Hey everyone,
Welcome to another installment of Harry Potter Theory.
Today, we’re going to be discussing CURSES.
More specifically, we’re going to be taking a look at 10 of the WORST, CRUELLEST, most
INTENSE dark curses in the wizarding world, and putting them in order.
I’m going to be going in to WHAT they are and WHY I placed them where I did.
First things first, what IS a curse?
And how does it differ from say- a spell, charm, jinx or hex.
As far as these categories of magic go, curses most closely resemble charms.
A charm is an expression that refers to spells which add certain properties to objects or
individuals.
Charms should not be confused with transfigurations, as transfiguration refers to a spell that
changes what the object is, rather than just changing properties of the object.
There are countless charms in Harry Potter that cover all manner of outcomes.
There are also different TYPES of charms.
Another form of charm is an enchantment, though the lines are a bit blurred here, the main
difference is that an enchantment is generally used to apply a charm-like effect to something
for an extended period of time.
These would include protective enchantments like the fidelius charm or protego maxima.
And with the definition of CHARM solidified, the easiest way to describe a ‘curse’
is that it’s a ‘dark’ charm.
Technically, a curse is defined as any spell that affects an object in a negative manner,
typically causing some sort of pain or discomfort.
And just like charms, there are also more ‘acute’ / short-lived versions of curses
that contrast the more-stretched out, ‘affliction’ type curses.
"Within the Potter world, the boundaries are flexible and I imagine that wizards may have
their own ideas.
This shows that the categorisation of dark charms is not set and stone, and may sometimes
be used interchangeably.
This explains why some spells are known by multiple names, like why the Slug-vomiting
Charm is a curse, and why the Jelly-Legs Curse is also sometimes known as the Jelly-Legs
Jinx.
This also explains why some curses, such as the Leg-Locker Curse, Jelly-Legs Curse and
Full Body-Bind Curse, which don't cause any lasting injury, seem to fall more under the
definition of a jinx or hex, while Voldemort's Jinx on the post of Defence Against the Dark
Arts teacher has had serious, lasting consequences for several of those affected, which would
seem more like a curse.”
This list will include BOTH types of curses.
Before we get started, pause the video and comment YOUR list of what you believe to be
the most horrible curses in Harry Potter.
I did a LOT of rearranging while working on this video and..I THINK I’m happy with how
it turned out.
Let’s get in to it.
10.
Gormlaith Gaunt's Curse
What: Starting things off THIS curse, produced by Irish Pure-blooded DARK witch Gormlaith
Gaunt (aunt of Isolt Sayre) had the ability to place someone in to an enchanted slumber.
You might be thinking, that’s not so bad- I can get to bed a little easier.
But the STRENGTH of this curse is what makes it dangerous.
This curse is sort of reminiscent of the one that afflicted Snow White.
Why here: This spell certainly deserves to be on the list, but not any higher than the
bottom placing.
I say this because the curse itself is relatively painless, and doesn’t pose any significant
risk to your mortality.
The curse also CAN be broken if the stimulus around the victim is significant enough.
9.
Imperius curse
The Imperius Curse AKA Imperio is one of the three unforgivable curses.
Imperio is most often used by dark witches and wizards, and, when it is cast on a victim,
they are forced to perform the unquestioned bidding of the caster.
Being under the control of this spell is said to be like experiencing a ‘wonderful release’
from any sense of responsibility, making the victim extremely susceptible to any sort of
influence from the caster.
Because of this adopted carefree attitude, the victim is inclined to carry out tasks
for the caster without any sort of moral compass or awareness of the casters intentions or
desires.
Why here: I placed the Imperius Curse fairly LOW on the list because at the end of the
day being placed under the Imperius Curse is NOT a death sentence.
Furthermore, it’s been emphasized in the books that being under the Imperius curse
can actually provide the victim with some temporary relief from the stresses of life.
“It was the most wonderful feeling.
Harry felt a floating sensation as every thought and worry in his head was wiped gently away,
leaving nothing but a vague, untraceable happiness.”
The more I think about it, the Imperius Curse could actually be a POSITIVE and useful tool
in the right hands.
With just the swish of your wand you’d be able to give your friends/family members some
temporary relief in the darker times during their lives.
To some, simply numbing the pain may not be an advisable strategy, but that certainly
depends on the person.
8.
Lycanthropy
What: Lycanthropy is a magical affliction that transforms witches/wizards in to werewolves.
One who suffers from this condition is called a ‘Lycanthrope’.
There are two ways to become a Lycanthrope, but regardless of HOW it is contracted, it
is still considered to be a curse that will completely alter the victims existence.
The first way to contract Lycanthropy is through being bitten by a werewolf, though in some
circumstances the bite can/will kill you.
The second way is via the Lycacomia Curse, which apparently requires no werewolves at
all.
Why here:
Though inheriting Lycanthropy doesn’t kill you, and to some the prospect of becoming
a werewolf may be EXCITING, I can assure that it is no easy existence.
The stigma in the wizarding world surrounding werewolves is immense, and from the moment
you contract this curse it’s unlikely that you will ever be treated the same.
Furthermore, Lycanthrope’s will often need to live a very solitary, lonely existence,
as allowing people to become close to you only puts their lives in danger.
This awful condition also has NO cure.
7.
Opal Necklace Curse
When Harry mistakenly enters Borgin & Burkes in 1992, he sees a necklace on display with
a warning label:
"Do not Touch!
Cursed.
Has claimed the lives of nineteen Muggle owners to date."
This necklace was of course the OPAL NECKLACE- the same cursed object that Katie Bell fell
victim to in the Half-Blood Prince.
It’s untelling what curse the opal necklace actually possesses, but we do know that it
can cause some SERIOUS damage to those who happen to come in to physical contact with
it.
