Ms. R's question #3

Why do you think that JKR created the characters of the house elves? (Think across all books.)

Ms. R's Question #2

Think about the different combinations characters have of both wealth and blood status are in the series.  What do you think JKR is trying to say through them?

Ms. R's Question #1

What is your analysis of Draco as a character? 

• Why did JKR create him? 
• What kind of future do you think he has? How is that connected to Dumbledore's final act of grace towards him?

The Significance of Numbers

I think throughout the series, J.K. Rowling used a lot of symbolism through numbers.  For example, the Deathly Hallows are three objects that are extremely important in Wizard lore--one might even call them holy.  Could this be an allusion to another holy trio?  And what about the horcruxes?  Voldemort planned on splitting his soul into seven, which is known as a lucky or magical number.  When he killed the Potters, he unknowingly created an extra horcrux (Harry). So, in the end, his soul was split into eight pieces.  However, only seven ever existed at any one time.  There's also seven years of Hogwarts, seven books, and seven is the age when a child should show magical talent (says Rita Skeeter).  In Jewish culture, seven symbolizes human existence--the days of work and the day of rest combined into one week.  Eight symbolizes going beyond what's human, beyond a physical existence--like the eighth day of the week (which doesn't physically exist).

I think J.K. Rowling is trying to say that when Voldemort split his soul another time, he was no longer human, no longer truly existing as a person.  He wasn't technically possible, yet still real and living.  If you think about it mathematically, splitting his soul in half left him with half a soul, then a fourth, and so on, leaving him with 1/128th of a soul.  That's not even one percent of a soul--dangerously close to being soulless, like being kissed by  a dementor.

Many could argue this is a coincidence, but J.K. Rowling planned a series with seven books. Not five, not three, but seven.  I think this was a significant and conscious decision.  Especially with the success of the books, you'd think Rowling might have chosen to write more about Harry and his friends.  But through everything, she stuck to a trusty set of seven.

What other numbers are symbolic in HP7?  Where else is the number seven mentioned?  Do seven and eight have other meanings in culture?  Tell me what you think!

Amanda Grad

Wand of Elder, Never Prosper

            Our main debate is who the hero really is in the Harry Potter series.  I think that it’s Harry.  While Snape and Dumbledore and really all of the other characters all helped him become the wizard he was, it was Harry who made the biggest choices.  Saving Malfoy’s life when they’d hated each other for seven years.  Approaching Snape as he was dying.  But the biggest difference, what truly separates him from Voldemort, and what always separates good from evil, is what he decided to do with power once he had it.

            At the end of the book, Harry is the owner of the Elder Wand.  Voldemort spent the entire seventh book searching for the Wand, and when he got it he used it to kill.  Harry, on the other hand, simply put the wand down, and repaired his own.  To do that takes a lot.  Harry was holding enormous power.  The question is, before his own wand was broken, or even just before he defeated Voldemort, would he have done the same?  Or would he have kept it?

            If he had kept it, though, I don’t think he’d have gone the same way as Voldemort.  And that is the difference between the two of them.  Tom Riddle came from a place where he wasn’t loved, as did Harry.  They were both fascinated by magic, and loved Hogwarts as the home they’d never had.  They were both popular.  But Tom, unlike Harry, never loved his friends, and being in Slytherin, he was cunning.  He wanted power.  His grandfather, Marvolo Gaunt, was entirely anti-muggle, and his own father was prejudiced against wizards.  This combined for a strong hate that his parents had left him in the orphanage. 

Harry, on the other hand, though an orphan as well, loved his friends, and was a Gryffindor.  He was brave.  And his parents were unprejudiced, and loved him, unlike Riddle’s.  He had good memories of them, unlike Riddle, who had none.  As Dumbledore says, it’s our choices that make us who we really are.  And choices are influenced by our experiences.  Harry has a more positive past, and Riddle’s….well, thinking back to his life at the orphanage and his background, it’s not altogether surprising the way he turned out.

The Ministry of Dark Tales

             In the book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," by J.K. Rowling, Harry and his friends reveal a lot of issues in the world while traveling all over that are relevant to issues that happen in the real world. One of the big things that a lot of flaws are shown is the government (The Ministry of Magic). The parts where it is brought up in the book I think J.K. Rowling is trying to say that things are down falling in the wizarding world and it then also says something about our government and society without blaming, but making you read through the lines.

