THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE STATUS OF MAGICIAN SIMULACRUM: A FOUCAULDIAN ANALYSIS OF MORTE D’ARTHUR AND HARRY POTTER: IN TERMS OF POWER AND KNOWLEDGE

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.