Comparative Character Study: Harry Potter & A Connecticut Yankee

The main characters in the novels Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court are Harry Potter and the Yankee whose name we find out later in the story is Hank Morgan. Both characters at one point in time are living in a place where they do not belong. They also have a similar supporting cast in their stories, and the use of magic is a part of both novels. One of the main things both characters have in common is how they both manage to find themselves out of place at a point in the story.

Harry Potter was born into a family who dealt greatly with magic, but when his parents died he was taken to stay with his cousins, the Dursley’s, who are a muggle family. A muggle is the nickname for regular citizens who are not involved with magic. He lived with them for 11 years then left for the highly famed Hogwarts Academy as he came in being one of the most prestigious students of all time.

Petunia, Harry’s aunt, never talked to her sister, who is Harry’s mother, because of her involvement in magic so the family was trying to keep Harry from getting involved in it also.

Being out of place happens with Hank Morgan also but there might possibly be a bigger difference. Morgan, a Yankee, went out with his accomplice to help the wounded but during the process one of the wounded men stabbed him and luckily the wound did not turn out to be serious.

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While everyone is sleeping a magician named Merlin casts a spell over the Yankee while he is sleeping and the spell is set to keep him sleeping for 13 centuries. He has been sent back in time to where he lives with the people from King Arthur’s Court.

They try punishing him because of his beliefs on how technology is in store for future use. The main characters in both novels have other similarities but this particular one stood out more. The minor characters also resemble one another in both novels. The character who acts the complete opposite to that of Harry is a boy named Draco Malfoy. There is nothing good about him as he likes to make fun of other students and is very unpleasant to Harry. Malfoy has the chance to turn out to be another Voldemort, it was he who killed Harry’s parents and wrecked havoc among other good wizards.

They share similar qualities as Malfoy lives in the same place Voldemort resided in, Slytherin, and is just as evil at a young age. He is also a reminder to Harry that just because he got away from the Dursley’s does not mean he will not have any trouble with anyone else. Draco led Harry into many traps for getting into trouble but somehow Harry managed to avoid it. Harry chased after him on a broom during their first lesson of the year because Draco took a toy from Neville. They were not even supposed to leave the ground because the teacher had left to take care of Neville’s injury.

Another time was when Harry and Draco agreed to meet late at night for a wizard’s battle, but Draco never showed up because instead he had told security about Harry sneaking out and going to a the room where they were supposed to meet. One of Harry’s better friends at Hogwarts turned out to be the one he least expected it to be, Hermione Granger. Upon the two’s first meeting that was on the train all Hermione did was brag to Harry about how much she already knew about magic.

None of what she said impressed Harry at all. It was not until she was saved from the troll by Harry and their other friend Ron that the friendship started to grow because of the lie Hermione told the teachers about what really happened. The Yankee’s accomplice was Clarence. He portrays Hermione from Harry Potter because at times his ignorance comes out, just like hers does. He is by the Yankee’s side when he is stabbed and is the one who sees the cast being put on him by Merlin.

Another character from A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s court that can be compared to Hermione is Sandy. The Yankee is greatly annoyed by her at first but over time they get to know each other and because friends who help each other. Merlin portrays Hagrid. Very rarely does Merlin’s magic ever turn out to be the way it should just as Hagrid has trouble controlling his own too. Hagrid’s magic is the reason he was removed from Hogwarts but still manages to be on terms with Dumbledore.

Dumbledore and King Arthur are obviously alike as they both posses the most power in each novel. They both control everything that goes on and are watching every move of Harry and the Yankee. Although both novels are set in different settings the similarities are easily seen between all the characters. The major characters overcome unwanted settings with one going from muggle lifestyle to wizardry and the other from 19th century to the time where knights in shining armor are roaming around.

Magic is the main activity in Harry Potter and it also makes the plot for A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. Finally, the supporting cast in both stories can be compared in many ways to each other. Time is by far the biggest difference between novels but it does not stop people from seeing how closely compared these two books are.

References

1. Rowling, J. K. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. New York: Scholastic Inc. -Levine, 1999.
2. Twain, Mark. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. Mineola: Dover Publications, Inc. , 2001.