             An example from the text is on page 243, " 'You realize that I am on my way downstairs to interrogate your wife, Cattermole? In fact, I'm quite surprised you're not down there holding her hand while she waits. Already given her up as a bad job, have you? Probably wise. Be sure and marry a pureblood next time.' " Here it shows people with higher power in the government taking advantage of other people with their power. He is also a deatheater who now works for the government which isn't good because then it is showing that other bad people are gaining power over the lower people and taking over. I find this type of act disgusting because you are supposed to be trusted and good and here is threatening someone with his authority if the man doesn't help him. This also gives me a cold feeling inside because I am scared of what he might do to this man's wife and with the deatheaters taking over people won't have any chance of doing something not permitted by these villains.

             All of the issues that the government and wizarding world face in this book are very representative of our current problems. Using power to control and threaten people is one thing that definitely does happen in real life. There are many stories that are brought up on the news of where someone with a lot of power would get someone to do something for them by saying who they are and maybe even forcing them into doing it. Also, not necessarily in America, another issue that I have heard about in our world is overtaking/overthrowing governments. One real example is where people overthrew government power in Libya and when taking notes on government in Harry Potter it kept on popping up in my head because of such close similarities. I think J.K. Rowling made intentional choices to bring up issues that really do happen with government, racism, and other topics to say how she sees it going on.

The Courage of Fright- Harry Potter And the Deathly Hallows

I am reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K Rowling. In the last book of this series Harry, Ron, and Hermione are sent on a mission by Dumbledore in which they can't tell anyone what they are doing. On page 210 Lupin offers to go on the mission with them to help protect them, he says he doesn't want to know what the mission is (but of course if they want to tell him he will accept.) But in this book Lupin has also been married to Nymphadora Tonks which on page 212 we find out is going to have a baby. Harry yells at Lupin for trying to abandon his family when they need him. He says it is because he feels horrible for bringing another werewolf into the world.

Why I think Lupin would leave his child to be with and protect Harry is because he hasn't met his child yet. And to him Harry is like a son, I mean he taught him how to fight off dementors! He feels a connection to him, and he knows Harry cares for him. But with a new child he is afraid they will hate him for making them a werewolf and giving them such a hard life, and he doesn't want this. Lupin is scared to be brave, he doesn't want to put himself out there and be rejected.

Its like for everyone in the world. In their personal and professional (school/work) life. The feeling of rejection is horrible embarrassing and filled with regret. Whether its in school when you raise your hand with answer and the teacher says its wrong, or whether you ask someone out and they say no. This is just part of life and our minds stretch them out making them these horrible things. But really the teacher is glad you tried and the person you asked out is flattered. So Lupin's son or daughter will realize he is my father he loves me and I am his blood it doesn't matter. Or even the child won't be mad. Lupin is scared!

Death

     Death is an immensely important topic that comes up many different times throughout this book.  A very big part of it is "living after death" or the contributions if you will of a person after they have already died as well as keeping faith in them.  There is also the whole idea of mastering death.  Mastering death comes up with both Voldemort as well as the nicer characters in the book.

     The biggest example of a character contributing to the story, even after death was Dumbledore.  He gave Harry the quest to find and destroy all of the horcruxes that were created by Voldemort.  Harry had to keep faith in Dumbledore that he was correct and that Dumbledore knew what he was doing.  Dumbledore's impact was felt way after his death in the form of Harry's quest and he was vital, maybe even more so than Harry in the downfall of Voldemort.  He may have made some mistakes in his life, but he was devoted to stopping the dark arts and was a vital character, even in death.  He even gives Harry some vital advice after he is dead and he got respect from most of the other characters.

     Dumbledore isn't the only character that played a big role after death though.  Surprisingly, Lily Potter, Harry's mom, played a huge role in this book.  Lily is the reason that Snape was such a good character in this book.  Without her influence and his continued love of her, Snape would never have been the hero that he was.  If there weren't this tie between Lily and Snape, none of the plans that Dumbledore created would have worked and Voldemort would have stomped all over the wizardry world.  Another key character after death was Dobby the house elf.  Digging Dobby's grave is a key time for Harry.  It helps him realize how foolish he was being by doubting Dumbledore and helped him get his head straight.  The emotional shock of Dobby dying helped push Harry back into the right frame of mind which was key to the story.

     When Harry and Hermione went to Godric's Hollow, Harry saw what was written on his parents tombstones which disgusted him. The tombstones said "the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death,".  This reminded Harry of Voldemort's obsession of Mastering Death.  I think he is not correct here and that he unfairly made this connection.

