Post #3

How did you feel about the end of the series? What moments did you find particularly poignant, or problematic, and why? How did your feelings towards Dumbledore and Snape change? About Harry, Ron, and Hermione? Why did they change in this way?

In addition, now that you have finished the series, how would you place it in a larger social/cultural context?

I feel slightly sad now that the series is over. The moment where Ron finally killed that awful horcrux and he and Harry were reconciled was great. It seemed as if those thoughts had been plaguing him for the majority of their friendship. Ron has a lot of junk going on and this was a turning point in their friendship, and even in his relationship with Hermione. I was not surprised to learn that there was a layer of Snape we did not know about. I always knew deep down there had to be more to it that him just being a traitor. It made me feel sorry for him even more I think, and it made sense that he was so desperate to go and find Harry when he was with Voldemort. He wanted to fulfill Dumbledore's last wish and tell Harry what he needed to know. Snape is a sad character in a way, his whole life is devoted to someone who reminds him of the woman he loved and could never have, and the man that he hated most. He dies believing that all his work to protect Harry was for Harry to die in the end.

Blog #3

I had read this series before, but I still get goosebumps when thinking about Dobby dying. Here is an innocent creature whose true love for Harry ended in his demise saving him. He was a very innocent symbol in the book, and kind of an omen that things were about to go down after he was killed. My feelings for Dumbledore remained the same; he is very honorable. He did, however, show us how he too was still just a human. Sometimes I found myself holding him on a pedestal, but his story about Ariana and the rest of his family, followed by how he tried on the ring and was selfish with the Hallows brought me back to reality; he, too, is just a person. Snape, on the other hand, changed my feelings drastically. I went through a roller coaster of emotions with his character throughout the series. I wanted to trust him so badly because Dumbledore did, but he did not act the part at all. Hearing about his undying love for Lily was heart wrenching. You really saw the good inside of him and he, in the end, died for her and Harry just as she died for Harry. He went from being a distasteful professor to being incredibly honorable. Harry, Ron, and Hermione grew up a lot in the 7th book. We see them truly transform into adults. Their problems become more real, too. We go through this journey with them and understand how each of them are feeling throughout the book. This is where I think Rowling is a genius. She has a way of getting you to feel like you are part of their group of friends, or part of the family. Your emotions change with theirs as you read.
I don't think I would change a thing about these books. I've read the series through and through a number of times and still love it.

Blog Prompt #3: The Deathly Hallows: The Alpha and the Omega

The end of the series was simultaneously euphoric, enigmatic, and evincing. I had heard that at least one of the major characters dies in the last book and I was worried that it could be Ron, Hermoine, or even Harry (although I figured that it was highly unlikely and would upset too many people).With the deaths of Severus Snape, Fred Weasley and Remus Lupin I was saddened and relieved. I was saddened after Snape’s revelation of fidelity to and protection of Harry as few, perhaps only Harry, would understand the sacrifices and commitment that he made to do so. Likewise I was saddened by the death of Fred Weasley as the closeness of the Weasley twins is evident throughout the book and together they are greater than the sum of their parts. Lastly, I was saddened by the death of Remus, perhaps one of the last two father figures (the other being Arthur Weasley), and probably his last major connection to his parents past. At the same time, this severing of ties to his past, although traumatic, could also be beneficial and therapeutic as it would allow Harry to move on and not swell on the past. While these three deaths made me sad, it also allowed me to enjoy Harry, Ron, and Hermoine triumph over death and Voldemort. Additionally, I felt that the beheading of Nagini by Neville was very poignant and symbolic. As with the defense of “The Prophesy” in book 5 where Neville and Harry are the last two standing, this moment reflects the capacity that both he and Harry had to defeat Voldemort but arguably only Voldemort’s choice and impartation of power into Harry is what sets them apart.

