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Harry Potter Mentorship

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In many works of literature, heroes have mentors who guide them through challenges as they go about their journeys. In fact, one of the major characteristics of the “INP of Romance,” a literary template that describes each step of a hero’s journey, is the role of a mentor figure. Many major works of literature, such as the Harry Potter series, include a character who plays this role. In Harry Potter, the clear mentor is Dumbledore, Harry’s headmaster. Dumbledore consistently guides Harry as he learns how to harness his magical powers and use them to destroy Voldemort, the evil wizard. However, a book does not need to have only one mentor, nor does that mentor have to necessarily be a good influence on the main character. One noteworthy example …show more content…

Reed. Although Mrs. Reed is considered one of Jane’s mentors throughout the novel, she does not act as a typical mentor. Instead of gently guiding Jane on how to act and what to do, Mrs. Reed instead abuses Jane, both physically and mentally. The first occurrence of Mrs. Reed’s unfavorable mentorship is very early into the book when Jane first introduces her to the reader. Jane explains to the reader that, “[Mrs. Reed] really must exclude me from privileges intended only for contented, happy children” (Bronte 3). Mrs. Reed displays that she does not think that Jane deserves to be treated as a real child; this teaches Jane the effect that people’s perception can have on an individual. While Jane could say that her aunt is right and she is inferior to other children, instead she learns how painful it is to be treated unfairly and later becomes passionate about treating others in a different, more positive way. In another part of the novel, Jane is blamed for something that her cousin, John Reed, did to her. As John Reed, “grasp[ed] [Jane’s] hair…[Jane] felt a drop or two of blood from [her] [head]” (20). Jane, in self-defense, hits him. While John Reed receives no punishment from his mother for abusing Jane, Jane is put into solitary confinement within the house by Mrs. Reed for her actions. Though this was not a positive experience for Jane, she learns from the way Mrs. Reed treats her son that it is not good to always believe one’s child is perfect and others are the problem. Another instance where Mrs. Reed is a negative mentor towards Jane is when Mr. Brocklehurst comes to Gateshead. While he is there, Mrs. Reed tells him all about how Jane is a liar and has “a tendency to deceit” (39). Although this is not true, it is apparent to the reader that Mrs. Reed’s intent, contrary to how she explains her actions a bit later in the book, is to harm Jane’s reputation at Lowood. Jane

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