J.K. Rowling’s literary excellence is exuded in the Harry Potter series which stirs the human soul with the artistic quintessence and imaginative zeal of the stalwart author. The story meanders through the path of Harry Potter’s life and creates a realm of fantastic aura which captivates the innumerable hearts of the avid readers. The books reiterate the thematic consistencies of friendship and faith. The themes of love and sacrifice are also echoed in the books of the series. The characters reflect the deepest emotions of human nature and comply with the thematic pronouncements. Biblical analogies can be drawn in regard to the themes of the books. The Bible states, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends” (John 15:12-13). Rowling portrays the omnipotence of the institution of love. She also brings out the paramount importance of having faith complying with the religious message that “Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth”. (Pope John Paul II, Fides et ratio, Introduction)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire conveys the theme of friendship and upholds the institution of companionship through the chronology of the novel. In spite of the many similarities between Harry Potter and Voldemort, one thing that separates them is their value and emotion for friendship. J.K. Rowling writes, “Harry thoroughly enjoyed double Divination that afternoon; they were still doing star charts and predictions, but now that he and Ron were friends once more, the whole thing seemed very funny again.” (GF 71) She brings forth the emotions of the heart at the time of reconciliation with a valued friend. Such was the exuberance and happiness of their hearts as Ron and Harry made up with each other.
Harry treats everyone as an equal which stands in stark contrast to the treatment meted out to Wormtail by Voldemort. Wormtail is too scared and in sheer desperation even cuts his arm off on order to bring Lord Voldemort back. The author vividly describes, “Wormtail's robes were shining with blood, now; he had wrapped the stump of his arm in them.” (GF 104) In reciprocation, Voldemort lets him bleed for sometime before giving him a magical arm. In juxtaposition, Harry’s friends come to his help as they love him. His companions readily volunteer their paramount support in all the challenges which Harry is faced with. Dobby, Hermione and Ron all come forward to help their friend, Harry. However, Voldemort keeps his supporters in line by utilizing his immense strength and intimidation.
In Harry Potter and Order of the Phoenix, the author aptly brings out the theme of friendship through the events of the novel. Friendship is all about being the anchor at tumultuous times of life and it is the real friends who stand by an individual at the times of need. Harry Potter’s best friends bear with his moods and stand by him all the time. Rowling writes, “Did he think himself superior to everyone else? Did he really believe he was better than Ron?” (OP 92) The protagonist is resentful of Ron which only exposes him as a human hero. Harry is even rebuked by both Ron and Hermione for his temper tantrums. Even Ginny puts up with Harry’s temper and defensiveness. They all let go of Harry’s sudden aggression as they believe that he would get over this phase and their friendship would stand the brunt of time. Harry is left greatly shaken by Sirius’ death. He screams out to Dumbledore, “People don't like being locked up!” (OP 131) It is only after Sirius’ demise that he lets go of all these traits and reconciles with his companions in his amiable self.
In the novel, Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince, Harry relies on the support and help from Ron and Hermione. Even Dumbledore says, “You need your friends, Harry.” (HP 212) At the juncture when Hermione feels jealous of Ron’s lady love, Harry faces the conflict in his heart and is evidently upset by the chance of losing the two of his best friends. Harry eventually starts having feelings for Ginny, Ron’s sister. However, he immediately restrains himself in the fear of jeopardizing his friendship with Ron. The characters having grown older face adult issues. Their bond, however, triumphs and they persevere the testing times. Both Ron and Hermione pledge to accompany their friend, Harry, on the final quest to take revenge on Voldemort’s Horcruxes and Lord Voldemort. Harry has by now come to realize that the help from his friends is of paramount importance and accepts their proposal. The author pens, “Lord Voldemort has never had a friend, nor do I believe that he has ever wanted one.” (HP 188) In stark contrast to Harry, Voldemort did not have any friends.
The theme of sacrifice is recurrent in the novel as Dumbledore and Harry sacrifice their own happiness and peace selflessly. Harry yearns to live the life of a normal student at Hogwarts, but comprehends quite well that he must accept his destiny of fighting and destroying Voldemort. Harry does not get deterred at the thought of risking his own life to ensure the safety of his companions. He even leaves his vial of Felix Felicis for the protection of his companions as he leaves with Dumbledore.
Dumbledore takes the onus of providing protection to Harry and Hogwarts oblivious of his own well-being. When the duo finally finds the locket, Dumbledore insists Harry to pour the poisonous potion into his mouth so that the Horcrux and a part of Voldemort’s soul are destroyed.
Harry’s greatest power is exuded in his ability to love. The lad had faced enough suffering in his childhood, but is still able to pour his heart out and show his empathy with those who are around him at Hogwarts. He acts out of love which is the antidote to the Dark Magic of Lord Voldemort.
In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the theme of faith gets echoed as the story progresses. Dumbledore is the only individual who is capable of orchestrating the downfall of Lord Voldemort by using his immense wisdom. However, he knows very well that the onerous ambition would only be achieved after his demise. The characters need to keep on doing their part after his death and thus carry out his vision. Believing in his quest does not seem too easy for either Harry Potter or anyone else. Dumbledore is in need of loyalty and love of the living even after his demise.
Also, Snape’s loyalty and valor are the manifestation of his wish to remain loyal to Lily Potter. He thus keeps his faith with the lady he loved. Dobby is killed by Bellatrix for being helpful to Harry and his death only snaps the protagonist out of the ambivalence toward the deceased character, Dumbledore. Harry is reminded of his promise to Dumbledore and he feels that he should honor it.
Lily Potter had sacrificed her life for Harry, while he later ends up sacrificing for all the others. The author pens, “He felt beleaguered and blackmailed: Did they think he did not know what they had done for him, didn't they understand that it was for precisely that reason that he wanted to go now, before they had to suffer any more on his behalf?” (DH 134) Harry has realized by now that other people have made many sacrifices for him. At Dobby’s demise, “he dug with a kind of fury, relishing the manual work, glorying in the non-magic of it, for every drop of his sweat and every blister felt like a gift to the elf who had saved their lives.” (DH 175) The novel also catapults the question of love as the protagonist is willing to put everything at stake to save the people he loves. It is his omnipotent capacity of loving which renders the strength to brave all odds which come in his path.
Thus, Rowling weaves the story of happy Potter’s life and in the process pens the immortal literary work of the contemporary times which has swept the world with the sheer impetus of creative excellence. The readers are left in the awe of the enthralling charm of the Harry Potter series. The novels have been adapted in the cinematic form which has only enhanced the reach of the engaging tale across the various cultures and geographical boundaries across the globe. Rowling has aptly incorporated the Biblical messages and Christian beliefs and has created a world of illusionistic transcendence which speaks of the innate human nature and psyche. Harry Potter has impressed the critics and readers alike and also left an ever-lasting mark on the hearts of the avid readers. The author transforms a tale of wizardry and justice into an expedition to the unchartered corners of the human nature. She expresses her story through the universal themes of love, sacrifice, faith and friendship which have been the driving forces in human lives since the very inception of human civilization. The characters attain the position of the archetypes and portray the varied colors of the human soul. The Biblical themes have been metamorphosed into the thematic expressions of literature which echo the principles of Christianity.
Works Cited
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Heilman, Elizabeth E. Ed. Critical Perspectives on Harry Potter. New York: Routledge, 2003.
Print.
Nel, Philip. J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter Novels: A Reader’s Guide. New York: The Continuum
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Peterson-Hilleque, Victoria. How to Analyze the Works of J. K. Rowling. Minnesota: ABDO
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