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.
I agree with Ally that "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" is a coming of age novel that has several elements that children can relate to, but I do believe Harry questions everything at a younger age than most children today. As “They Boy Who Lived” he has an apparent reputation to uphold to do the great things that his wizarding community expects, but he is only 11. At age 11, I was not worried about keeping up a reputation, probably because I didn’t have one built yet, but I was more concerned with living my life, playing soccer, going to school. The thoughts that go through Harry’s mind and that he expressed to Hagrid by saying ‘“Everyone thinks I’m special….But I don’t know anything about magic at all. How can they expect me to do great things”’ (86) are ones that I had (not the magic part) in my last two years of high school, sometimes even now, trying to figure out who I am and my purpose in life. While he does have his “The Boy Who Lived” reputation to uphold, I believe much of the stress comes from his family situation and being an orphan.
ReplyDeleteAs a child I always felt that I had expectations to meet for my parents, I think every kid does, and at the same time most parents are encouraging and say things along the lines of “you’re special.” Harry, being orphaned as a baby is left with the Dursley family who give him no encouragement whatsoever. He’s never been told that he’s special before the wizarding world becomes his reality, and I think that is why he is so consciously worried about the great things he is supposed to do. If he lived the “normal” magical life with his parents, he might not still be “The Boy Who Lived”, but if he was I think the parental influence he would have would lead to less worry about the reputation he thinks he needs to uphold.
Perhaps another part of the appeal, aside from the coming-of-age tale and the fact that he is so young, is the fact that Harry has to come of age so quickly. One day he is living his very normal, very sad life with the Dursley’s, and the next he is being sent mysterious letters about mysterious things and, before he knows it, he is on a train to a magical school he knows nothing about. The sudden change in his life is captivating, so even if it were stripped away of the magic, we would still be hooked and wanting more because of how fast everything seems to be moving. And not only is it the addition of magic that changes the world around Harry, but he quickly goes from the boy who people either pushed around or ignored to The Boy Who Lived. He is known and (at first) respected by nearly everyone – he is a legend. He is forced to obtain some level of maturity very young and very quickly with everyone watching him so closely. So, yes, while Harry Potter, as a coming-of-age story, is very relatable in that he deals with bullies, schoolwork, and living up to the expectations of others, it is far more exciting to read about than a normal 11-year old’s life because of the pace at which his occurs.
ReplyDeleteA large part of the Harry Potter series’ universal appeal is its very conscious effort to address most insecurities of children. Ally touched on high expectations, perhaps the most significant insecurity explored in the novel. More so than Harry, Ron has a particularly relatable problem with meeting high expectations. His brothers all did extraordinarily well in Hogwarts. Percy the prefect, Harry and George the bludgers, and the oldest brothers going on incredible adventures around the world. When Ron looks in the mirror, his deepest desire is revealed to be more prestige and accolades than all his brothers combined. As shallow as it may be, this desire follows Ron throughout the novel. At the end his deepest fear is that Hermione and Harry laugh at him behind his back and have a secret romance. Ron is incredibly insecure, something most pre-teen and teenage boys can relate to. Rowling’s ability to tap into common teenage securities had to be one of its greatest secrets to success, and one of the most substantial bridges from the fantastic world of Harry Potter to our common Muggle world.
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