Mirror of Erised

One of the biggest life lessons and themes that Rowling lays out for her readers in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is given to Harry Potter during his Christmas break spent at Hogwarts. Harry and his invisibility cloak find themselves wandering the Restricted Section of the library looking for information on Nicolas Flamel. To evade getting caught, Harry stumbles upon an open room with nothing more in it than a magnificent mirror, the Mirror of Erised. Harry is immediately fascinated with this mirror and finds himself spending countless hours in front of it and wanting to come back night after night to gaze at what he sees in the mirror. His fascination stems from the disconnect that occurs from what he physically sees in the mirror compared with what others see. Dumbledore provides answers one night when Harry returns to gaze into the mirror, “it [the mirror] shows us nothing more or less than the deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts… However, this mirror will give us neither knowledge nor truth. Men have wasted away before it, entranced by what they have seen, or been driven mad, not knowing if what it shows is real or even possible” (p. 213). Through the Mirror of Erised, Rowling suggests that dreaming and dwelling on one thing in particular can be very dangerous in this life. Throughout the Harry Potter series, Rowling continually promotes following dreams, however, this mirror provides clarity that holding onto some dreams has the ability in particular cases to be “unhelpful and unhealthy” (“The Mirror of Erised” p. 1). 

Rowling uses the Mirror of Erised to showcase what living a life full of happiness looks like as well. As Dumbledore explains to Harry how the mirror works he states, “Let me explain. The happiest man on earth would be able to use the Mirror of Erised like a normal mirror, that is, he would look into it and see himself exactly as he is” (p. 213). Through this discussion with Dumbledore, Rowling emphasizes the importance of contentment with the life that we lead. Rowling sets out to showcase to Harry and her readers that true contentment and lack of desperate unreasonable and unrealistic desires can lead to happiness.

The Name "Draco Malfoy"

J. K. Rowling is an amazing story crafter.  She ties in points from all over the Harry Potter series, weaving them together to form an intricate plotline with highly developed characters and enticing twists throughout every book.  Part of this craftsmanship comes from an element of literature than can be highly hit-or-miss with many authors: names.  Character names can be anywhere from so subtle as to barely draw attention to so over-the-top that readers automatically know what is going to happen to that character.  Rowling, in my opinion, blends together these two extremes—and the spectrum that falls between them—in a way that works perfectly well for people who grow up with the books.

The character whose name I would like to discuss is Draco Malfoy.  His name reveals the essence of his character and his portrayal.

Draco Malfoy is the main fellow schoolmate antagonist of Harry.  His first name suggests magic—“Draco” comes from the Greek word for “dragon” (the word “draco” is present in the Hogwarts motto, as well: “Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus,” meaning “Never tickle a sleeping dragon,” but that is more of a fun fact than a point of this post).  Draco’s name is inherently more magical than Harry’s, reflecting his pureblood status and magical upbringing.  His last name, however, is the subtle part, where Rowling gets sneaky.  “Malfoy” can be broken up into two parts, becoming “mal foy,” which, ignoring some grammar conventions and spelling, means “bad faith” in French (“foy” is spelled “foi”).  Having “bad faith” for a last name implies that Draco is not to be trusted (people should avoid putting their faith in him), and that he believes in the wrong things (his faith is bad).  And indeed, he does—he believes in the supremacy of purebloods and focuses on power and prestige more than compassion, kindness, and friendship (all lessons that are good for young readers).

The meaning and implications of Draco’s name are not available to children who are reading the book or are having the book read to them, but as those children grow older, the meaning may become clearer, and a second (or third, or fourth) read through the books has the chance to reveal more insight into the character of Draco (and other characters) when emphasis is placed on character names and the meanings of those names.

