I was sorry to see so many of those closest to Harry fall in the Battle of Hogwarts. It is ironic that George ends up with a hole in his ear from a Curse and that Fred ends up dying in the foray. Both were admirable and Fred made the most admirable sacrifice of all. Although, that is not so surprising since it was clear that the entire Weasley clan adopted Harry as another sibling/son anyway. I found it problematic that both Lupin and Tonks die. Now Harry, a young wizard who has just saved the world and must put his life back together, is virtually left to care for this young child as his god-father. Harry, who has no parenting experience whatsoever, is now Teddy’s only friend in this world (at least temporarily). The scene in which Remus rushes into Shell Cottage to alert all of those present to Teddy’s birth is poignant, but in a way foreshadows the importance that all of those characters will play in his eventual growing-up.
I was shocked to find out that Snape was really working for the Order of the Phoenix. His two-faced nature was very deceptive and he was a very well-written character. It was touching to know that Severus really did have an emotional plane and that he was very attached to a young Lily Potter. I think part of his hatred for Harry stemmed from the reality that he was James’ and Lily’s son and not his and Lily’s son. At that moment, I felt like his distaste for Harry was very misplaced. When he exposes those highly coveted memories of his youth and his love affair with Lily Evans, we learn that he had cared deeply for Harry as a debt to his unrequited love. However, his abilities to expose that care were, suffice it to say, somewhat impaired. I found that side of Snape very human and found it show that his intentions were always good, if at times shrouded in distrust and mystery. I also found this problematic that Snape held off those memories until the very last and that he and Harry could never form any sort of proper relationship. Perhaps Harry would have never hated Severus so much if he had known that he was not as unmoving or cruel as he initially believed.
The fact that Dumbledore once wanted to strive toward the “Greater Good” in the wizarding world was not surprising to me. Ambitious and talented people tend to strive towards ridiculous and unattainable goals. Harry was wrong to be so taken aback at Dumbledore’s early history. As youths, we all have lofty goals which might come at the expense of others (or Muggles in this case.) Harry eventually casts many and numerous Unforgiveable Curses, and yet crucifies Dumbledore for having some stupid ideas about a better world, with Muggles in their rightful place. How different are the two then, really? Harry also holds off many secrets from Ron and Hermione and instead prefers to keep them to himself, something also very similar to Dumbledore’s behavior. I lost no respect for Dumbledore and instead gained more respect for him because he shows a side to him that is more easily moved by local opinion and proves that he is not impervious to lustful wants. Dumbledore and Harry now become more obviously similar.
I found Harry to be a little more than self-righteous. He does not want Ron or Hermione’s help in searching out and destroying the Horcruxes at the very beginning of the Book 7, even though he desperately needs it. He had deluded himself into thinking that this entire war against the Darkness is entirely and wholly about him. And at the very end of Book 7, when handing himself over to Voldemort would stop the Blood Bath at Hogwarts, he instead chooses to continue the search for the Horcruxes. Harry becomes so easily blinded by Dumbledore’s instructions that he blocks out the destruction coming about because of him. Harry acts more immaturely than I think he does at any other part in the series. I was impressed when he decides to enter the Forbidden Forest, although it seems to be with much disdain and trepidation. Where has the brave youth of Book 2 gone and hidden away? The brave youth has become a selfish teenager who cannot extricate himself from the greater action and suffering of the plot.
J.K. Rowling has managed to insert her name amongst some of the best in the literary world with this series. I feel that it was as successful as it was because every reader, no matter education, ethnicity, nationality, or age, could relate to at least one character in the text. Harry is enduring the same growing pains that every seventeen year old young man must endure. His relationships with his friends are suffering, as each of them is attempting to find him or herself in the growing world. Even though the plot is set abroad, American students can certainly relate to going away to school for the first time and being thrown in a world which is much more exciting and confusing than the one from which they came. Hogwarts could be easily compared to UC in many ways: a mix of students from various backgrounds and with various upbringings and subsequent perspectives. All of the characters possess some qualities to which we can readers can attach.
No comments:
Post a Comment