Katie merely touched it through a small hole in her glove, and it took her 6 months to
recover in St.Mungos.
Why here: This curse is nothing to scoff at, but at the end of the day there are MUCH worse
curses out there.
Yeah, it’s highly lethal, but touching it is NOT NECESSARILY a death sentence and it’s
also pretty easy to avoid.
6.
Curse on Marvolo Gaunts Ring
What: The curse on Marvolo Gaunt’s ring was an invention of Lord Voldemort who created
it in an effort to protect his Horcruxes.
Dumbledore famously contracts this curse when he places the cursed ring on his finger-in
that moment securing his fate.
The curse is thought to be extremely deadly- taking down even Dumbledore, and the only
reason that he was able to survive as long as he did was with the help of Severus Snape.
Symptoms of the curse mimic necrosis- slowly turning the affected areas BLACK and effectively
‘killing’ that part of your body.
Why here: I think that this placement on the list is suitable as the curse is, effectively,
a slightly worse version of the curse contracted via the Opal Necklace.
The main difference here being that this curse WILL eventually kill you, and only seems to
get worse over time.
5.
Blood Malediction / Maledictus
What: A ‘maledictus’ curse is applied to and inherited through a witch or wizard’s
bloodline- a dark curse that is passed on through generations of family members and
is transferred from mother to daughter.
A ‘Maledictus’ suffers from a blood malediction- a type of curse that causes the sufferer to
slowly transform in to an animal over the course of their life.
The animal can vary according to the specific curse.
In Harry Potter, the main Maledictus that comes to mind is Nagini- whose blood malediction
meant that she was destined to turn in to a snake- becoming less human and more snake
each and every day.
In earlier life, the Maledictus will possess the ability to transform at will, but that’s
what slips over time.
Eventually, you will lose the ability to transform, and will be stuck in whatever animal form
that is destined for you.
Why here: Though blood malediction doesn’t kill you,
it’s an affliction that leads to a very isolated / lonely existence.
It’s an awful curse that you’re born with and have no way out of.
It’s an inescapable curse that eats away at you, slowly stripping away your identity.
I imagine that suffering from this curse would induce a form of claustrophobia, as with each
passing day the curse grows stronger- further trapping you in to a permanent animal state.
If that isn’t bad enough- once fully transformed, you completely lose the ability to explain
yourself or communicate with your own kind.
4.
Killing Curse
What: The Killing Curse, otherwise known as Avada kedavra is a curse that kills the victim
in the blink of an eye- causing instantaneous death.
If you want to kill someone with no fuss, then this is certainly the spell to use.
After uttering the incantation, the spell produces a blindingly intense green bolt of
light right before the victim simply drops dead.
There are two theories for how they die, the first claiming that the victims internal organs
cease to function after being struck, and the second claiming that the soul of the victim
is magically ripped from their body.
Why here:
The only reason that the Killing Curse isn’t higher on the list is that we’re lacking
information.
If the curse does indeed RIP the soul out of the body, then perhaps the Killing Curse
is one of the worst ways to die.
However, if it simply causes your organs to shut down, then this is potentially one of
the more remorseful ways to kill people, as they are gone INSTANTLY- with no suffering
to speak of.
3.
Entrail Expelling Curse
What: The Entrail Expelling Curse is fairly self-explanatory, it’s a curse that forces
your Entrails (insides / organs) to be magically EXPELLED (ripped from) the body.
This curse is unquestionably LETHAL.
Why here: -This Curse kills you fairly brutally, which
is why it’s high up on the list.
HOWEVER, there are no real drawn out torturous effects.
2.
Cruciatus Curse
What: The Cruciatus Curse, otherwise known as Crucio is one of the Unforgivable Curses.
In essence, Crucio is the spell used for torture, which makes perfect sense if we consider that
Crucio translates to ‘I torture’ in Latin.
When cast, crucio inflicts excruciating pain on the victim - pain so excruciating that
it is considered to be torturous.
Casting Crucio is said to require a wand and incantation, and its effects are said to vary
depending on the casters desires and emotions.
To produce the excruciating pain implied by the name, the caster must despise the victim
and enjoy causing pain.
Harry Potter, after crucio was cast on him, described it as feeling like’ his head was
being split open’ while ‘having his bones set on fire’.
Why here: There are a few reasons for why Crucio is
so high up on the list.
The first reason being that the pain induced via Crucio is said to be so excruciating that
in some cases, death would be preferable.
The next reason is that Crucio, when applied to a victim for long enough, is said to cause
permanent effects- like brain damage.
This happened to Neville Longbottom’s parents.
After being tortured relentlessly, the Longbottoms lost everything that made them who they were-
living out the rest of their lives as broken shadows of their former selves.
This spell is particularly awful if we consider the fact that the loved ones of these victims
will forever have to witness them in this state- all while knowing that they were tortured
in their final moments.
1.
Transmogrifian Torture
What: Oh boy, where do I start with this one.
This sadistic curse, that a lot of you may not know about, effectively combines the effects
of crucio with a form of transmogrification or transfiguration.
This terrible terrible curse DOES indeed kill its victims, but not before causing them intense,
torturous pain STRETCHED OUT over a considerable period of time.
Why here: If we look at the etymology of the curses
name, which features ‘transmogrify’, it would suggest that the curse stretches the
victim in a multitude of directions, grotesquely contorting their bodies until they die.
The combination of the fact that this spell is lethal AND tortures you in unprecedented
ways makes this an easy choice for the list’s top spot.
Why this ISN’T an unforgivable curse when it features aspects from 2 of the existing
unforgivable curses is beyond me.
And that’s it for this video!
Which curses had you heard of?
Was your list similar to mine?
Leave a comment down below
Until next time
Remember
It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live