Parallel Worlds

In class we talked a lot about how and why Harry Potter became such a huge success, against many book publishers beliefs.  Some students hypothesized it was because of the characters that are admirable yet extremely relatable.  The characters are especially relatable because they aged along with their readers.  For example, if the reader was the same age as Harry at the beginning of the series, 11, then they were only 3 years older than him when the final book came out.  This allows the reader to identify with the characters on a much more personal level, and therefore become even more attached to this book and the many others that follow.  Others thought that it was because of the immaculately detailed world Rowling constructed.  The entire series is contains loads of otherwise inessential details that turn this imaginary world into one that is tangible and immersive, despite all its fantasy elements.  Rowling’s descriptive writing keeps you constantly entertained with a rich, complex, and innovative world that is constantly changing and expanding.  While I agree that all of these aspects certainly draw the reader in, I don’t believe they are what cause the craze that is people of all ages lining up at 3 am in the freezing cold for the next book.

Personally, I believe what makes this novel so incredibly addicting is the possibility of it all being real.  I know at first that sounds crazy, trust me I know, but let me explain where I am coming from with this.  By setting up the magical world in parallel with the real world, Rowling makes the reader question if it is possible that we are all actually just muggles unaware of the magic going on right under our own noses. While most fantasy books are characterized by an entirely separate world that intrigues the readers with its illusory elements, Rowling manages to create a fantasy world and contain it within our own familiar, human world.  I know my fellow Harry Potter fans also waited by their doorstep on their 11^th birthday secretly hoping a letter would arrive inviting them to the wonderful world of wizardry.  The tantalizing possibility that this world is real and just beyond Platform 9 ¾ is what keeps the readers reading and coming back for more.  Even as a 21 year old I catch myself entertaining the idea, then quickly remind myself it is just fiction.  Or maybe that's what the Ministry of Magic wants me to think…

   

Magical Powers Can Be Misused

Harry Potter's plotline relies heavily on good vs. evil storylines. Throughout the series, the entire Wizarding world is struggling to keep dark forces like Voldemort in check. Magic is a wonderful thing, but it can be manipulated for evil too. (Shocker!) In the decade since Harry's parents' death, Voldemort and his followers have been laying low. However, there are dark stirrings as soon as Harry steps foot into this new world.
In fact, Harry has been keeping the balance between good and evil since he was a baby. Professor McGonagall says of Voldemort, "That's not all. They're saying he tried to kill the Potter's son, Harry. But – he couldn't. He couldn't kill that little boy. No one knows why, or how, but they're saying that when he couldn't kill Harry Potter, Voldemort's power somehow broke – and that's why he's gone" (12). Harry doesn't know it yet, but the very reason he is alive is because his mother's strong love blocked Voldemort's attack against him. Even though his parents were killed, good triumphed over evil in that infamous night.
Harry's first trip through Diagon Alley is very surreal. Everyone knows who he is, which is very jarring. He is inherently connected to Voldemort no matter what he does. Ollivander is one of the strange characters that he meets in the wand shop, who reminisces about his interaction with a young Voldemort. "I'm sorry to say I sold the wand that did it," he said softly. "Thirteen-and-a-half inches. Yew. Powerful wand, very powerful, and in the wrong hands…well, if I'd known what that wand was going out into the world to do…." (81). He is very troubled, as many people are when they think about Voldemort. Harry has yet to experience how terrifying this Dark wizard can be, but many people are filling him in on what he's missed in 11 years.
It quickly becomes evident to Harry that this world is not always safe and sparkling as one might think a magical place would be. Hagrid introduces Gringotts as "the safest place in the world fear anything yeh want ter keep safe -- 'kept maybe Hogwarts" (65).  One of the first hints that there are dangerous people in the Wizarding world is shown in this poem in Gringotts: "Enter, stranger, but take heed, Of what awaits the sin of greed, For those who take, but do not earn, Must pay most dearly in their turn, So if you seek beneath our floors, A treasure that was never yours, Thief, you have been warned, beware, Of finding more than treasure there" (72). Before he even steps foot into Hogwarts, Harry learns that using magic for bad purposes has consequences. It is a privilege to have this power, but it must be used wisely. This is just the first step in this series which chronicles battles between good and evil.

Harry Potter, Star Wars and the art of pacing

Graduation is almost upon me. I feel my days discussing Star Wars in an academic setting drawing to a close. As I worry about my future, I write my final blog post on how "Harry Potter" totally ripped off "Star Wars."

