Part 9-Theme
“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” ―
Introduction
A theme is a central topic, subject, or message within a narrative, and probably one of the more popular literary devices to discuss and analyze. The theme of the story is often a driving force in the plot or sequence of events of a story, and it can tackle some difficult issues in a way that is easier for a reader to understand and learn about. The Harry Potter series is no different; the series deals with some difficult and complex themes, especially for a series considered to be for youth. However, J.K. Rowling does an excellent job of portraying the themes in a healthy light and lets the readers journey with the characters to learn about these specific themes. As the last book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, wraps up these themes and the lessons they teach, I will be focusing on how this particular book tackles three of the most prominent themes throughout the series.
Choice (Good vs. Evil)
The theme of choice is often the one Harry discusses with Dumbledore at the end of each book, and one that produced some of the best pieces of wisdom from the series (such as the quote above). In this last book, Harry faces two main situations in which he has to learn about the theme of choice. The first of these is introduced as Harry struggles to take in the rumors about Dumbledore’s life that rise after his death. Many of these new rumors suggest that when Dumbledore was a teenager, he was friends with a great dark wizard and even helped this wizard (Grindelwald) plan horrific deeds against muggles (non-magical people). Harry struggles to understand how the Dumbledore he knew and this other side of Dumbledore can both be real. He feels betrayed by not being told about these pieces of Dumbledore (many of which do turn out to be true), and questions the wise mentor he so idolized earlier in his life. Harry has to learn that a person is not good or evil by birth, but that their choices show who they are. Harry comes to understand that Dumbledore did make some terrible, perhaps evil choices as a youth, but that he also learned, and in response to his remorse for those actions he dedicated his life to conquering evil.
The second major choice Harry faces is in the discovery of the Deathly Hallows. As he and his friends having been hunting Voldemort’s horcruxes in order to destroy them so Voldemort himself can be killed, Harry is elated to discover the existence of three magical objects that when brought together make the person the “Master of Death.” Harry is convinced these legendary objects are real, however his friends disagree. This leads to Harry obsessing over the Hallows and in effect neglecting the search for horcruxes. However, a close call and death of a good friend jolt Harry back to reality, and Harry makes the choice to continue hunting horcruxes, as this is what he was instructed to do. Later, the gravity of this choice is revealed when Harry (briefly) dies and meets Dumbledore again. Harry had willingly given himself up to Voldemort as a sacrifice to save the others, and as Dumbledore explains, “You are the true master of death, because the true master does not seek to run away from Death. He accepts that he must die, and understands that there are far, far worse things in the living world than dying.” It was Harry’s choice to give up control and follow his instructions that led him to ultimately have the tools to defeat Voldemort.
Death/Mortality
Without the context, this theme seems like it would be way too dark for a children’s story. However, the ideas of mortality, fear of death, and sacrifice are presented in ways that make the reader feel unafraid, and truly does teach good lessons. Throughout the whole series, we learn how greatly Voldemort fears death, and that this fear is what drives him to seek ways of becoming immortal and put himself so highly above others he is not capable of love. However, we also see many of the characters in the books die doing something they believe in because their motive is love.
Perhaps the greatest demonstration of this theme is when Harry willingly gives himself up to Voldemort so that he may die in order to save others, just as his mother died to save him. Harry discovers that he was made a horcrux by accident on the night his parents die, and because of this he must die so that Voldemort can be killed. This willingness to sacrifice himself reminds the reader that “there are far, far worse things in the living world than dying.” It also presents the idea that all humans will face death, but if you face it without love you have not really lived at all. This last book shows that it is not avoiding death that leads to a better life, but an acceptance of mortality, and not in a morbid, fatalistic way, but in a way that creates a motive to do good in your life and the lives of those around you.
Love
My favorite chapter in the entire series is chapter 33 of this book, titled “The Prince’s Tale.” This chapter gives the back story and history of the villain Snape through his own memories, which he gave to Harry upon his death. It is these memories that powerfully portray the theme of love in the story, and give Harry the strength to walk toward death with love. In this chapter we learn Snape was in fact on Harry’s side the whole time. Snape had grown up with Harry’s mother, and had been in love with her. It was also he who, unknowingly, passed Voldemort the information that would cause him to kill Harry’s parents. It is this deep remorse and love for Lily that gives Snape the strength to turn spy against Voldemort and continue to work against him for the sixteen years leading up to Voldemort’s defeat, all while Voldemort thought him a loyal follower.
As stated before, Voldemort is not capable of love, and is therefore no longer able to understand Snape or work out his true intentions. Being as arrogant as he is, this leads Voldemort to believe Snape is entirely on his side. Voldemort can not see the power of Snape’s love, and because of this believes Snape is nearly as empty or evil as himself. As Dumbledore puts it, “That which Voldemort does not value, he takes no trouble to understand. Of house-elves and children’s tales, of love, loyalty, and innocence, Voldemort knows and understands nothing. Nothing. That they all have a power beyond his own, a power beyond the reach of any magic, is a truth he has never grasped.”
The theme of love presented in this book takes love beyond emotions and feelings, and presents it as something so much deeper, and action, even a form of magic. Even more powerful, this idea of love as a sort of magic is not something that has to be limited to a fantasy series about a boy with a scar, it is a theme that can be brought into our own world.
“You would be protected by an ancient magic of which [Voldemort] knows, which he despises, and which he has always, therefore, underestimated – to his cost. I am speaking, of course, of the fact that your mother died to save you. She gave you a lingering protection he never expected, a protection that flows in your veins to this day…He shed her blood, but it lives on in you and her sister. Her blood became your refuge…There is a room in the Department of Mysteries that is kept locked at all times. It contains a force that is at once more wonderful and more terrible than death, than human intelligence, than forces of nature. It is also, perhaps, the most mysterious of the many subjects for study that reside there. It is the power held within that room that you possess in such quantities and which Voldemort has not at all. That power took you to save Sirius tonight. That power also saved you from possession by Voldemort, because he could not bear to reside in a body so full of the force he detests.” -Dumbledore explaining the deepest magic of love to Harry in the Order of the Phoenix
Conclusion
There is no doubt that these themes have been presented in a way that has changed the lives of people worldwide and has helped many to better understand these concepts. It is incredible that themes so complex can be broken down into simple quotes or ideas that can be presented in a children’s series. J.K. Rowling has mastered the art of both explaining these theme in compelling ways, but also letting the reader discover these themes for themselves. As Dumbledore explains to Harry, there are some things we must discover for ourselves. I hope this post was insightful and interesting, and that these themes were explained in a way that may help you better understand not just this story, but any other stories (both real and imagined) you may come across. Have a fantastic day!
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Sources:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/1077326.J_K_Rowling
https://www.litcharts.com/lit/harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows/themes/choices-redemption-and-morality
https://www.hypable.com/harry-potter/deathly-hallows-book-themes/