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Harry Potter's place in HIS history, or OURS?May 23 '01 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line Harry Potter could just be a passing fad, but with legions of readers in love with him, we could be seeing the birth of a New Classic.
My friend Mila is convinced she's going to marry Harry. Harry Potter. She's 21 years old and he's only 14, but she writes letters to him, draws little pictures of him, and just got a Harry Potter watch. She's read all four of the books, and is head over heels in love with Harry Freaking Potter. And sometimes I love him too. What's the big deal about Harry Potter? Well, there are a few things that make Harry Potter special. For now. 1. The element of magic in his life. Despite all of the marvelous advancements in technology we surround ourselves with, we long for something more. For some of us, that's found in spirituality or religion. For others, science and learning. For others, magic. Still others are still searching for something...but most of us hope this isn't all there is. In the Harry Potter books, Harry has FOUND that "something else" at Hogwart's. 2. Harry's Friends. Harry has the best of friends on his side, including Ron and Hermione, his two closest friends and classmates. Ron and Hermione aren't carbon copies of Harry, but despite their differences, they get along wonderfully and are still friends. Harry also has friends in high places, including Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwart's, and Hagrid, a Giant. These friends have helped him out of seemingly impossible situations, but always furthering Harry's growth, not letting him avoid conflict and growth. These friends don't shield him from problems (and they probably could), but enable him to overcome them. 3. Harry's Accomplishments. Harry Potter has become the star Quidditch player (think soccer on broomsticks) of the Gryffindor House at Hogwart's, and more than that, he's an accomplished wizard. Part of this is hard work and study, and part is innate, and possibly destined. Harry has defeated Voldemort in all of their confrontations, but always at severe risk and often injury to Harry and his friends. Harry is evolving from a "normal boy" that he had been his whole life with his foster parents the Dursleys into a powerful wizard, and in the course of the four books we've already read, we're seeing this evolution. 4. Harry's Mistakes. One of the things that's most endearing about Harry Potter is that he makes mistakes. He sometimes has poor judgment, sometimes he's selfish, and he certainly has more questions than answers. Harry gets angry, jealous, and frightened, and is thus more like one of US than other children's series characters. 5. Harry's History in His World. Harry Potter's history in his own world (and ours) is still being written. He has a tragic past, with both parents having been killed when he was still an infant. According to legend and rumor, he's the only one who is invulnerable to the wicked spells of Voldemort. The Fourth Book, The Goblet of Fire, has hinted at a broadening of the Harry Potter World, taking us to other Wizard Places and bringing in international wizard politics. Conflicts are bubbling up between wizards and giants and goblins and fairies, and I'm almost positive that our good friend Harry will be involved in a grand way in resolving these conflicts. Harry is kinda like the Messiah for the wizards, and how far that will go is up to J.K. Rowling. 6. Harry's History in Our World. I'm pretty sure that this is what this Epinions Topic is meant to discuss. Are the Harry Potter books just a passing fad, or a new "classic?" I think it's too soon to say. I DO think that these are good books, well written for children and with enough twists and turns to keep adults like me and Mila interested. My wife has had some time on her hands over the last few weeks, and has been re-reading the Harry Potter books--she said the first one was pretty disappointing, but the second and third have been very entertaining. The first one is easily the least complicated and character-driven of the group, and it shows. J.K. Rowling was anticipating a group of seven books in her series, taking Harry from age 11 to 18, and book five should be coming out in 2002 sometime. I'm looking forward to it. I know there are extreme right wing groups that are against Harry Potter, saying that the wizardry represented goes against what's taught in the Bible about avoiding Black Magic or something something and witchcraft blah blah blah...I think that's all baloney. It's not a primer about how to be a witch. It's a series of books about how to be a good person, who knows the difference between light and darkness, right and wrong. In many ways, the Harry Potter books remind me of some of my other favorite things--Star Wars, Narnia, Comic Books--a clearly defined good and evil, and the conscious decision by the main character to pursue good and eschew evil, no matter what the cost. This clear message of the books is much more clear a choice than your children will get in The Real World, and by seeing one child take a stand, they may be willing to do the same. That message can only help them. Is it poorly written pap instead of Great Literature? Possibly. I really don't have the background to say. I think that any series of books, whether it's Harry Potter or (ack) the Babysitter's Club that encourages children to read is doing children a service. I think parents should monitor and encourage their children to read just as they should watch and limit what their children watch on television or movies they go to. Take an interest in Harry Potter. Read it to your younger children, and encourage older ones to read. We may be seeing history in the making right before our eyes. And that IS magic.  |
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