I'm not here to attack "Harry Potter" for having a plot similar to "Star Wars." Some already have. I don't believe that. I think both Harry Potter and Star wars ripped off the Monomyth, and I don't hold that against them in any way. It's amazing to me that completely different mediums can follow the same blueprint unconsciously laid out by thousands of years of storytelling and still capture the imaginations of millions. That J.K. Rowling and George Lucas relied on the Monomyth to prop up their respective sagas of chosen heroes, powerful magic and phallic weaponry speaks more to the power of the Monomyth than it does any alleged creative bankruptcy.

In class we've tried to hit on the appeal of Harry Potter. Some great points have been raised. I particularly like the idea that the Wizard World, to young readers, might as well have actually existed outside the pages of Rowling's novels. But there's another point some make frequently that needs some refining. It is the assertion that people like Harry Potter because its world is so fully realized. The thought seems to be that by simply having a thoroughly-explained world, "Harry Potter" launched a $15 billion brand.

That doesn't ring true to me. We've seen plenty of better-developed worlds in science fiction and fantasy, and few have approached the success of "Harry Potter." "Dune," "Lord of the Rings," "Wheel of Time," and "Warhammer 40,000" have thousands of years of history animating their central narratives. They also have hundreds of worlds and characters with stakes in the main conflict. Viewed alongside these series, it becomes evident that simply having a complex and thoroughly-explained world does not a Scholastic Blockbuster make. There's something that Rowling does that few of her contemporaries do not.

Where "Harry Potter" totally rips off "Star Wars" is in how Rowling builds her world. "Star Wars" is a massive fictional universe - so massive that when Disney bought it The Mouse demanded that all stories, comic books and video games outside the original six films be removed from the canon - but it's also a universe that's revealed elegantly. "A New Hope," the first Star Wars film, tosses off references to Clone Wars, the Jedi, the Empire and the Force, all heady topics that Lucas explains just enough of at just the right narrative points so viewers never get bogged down and lose site of what makes Star Wars great: enjoyable characters, wild adventure and physics-defying space explosions.

Rowling follows suit. We understand just enough about the Wizard World, how magic works and how Harry fits into it all. We're never bogged down with fake languages, ponderous philosophy or the political machinations of the world (at least not yet). Harry Potter knows what it is: a rip-snorting adventure with a great trio of characters and a world made fun less by its nitty-gritty details than by its grand vision. Rowling never breaks pace. In "A New Hope", Lucas never did either. That's the influence of Star Wars, and that's to a large extent why I think "Harry Potter" is successful.

A Coming of Age Story

In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, J.K. Rowling beautifully interweaves complex characters and plots to form a story that is appealing to all kinds of audiences. However, perhaps the most appealing part of the book, is the fact that underneath all the magic and wonder, the novel is still a coming of age story. In the novel, Harry starts out as a young 11-year-old who experiences several moments that can be relatable for any child that reads the novel.

After defeating Voldemort in the very beginning of the novel, Harry is known in the wizarding world as “The Boy Who Lived”. When Harry finds out about his reputation, he is nervous because he knows that the wizarding community believes that he will go on to do “great things" (85). Harry explains his nervousness to Hagrid by stating, “Everyone thinks I’m special. All those people in the Leaky Cauldron, Professor Quirrell, Mr. Ollivander… But I don’t know anything about magic at all. How can they expect me to do great things” (86)? Harry’s doubt in himself is reflective of what all children experience at his age. Like Harry, once children begin to realize what their parents and friends expect from them, then they begin to doubt their abilities in being able to meet those expectations.  Harry’s nervousness allows readers to feel connected with the character and also helps readers understand more of what Harry must be going through.

Moreover, even though Harry is one of the most powerful wizards in the wizarding community, he is still bullied by Dudley Dursley and Draco Malfoy.  Through their words and actions, both bullies are able to inhibit Harry’s potential and abilities. At one point in the novel, J.K Rowling claims that Harry was Dudley’s “favorite punching bag” (20). Bullying is something that most children experience in their childhood. Because Harry is constantly bullied by Dudley and Malfoy, the audience is able to understand and connect with how Harry feels when he is bullied. The audience is also able to sympathize with Harry because they understand that he is a victim of bullying.

Hence, by creating a coming of age novel that contains several elements that children can relate to, J.K. Rowling has created a story that every child is able to connect with and understand. 

