two most intense fan-bases in existence are Star Wars and Harry Potter. George Lucas released his sci-fi action movie, Star Wars, on May 25, 1977. Thirty-eight years later and the force is still with us. Star Wars is just as popular today is it was when it came out, and a new Star Wars movie will be released in December 2015. J.K. Rowling published her first Harry Potter novel, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone on June 30, 1997 and the first movie came out on November 4, 2001. And thus began a generation centered on the wizarding world of Harry Potter. Like Star Wars, Harry Potter remains as hyped as when it was released. Although completely different in circumstance, both Star Wars and Harry Potter generally follow the archetypal hero’s quest. Both franchises are unparalleled takes on the hero’s journey, …show more content…

Unfortunately the power of being gifted, and the temptation to the evil side won them both over, transforming Tom Marvelo Riddle into Lord Voldemort and Anakin Skywalker into Darth Vader. Both villains are anticipating their battle with the hero. What makes them unequal in comparison is the fact that Vader and Luke are father and son, while Voldemort viciously murdered Harry’s parents. Harry Potter follows the traditional ending of the hero’s journey, where the hero and the villain fight their momentous, final battle, and the hero defeats the villain, saving all. Star Wars takes a different turn, again playing into one of the biggest plot-twists in movie history- the villain being the hero’s father. Luke does not kill Vader, but redeems him. Vader saves Luke, which acts as his penance before he dies. The final confrontation between Harry and Voldemort is an epic victory, representing good defeating evil. The final confrontation between Luke and Vader is heartwarming and tragic, because Vader saves Luke and returns to the good side, being redeemed by his son before he