Note: this isn't from a magazine. Den wrote it. :)
Harry Potter/Luke Skywalker
Both Harry and Luke are the child heroes of their respective stories. Both are essentially orphans (or believe that they are to be so in Luke’s case), never knowing their parents or the full truth as to what happened to them. Whilst Harry believes Lord Voldemort killed both his parents events at the end of GoF show that this may not be the case. Luke now knows much about his father, but almost nothing about his mother.
The lives of both characters are turned around owing to a meeting with a strange character (Hagrid/Obi- Wan Kenobi). This meeting gives both characters clues as to their backgrounds and true potentials.
Whilst being great powers for the forces of good, both struggle to not succumb to the dark side. In one of his confrontations with Voldemort, Harry cries out "I’m never going over to the Dark Side!" Which is remarkably similar to Luke’s line in RotJ during his final confrontation with Palpatine.
There is even a similarity between the weapons of the two heroes. Harry’s wand contains a phoenix feather; another wand also had such a feather in it, the wand belonging to Voldemort. Luke’s first lightsaber belonged to his father. So both weapons have strong connections to evil, yet are employed by Lightsiders.
Lord Voldemort/Emperor Palpatine
Both are generally accepted to be the true evil presence in Harry Potter and Star Wars respectively, being masters of the "Dark Side".
If they are not directly responsible, then both were heavily involved in orphaning Harry and Luke; Voldemort’s wand was used to cast the spell murdering Lilly and James Potter, whilst Palpatine undeniably has involvement in turning Anakin Skywalker into Darth Vader, essentially killing Anakin. To what level Palpatine was involved with in the death of Padmé Amidala is yet to be seen, but it is likely to be high.
Both have the general megalomaniac tendencies of any evil dictator, to rule the world. To this end Voldemort killed many witches and wizards. Palpatines equivalent act was to initiate the hunting down and near extinction of all lightside Jedi.
It is also arguable that parental love is responsible for the defeat of both characters. Quirrell/Voldemort cannot touch Harry in PS owing to the protection of his mother’s love. In comparison it is Anakins feelings for Luke that prompt him to throw Palpatine to his (supposed) death in RotJ
Professor Dumbledore/Obi- Wan Kenobi
Dumbledore has the role of a mentor and guardian to Harry as the headmaster of Hogwarts School. Kenobi acts as a mentor and guardian to Luke.
Both have strong ties to the past of both heroes, and more than likely know their full histories.
Dumbledore was one of the teachers of Harry’s parents; Kenobi was master to Anakin Skywalker.
Dumbledore was involved in the rescuing of Harry as a baby, and was responsible for sending him to Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia. It is almost certain that Kenobi did a similar thing for Luke, hiding him on Tatooine with Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru.
Professor Snape/Darth Vader
These two characters initially appear to be the villain of the piece, but are ultimately good (but there is no denying that Vader is far, far more evil than Snape). Snape has been responsible for saving Harry (most notably against Professor Quirrell in PS, Vader saves Luke from Palpatine in RotJ.
Hermoine Granger/Princess Leia Organa
Both are the main female role. Hermoine becomes good friend with Ron and Harry after a life or death meeting with a mountain troll. Leia becomes good friends with Han and Luke after a life or death meeting against the first Death Star.
Hermoine initially looks down on Ron in the same way Leia does to Han at their first meeting.
Hagrid/Chewbacca
A certain physical similarity, both are big and hairy (thank goodness Hagrid wears more than a bandoleer strap though!). In addition to this both have a gruff exterior, but are very kindly and fiercely loyal. Both were also imprisoned for hypocritical reasons.
Professor Quirrell/Darth Vader
After Quirrell is revealed to be the bad guy in PS, it almost instantly becomes apparent that a greater, more evil force, Lord Voldemort, is controlling him much in the same way that Vader is the puppet of Palpatine.
Tom Riddle Junior/Anakin Skywalker
Talented children, adept at using magic/the Force, but both dabble in the Dark Side and ultimately turn evil. Also both put the prefix Lord in the name of their evil personas.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry/The Jedi Temple
These institutions are where young children are taught about magic/the Force. Both are boarding schools (the Jedi Temple on a more permanent basis than Hogwarts admittedly). Teaching methods are also similar at both schools, initially potential young Jedi are taught basic lessons in the force before undergoing 1-1 training. Hogwarts differs only by not having 1-1 training in the final stages.
Hedwig/R2-D2
Hedwig is Harry’s pet owl and companion, who is also used to deliver post. R2-D2 is as much of a companion to Luke. R2-D2 is also responsible for delivering Leia’s message to Luke, starting off his whole adventure. Owl’s were initially responsible for delivering Harry his letter inviting him to Hogwarts and starting off his whole adventure.
Magic/The Force
These are sources of power in both tales, which are only available to certain people giving them they power to do things usually considered impossible. Magic/the Force is usually passed on from parent to child.
Muggles generally consider magic to not exist, much the same as the Force is seen as a "Hokey religion" in the Star Wars universe.
Wands/Lightsabers
The weapons/tools of magicians and Jedi. A wand chooses its user, and the bond between a magician and their wand is said to be unique. The bond between a Jedi and their lightsaber is also unique, as the Jedi will often spend months constructing their weapon.
Quidditch/Pod Racing
Dangerous, fast, furious sports which involve a very real threat of injury or death to the competitors. Cheating isn’t unheard of in both competitions; rough play is accepted and almost expected. Much betting is done on both sports. Modifications are made to both brooms and pods to get the best performance possible from them.
Uncle Vernon/Uncle Owen
Both take responsibility for raising their nephew’s and know the truth about their parents but refused to reveal this knowledge. Owen refused to let Luke join the Academy, Vernon refused to let Harry go to Hogwarts. Both Luke and Harry are essentially used as cheap labour by their uncles. Vernon treating Harry as a servant, whilst Owen claimed he ‘needed’ Luke on the moisture farm, despite having a large number of droids that could do the work.
Witches & Wizards/Jedi
The people who have an affinity for magic/the Force are seen as freaks and oddities to the vast majority of people in the respective stories. Aunt Petunia refers to Lily as a freak, which is similar to Uncle Owens condemnation of Obi- Wan as a "crazy wizard". The standard uniform of both groups is a hooded cloak, generally dark in colour.
Death Eaters/Sith
The evil equivalent of Witches and Wizards and Jedi respectively. These are the servants of evil in both worlds. The characters follow the Dark Side of witchcraft/the Force. The Death Eaters are Voldemort’s followers much as Darth Maul and Darth Vader were the followers of Darth Siduous (or Emperor Palpatine). The faces of these people are usually kept hidden by means of a black hooded cloak, only revealing themselves to each other or when attacking someone they are sure they can kill.
Ministry of Magic/The Jedi Council
The Ministry of Magic is responsible for all decisions relating to the involvement of witches and wizards with muggles, how best to protect them from certain things etc… This is a similar function to the Jedi Council, which decides to what extent the Jedi should be involved in the affairs of non-Force users.
A few other points that don’t directly relate to the stories. i. John Williams has practically lifted part of the score of RotJ for PS (Ewok themes for Diagon Alley) ii. In the first run of Star Wars action figures, only one character had more than one version of themselves made, Luke Skywalker (in Tatooine outfit and as X-Wing Fighter Pilot). In the first run of Harry Potter action figures, only one character has more than one version of themselves made, Harry Potter (School Robes, Quidditch Outfit and Invisibility Cloak)
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