Recently I wrote a paper on the overlapping theme of the importance of free will in the Harry Potter series and His Dark Materials. While I was writing this paper, I noticed the similarities between the main characters in the two series and, because I could not fit it into the paper, I am going to write about it in my blog post.
One thing that is similar about Harry and Lyra is that they are both special from birth. Lyra is born to Lord Asriel and Mrs. Coulter who are both very powerful. Then, Harry is attacked by Lord Voldemort as an infant and, instead of dying, adorns a scar that makes him famous in the wizarding world.
Furthermore, both characters are associated with a prophecy that they are not aware of. Lyra’s prophecy is made by the witches about becoming the second Eve. Harry’s prophecy is the one made by Professor Trelawny about his connection to Lord Voldemort and how “neither can live while the other survives.”
Also, Harry and Lyra are not very exceptional people. In the course of the series, both characters discover things that make them unique and special. However, they are both depicted as being normal children before all the adventures begin.
I believe that the similarities between Harry and Lyra show what young people look for now in heroes in literature. They do not want a superhero that is invincible and have special abilities. Instead, they like to read about a hero that, despite his or her normality, discovers their potential.
Reading Young Adult Literature 
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