In a larger social and cultural context the finale of the series I feel can be summed up in the phrase: “the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” This phrase has multiple meanings and representations in relation to the series. First and foremost, the parallel between Christ and his resurrection and the Christ-like resurrection of Harry both to overcome death and Satan/Voldemort is evident. With his treatment as a savior before and after the death of Voldemort, Harry’s character, actions, and thoughts are continually shaped and altered by what he perceives society wants him to be. Additionally, the death of Voldemort represents the final chapter in the saga of Harry Potter and his school years at Hogwarts but the Deathly Hallows also represents the first exploration of Rowlings diegetic beyond the chronology of Harry’s youth. Similarly it represents the end of an old era and the beginning of a new era of tolerance and can be viewed as paralleling the acceptance of half-bloods and muggles with the social debate about race and ethnicity that our societies are exploring today.

Blog Post 3

I’ve been an avid reader of the Harry Potter series since elementary school. When the final book came out, it was a very bittersweet experience – I was excited for things to finally be answered (I was a believer in the theory that Harry’s scar was a horcrux, that R.A.B. was Regulus, and that Severus was always on the good side) and to be validated in my beliefs. At the same time, I would have sacrificed that certainty and righteous arrogance for the series to keep on. There has never been a literary series, or a movie, television series, video game, or anything that affected me as much as Harry Potter, or that I’ve been obsessed with for such a long time.

My favorite moments in the Deathly Hallows were those that proved that Snape and Lily were at least somewhat canon. I had always liked the idea of it, even believed that it was a distinct possibility, but I didn’t actually expect it to be blatantly out there. Also, I was very excited that they had known each other even before Hogwarts. I also enjoyed getting to know Regulus a bit more, being a fan of the Black family and minor death eaters. Overall, I enjoyed the very dark atmosphere that hasn’t quite been achieved in preceding books.

My feelings about Severus never changed – he has always been one of my favorites, I always believed he was on the good side, and I always felt bad for him having such a crappy life. My feelings on Dumbledore, did, however, change! I always liked the idea of Grindelwald and Albus, but as some sort of crackship that I never expected to actually have happened. When we found out that Dumbledore was gay and in love with Grindelwald, I was so excited. In the Deathly Hallows, we learn that Dumbledore had quite the dark side, that his past was quite troubled, and these imperfections (along with his relationship with Gellert) made me much more invested in his character. Before, I liked him as an eccentric old wizard cliché, but once his imperfections came to light I was much more able to relate to him and appreciate him more as a character.

My feelings on the trio haven’t changed too much. I’ve had periods in which I hated Harry, but I think I’ve largely gotten over it and sort of like him now. Ron has always irritated me, and the Deathly Hallows didn’t change that. Of the three, Hermione has always been my favorite, and pretty awesome.

I believe the Harry Potter series is going to be one that is remembered and considered one of the best fantasy literary series. Although there are contemporaries who disagree at this point, in a few generations it’s likely to be a series that is remembered fondly and endures in its popularity, ala Lord of the Rings. It will not be a series that will fade into obscurity due to later generations being unable to relate, as the themes of Harry Potter are those that are eternal.

Final Countdown

I found the final Harry Potter book to be the most traumatic. Rowling throws death in left and right. She starts off with the rough hit of Hedwig's death followed shortly by George's missing ear and then the death of Mad Eye Moody. Not long after all of that, Harry's world is sent catapulting into a new disaster. By turning Harry against his memories of Dumbledore, Rowling also turns the audience against the memory of Dumbledore. Both Harry and the reader struggles with how to feel about the previous hero. The tone of the book does not improve as the chapters progress. Around the middle of the book, Rowling kills off the long loved Dobby. Right after this the book takes a pretend upturn with the birth of Teddy, the child of Lupin and Tonx. By the end of the battle of Hogwarts Fred, Lupin, Tonx, and many others have all died. Who does Rowling not kill? HARRY. I know that it sounds awful but a large part of me wishes that he had been one of the many. I had spent 6 books being irritated at how incompetent Harry was and how he only seemed to have come thus far by pure luck and the help of others.
I do regret that there was not a book, even a short one, about what happened with all of them after the fall of Voldemort.

