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 11th
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…
I also love the idea that there could be a magical world that we don't even realize exists. The fact that J.K. Rowling makes Harry live with the odious Dursleys for years while unaware of his own magical powers excited the possibility that any child could be unknowingly on her way to becoming a great wizard. Likewise, the Rowling intertwines the world so that, while separate, one is always affecting the other, though muggles never realize it.
ReplyDeleteAt the beginning of the sixth book, there's a scene where former Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge meets with England's muggle Prime Minister to update him on the goings-on of the magical world. The Prime Minister is wary of the intrusion of the magical world into his 'real' world. Yet, it keeps alive the possibility for readers that maybe there really is a magical world that our government hides from us. Most of us don't actually believe this to be true, but it's a nice thought all the same.
Your comment about parallel magical worlds reminds me of the conspiracy theories about our lives. The most relevant one to this example is the one where we as humans are actually in a TV-like set and Earth/the world is a TV show. We are unable to see the spectators obviously because we are in the "TV" and not outside of it. Likewise, there could exist a magical world that we are unaware of because they are outside of our realm of existence.
ReplyDeleteI think what makes the book so real to me are the tangibles that currently exist in our world. Disney has capitalized on it for a monetary gain, but beyond corporations making money, the magic still lives on through books such as Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. People continue to use references about Harry Potter even today. Quite honestly, Daniel Radcliffe will forever be Harry Potter in my mind because he has acted as Harry Potter for so many years. It'll be interesting to see how generations after us react to Harry Potter.
I also love the idea of parallel worlds within Harry Potter. I spoke about it in class, but it bears repeating, I used to gaze out the car window on road trips imagining all the places that Wizards might be or could come from. In the 4th book, we are introduced to Portkeys, which are muggle objects that are charmed to take you to a predetermined destination. The Portkey idea is a genius way to encourage the imaginations (and obsessions) of Rowling’s books. Any object that we muggles come in contact with could easily be a secret Portkey. In The Sorcerer’s Stone Hagrid first, introduces Harry to the Wizarding world through a shop hidden right between two ordinary shops. They travel through just an ordinary brick wall. We, as muggles, see two shops next to each other every day – maybe we just can’t see the wizard shop hidden among them. I think it is parallels like these that make it so easy for so many different kinds of readers to love Harry Potter. With series like Lord of the Rings, the world is just fantasy. But Harry Potter is real. Now the realness that Rowling embedded in her books has become more and more of our lives. From the amazing cinematic universe to the physical ones all over the world, Harry Potter’s wizarding world becomes less difficult to believe actually exists.
ReplyDelete