Abstract:
The objective of this study is to analyze the relationship between knowledge
and power, to examine the changes in the status of wizards in society from past to
present and the reasons for this, by making a Foucauldian reading through Sir
Thomas Malory’s Morte D'Arthur novel and J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter series,
which have important masterpieces of literature. This thesis focuses on Merlin
character in Morte D'Arthur novel and Harry Potter character in Harry Potter series.
In the Anglo-Saxon period, which the character of Merlin is supposed to live, the
focus will be on the magical powers of the character, the reaction of the society to it,
the position in which the powers he has put him in terms of status, and which of the
power types mentioned in Foucault’s power and knowledge theory. In the
contemporary period, the powers of the Harry Potter character, its effect on society,
and the power types in Foucault’s theory will be focused on. In addition, since the
characteristics of the period in which these two wizards lived in different periods are
also important, the past period will be closely examined and their differences with
the present will be tried to be shown in this way. While analysing the characters and
their stories, it will also focus on the effects of places, environment and time on the
characters. Where and how the concepts of magic and magician emerged and their
transformation into today will be given as a background information, so that the
comparison will be easier.