Final Thoughts

Since this was my first time reading the Harry Potter series I feel like I may have missed some information since there is so much that takes place, especially in the final book. I’m sure going back and rereading, I would find a lot of information I missed the first time. I was not expecting Snape to work for the order of the phoenix. I was also surprised by the real reason he seemed to not like Harry. How he was in love with Harry’s mother Lily. You could tell that he was hurt that Harry was the son of James Potter and Lily. We later learn that Snape really just cares about Harry. I think this changed a lot of reader’s feelings about Snape. It definitely changed mine.

What I found problematic was some of the characters who were killed off. I was not expecting Dobby to be killed because he represented one of the good guys in the series.  

There is also a big change in Harry since the beginning of the series. Since he is much older than when he first went to Hogwarts, he seems a lot more independent. He doesn’t need the help of Ron and Hermione as much in the seventh book. For example, he does not want their help finding the Horcruxes and is determined to do it on his own. Also, the fact that he was willing to sacrifice his life for other people shows that he is a good person. I was glad that J.K Rowling made Harry live at the end of the series. I think it would be a huge disappointment for all the fans if he died.  

Final Thoughts

After turning the last page of Deathly Hallows and closing the cover my first thoughts were "that's it?" It seems like this whole series is full of so much intensity and drama and its gets to the climax, and then... that's it, Voldemort is dead, you can go home now. I would have liked to see a lot more from the epilogue or even a few more chapter before the epilogue just to recapture the grandiose of the entire series. I think there should have been a chapter entitled "Obituary" where they honor the faithful departed in a kind of mass funeral sort of thing. Much like the emphasis on Dumbledore's funeral and its significance.

The most poignant of moments for me was the princes tale. The very very complex character of snape is finally revealed for what he is: probably the most important supporting character in the books. We finally learn what his motivation is toward the greater good, and even then, it is still pretty childish. Why all the unspoken feelings and motivations? I think it would have been much more poignant for everyone to sit down and have a share your feelings hour so we can all be on the same page as we approach the final battle. Did Dumbledore know of Snape's affection toward Lily Potter? I do understand that it was important for Harry to accept Death at the final hour, and that certain knowledge might have changed his feelings at that time, but all of the things he didn't know before the princes tale, he does when he goes to face his death. Why couldn't someone have told him something a long time ago? These are the things that I find problematic. With something as important as the fate of the world, and as intelligent as certain characters seem to be, there were certainly many opportunities to approach this situation in much more ideal and logical fashion. Though, low and behold, world saved, Harry has some kids, the end.

Throughout this series i always viewed Dumbledore as kind of an arrogant philosopher. Sure, he's got some good ideas, but theory is much easier than practice. Though he does acknowledge that he makes mistakes, to what extent does he acknowledge them? Not very much.. I think his only mistake was having too much confidence in himself. For instance, I certainly don't think there was any sort of contingency plan. I admire Snape, but again, if he is doing all of this for the greater good, then he realizes that some thing are more important than pride or self righteousness and there were certainly better ways to go about it than being a very non outspoken ass hole until he's on his death floor. And to say that Snape was always on the good side is crazy to me. Sure, one action at the end of it all landed him on the good side, but in my eyes, Snape was never on the good or the bad side. I think he enjoyed the comfort of knowing he could play both sides all the time, and in the end, which ever one came out on top, he was assured acceptance. Ultimately, I think he was in it for himself the whole way because in no way does Severus Snape come off as selfless at any point in the series, not even at the end.

All in all, I just feel bad for the trio. They had to endure a chess game of some crazy wizards in which they were the pieces. Sure, the ending is happy, but things fell into place in such a way that the margin for error was terribly excessive. I suppose that that is the moral of the story, and that for good to prevail over evil, anyone that has a sense of it must always be persistent and perseverant, knowing that the struggle is never ending, and that peace and happiness is few and far between, but it is also that fact that allows us know what the most important things in our lives are, and that living and loving for the moment will always be the best thing we can do.