Hermione: Gryffindor v. Ravenclaw

Whenever an avid Harry Potter fan thinks about bushy-haired and bossy Hermione Granger, they immediately think of her most poignant trait: her intelligence. Throughout Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, as well as the other six books, she is the star student at Hogwarts. Whether it be studying ten weeks before final exams (a notion completely unrelatable to us college students), placing first in her class, or reading every book in the library, Hermione is dedicated to her pursuit of knowledge. In fact, she’s so dedicated to studying, one can only question why she wasn’t placed into Ravenclaw.

As the Sorting Hat sings, “In wise old Ravenclaw, if you’ve a ready mind, where those of wit and learning, will always find their kind” (118). This description seems to perfectly fit Hermione. From her first appearance in the novel, she emphasizes her dedication to knowledge. Before even stepping foot at Hogwarts, she declares, “I’ve tried a few simple spells just for practice and it’s all worked for me….I’ve learned all our course books by heart, of course. I just hope it will be enough” (105-106). Additionally, her time at Hogwarts is fully dedicated to studying, and she is always searching for more knowledge. She even declares, “I suppose Ravenclaw wouldn’t be too bad” (106).

While Hermione would undoubtedly fit in perfectly with Ravenclaw, something about her places her in Gryffindor. Although she is a brilliant student and undeniable wizard-nerd, she comes to show bravery and courage throughout the story. Initially, she yells at Harry and Ron every time they break rules. Towards the end of the novel, however, she begins to show her bravery. By volunteering to help Harry save the Sorcerer’s stone, she courageously stands up for her beliefs and bravely faces the challenges that follow the trap door. Although Hermione could definitely fit in with the scholarly Ravenclaw, she possess bravery and courage that make her right for Gryffindor. The Sorting Hat recognized within her traits that she didn’t even know she had, and her character development throughout the story reveals that she is more than merely a nerd. She’s a brave, courageous, and daring (as well as frequently bossy), making her a perfect Gryffindor member.

The Golden Trio

The relationship between Harry, Ron, and Hermione is truly a unique relationship not only within the book, but when compared to relationships which we encounter in everyday life. Hermione is clearly the brains of their trio considering she is the top of their class and is constantly reading and working ahead. When the three of them meet on the train Hermione remarks, “I’ve tried a few simple spells just for practice and it’s all worked for me…I’ve learned all our course books by heart, of course, I just hope it will be enough” (105). This dedication and idolizing of intelligence by Hermione serves to portray her clear insecurities regarding failure and not measuring up to those around her. Hermione is clearly smarter than Ron and Harry when it comes to their classes, but Harry and Ron serve to balance her book smarts with their own strengths. Ron is often seen simply as the comedic relief within the trio, but it is also important to acknowledge his in-depth knowledge regarding the wizarding world. Harry and Hermione both grew up in the muggle world, and thus start school at Hogwarts with a disadvantage. Harry voices this worry to Ron, saying, “I’ve got loads to learn…I bet…I bet I’m the worst in the class” (100). Ron comes into Hogwarts, and his friendship with Harry and Hermione, knowing so much about the wizarding world that he doesn’t even realize how special and useful it can be, such as his knowledge about everyday things like, moving portraits, quidditch, wizard chess, the Daily Prophet, and so much more. Harry also serves to balance Hermione and Ron’s knowledge with his constant desire to be good. Throughout the novel Harry is modest about his achievements, not understanding why wizards are honored to meet him in the Leaky Cauldron. Harry is brave and kind, trying to help Hagrid and all those around him even when it may get him in trouble, or when he may get nothing in return. 

At the end of the novel it becomes most clear why Harry, Ron, and Hermione are balanced as characters in the way they are. Ron’s knowledge of the wizarding world helps them to get through the giant chess game, while Hermione’s cleverness saves them from the Devil’s Snare, as well as helping them to choose the right potions. In the end Harry’s bravery and dedication to doing what is right, even though it is not his responsibility, allows him to confront Quirrel and Voldemort, and to come out victorious. If any of the three of them had attempted to do this alone they would have failed, but together their strengths and weaknesses balance out, and they form one whole team.