Zum psychoanalytischen Verständnis der Harry Potter-Entwicklungsromane

Abstract

Zum psychoanalytischen Verständnis der Harry PotterEntwicklungsromanePraxis der Kinderpsychologie und Kinderpsychiatrie 57 (2008) Zum psychoanalytischen Verständnis der Harry Potter-EntwicklungsromanePeter Subkowski SummaryOn the psychoanalytic view of Harry Potter his paper analyzes the exemplary mental development that Harry Potter undertakes ater the massive traumatic loss of his parents at the early age of 15 months and the following neglect by his relatives until he becomes a mature adult. On the basis of his internalized mothers love and by identification with his father and his paternally friend Dumbledore Harry gains increasing self-confidence and new friends in his peer group in the course of time. Ater passing numerous conflicts and experiencing friendship Harry reaches the stage of initiation into the world of the adults. On the oedipal level he finally is able to deidealize his father and Dumbledore. And at the end Harry is not seduced by absolute power and the triumph over death itself. On the contrary he is ready to sacrifice himself for his friends and thus can overcome the fragmented Voldemort. Readers can identify with Harry, can recognize their own experiences and conflicts and can deal with the proposed conflict resolution patterns on different levels. his contemporary "Bildungsroman" deals with important typical interpersonal and cultural issues for young people. his is what leads young readers to strong resonance and identification processes and explains the great success of the Harry Potter story.Prax. Kinderpsychol. Kinderpsychiat. 57/2008, 571-585 KeywordsHarry Potter -PTSD -mental development -trauma -identification processes ZusammenfassungIn dieser Arbeit wird herausgearbeitet wie Harry Potter nach dem traumatisierenden Verlust beider Eltern und der nachfolgenden Vernachlässigung durch seine Verwandten eine exemplarische psychische Entwicklung zu einem reifen Erwachsenen nimmt. Auf der Basis seiner verinnerlichten frühen Mutterliebe erwirbt er dabei über die Identifikation mit seinem Vater und dem väterlichen Freund Dumbledore zunehmend Selbstvertrauen und

Harry Potter, Script, and the Meaning of Life

“…Keilman (2009) saw the seven-book series as a pop cultural phenomenon and analyzed the text from a moral-theological, psychoanalytic, and technological perspective. Subkowski (2008) considered the Harry Potter books as a contemporary "Bildungsroman" (a novel about growing through adolescence into adulthood) and analyzed Harry's psychological development.…”