"Something wicked this way comes."
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - Symbolism & Philosophy
Symbols & Motifs
Dementors
Dementors are a physical manifestation of depression and despair. They drain all happiness and hope from their victims, leaving them with their worst memories. J.K. Rowling has stated they were based on her own struggles with depression. They also symbolize the corruption of the justice system, as they are indiscriminate and serve a Ministry more interested in control than true justice.
The Dementors appear throughout the film, guarding Hogwarts against Sirius Black. They board the Hogwarts Express, causing Harry to faint and relive his mother's death. Their final, near-fatal attack on Harry and Sirius by the lake is a pivotal moment where Harry must conjure his fully-formed Patronus to save them.
The Grim
The Grim, a large black dog, is initially presented as a death omen. This symbol plays on superstition and the fear of the unknown. However, its meaning is subverted when the dog is revealed to be Sirius Black in his Animagus form, who is not a harbinger of death for Harry but rather his protective godfather. It symbolizes misunderstood fate and the danger of prejudice.
Harry first sees the Grim after he flees the Dursleys' house. It appears multiple times throughout the film, its presence building suspense. Professor Trelawney predicts Harry's death upon seeing the Grim in his tea leaves. The symbol's true meaning is revealed in the Shrieking Shack.
Hermione's Time-Turner
The Time-Turner, a golden hourglass on a necklace, symbolizes the immense value and power of time. It represents the idea that time is a precious commodity not to be wasted or manipulated lightly. On a deeper level, it facilitates the exploration of destiny and self-empowerment, showing that one can be the agent of their own rescue.
Hermione uses the Time-Turner throughout the year to attend multiple classes at once. Its crucial role is in the film's climax, where Dumbledore instructs her and Harry to use it to go back three hours to save more than one innocent life, namely Buckbeak and Sirius Black.
The Stag Patronus
The stag Patronus is a powerful symbol of hope, protection, and Harry's connection to his father, James Potter, whose Animagus form was also a stag (Prongs). When Harry successfully casts the Patronus, it represents him finding the light within himself and embracing his father's legacy not as a shadow to live under, but as a source of strength.
Harry struggles to produce a corporeal Patronus during his lessons with Lupin. During the climax by the lake, as the Dementors are about to consume him and Sirius, Harry sees a figure across the lake cast a powerful stag Patronus that saves them. Using the Time-Turner, he later realizes that the figure was himself, and he steps forward to cast the charm, accepting his own power.
Philosophical Questions
Is our identity defined by our past or by our choices?
The film consistently explores this question through its main characters. Harry is haunted by his traumatic past, yet he ultimately defines himself by choosing compassion over revenge when he spares Peter Pettigrew's life. Sirius Black has a past defined by wrongful imprisonment and betrayal, but his choices are driven by loyalty and love for Harry. The film's message, articulated by Sirius, is that everyone has light and dark within them, but it is the part they choose to act on that truly matters.
How does fear shape our perception of reality and justice?
The entire wizarding world's perception of Sirius Black is shaped by fear, leading to a massive injustice. The Dementors, the literal embodiment of fear, cloud judgment and are used as a tool of control by a Ministry that prioritizes appearing strong over being just. Harry's personal journey is a battle against fear itself. As Professor Lupin tells him, what he fears most is fear itself, and only by confronting this can he see the truth and find his inner strength.
Can one truly change the past, or are we bound by destiny?
The film's use of the Time-Turner presents a deterministic view of time. Harry and Hermione do not alter events but rather participate in them in a way they didn't initially understand. Harry doesn't conjure a new Patronus to save himself; he discovers he was the one who cast it all along. This raises questions about the nature of destiny. While events may be fixed, the film seems to suggest that the courage and growth required to fulfill that destiny are what give life meaning.
Core Meaning
"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" is a story about the complexities of good and evil, and the idea that one's true nature is defined by choices, not innate qualities. Director Alfonso Cuarón shifts the franchise's tone to explore darker, more psychologically complex themes, suggesting that the most terrifying monsters are often not what they seem, and that fear itself is the greatest enemy to overcome. The film delves into the unreliability of perception and the justice system, ultimately championing the power of friendship, loyalty, and the courage to question accepted truths and choose compassion over vengeance.