     In Harry's parents case, mastering death meant that death was just the next step.  The only way to truly defeat death is to not dread it or try to resurrect those who have been stolen by it, but is to continue to love those that have passed away, even if they aren't alive.

     In Voldemort's case however, mastering death meant becoming immortal.  He tried to achieve this by creating horcruxes and obtaining the Elder Wand (Deathstick, Wand of Destiny, etc.), one of the hollows.  Death and Dumbledore were the only two things that Voldemort was afraid of.

     Death is a very important topic to follow in this book.

Ron and harry

   I just read the part in the book in which Harry and Ron have a BIG argument. This isn't the first time it has happened. This is the second time and the first time was in the 4th book. In the fourth book, Ron was jealous of harry's fame. Now Ron is angry at him AND hermione because he thinks that they don't care about him. Harry was also mad because all Ron did was sit around being lazy and begging for food.
  This is a major point in the final book. This is because the moment can decide whether or not Harry and Hermione can confide and trust in Ron at all. The moment where we find out if Ron is Harry's actual friend. It's also a big part because ron was Harry's first ever friend. The blow could easily affect his future decisions and how he acts, his futre emotions, and he acts out overall basically.
  This is a crucial moment in the final moment and leaves me with questions. How does Harry end up feeling about this. Is he Guilty? Angry? How is Hermione feeling about this? Sad? Frustrated? How is RON feeling? Confused? I am going to be looking for this in the future pages of this book.

Fear of Death

     This book very obviously demonstrates the two polar opposites of good and evil: Harry is good, and Voldemort is evil. But while the book demonstrates this theme very clearly, I don't entirely agree with it. Yes, I think Voldemort is evil, but I don't think the Death Eaters are. While the Death Eaters have done evil things, what I think is most important is what drives them to do what they do.

       I find to be very easy to pinpoint the Death Eaters as evil people without giving much thought to it. They have committed many evil deeds, deeds that virtually cannot be forgiven. They are the followers of true evil. But how much of their lifestyle was their choice? When Voldemort first came to power, before Harry was even born, the people of the wizarding world only had two choices: you either had to be with him, or against him. I can see why the Death Eaters thought that to ally with Voldemort was safer way to go. It was the safer choice, but it was not  the right choice. The Death Eaters are not evil for siding with Voldemort. The only thing that the Death Eaters really are are cowards.

        In retrospect, though, being a Death Eater is not  that safe either. If any Death Eater does not carry out what Voldemort has wished, they do face certain death. That is why I believe that it is fear that is the true root of the Death Eater's actions, not evil. They fear death. Fear of death is why they commit those evil deeds. Fear of death is why they joined Voldemort in the first place. They were afraid of Voldemort, and they still are afraid of Voldemort. But when you look back even further, it turns out that if Voldemort did not fear death, he never would have became who he was. So is it fear of death that drives people to do evil things? And does doing evil things automatically make someone evil?

For the greater good

     "We sieze control FOR THE GREATER GOOD."  Dumbledore says this in a letter to Grinewald.  Although he was young, he did believe this.  That phrase can be the most scary thing that you will ever hear.  If Taking over the muggle world is for the greater good, I am highly disturbed.  What is quite so good about ruling over other beings.  People that can use magic are just like people that can't use it but with powers.

      What exactly does for the greater good mean?  Is it for the well being of everyone or is it what you think that is?  My opinion is that the greater good is a benefit that everyon likes.  Some may not agree but I think that killing Osama Bin Laden was for the greater good.  He was a tyrant and nothing bad happened because of it.

       There is one huge flaw in for the greater good.  Bad people think they are doing things for the greater good.  Hitler thought that wiping out the jews was for the greater good.  Was it?  I think that Voldemort Believes what he's doing is for the greater good.  It's all a matter of opinion.  Whether that opinion is good or bad, it is not easy to define what is for the greateer good.

The Sneaky Uncertainty of Voldemort.

Through out the Harry Potter series, Voldemort always seems to have this very mysterious quality about him that makes him terrifying. No one ever knows how power he is. Is he alive, is he dead? Is he even human? This is especially relevant in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" because Voldemort becomes so powerful, but no one knows exactly how powerful because he works through various people rather then just going out and just shouting "hey world, I'm back, I'm in charge of the ministry of magic and if you aren't pure blood you are going to die." Obviously I'm kidding, but really, if he wanted to he could tell everyone he was in charge and no one could do anything about it because he has the ministry under his control.

Instead of openly killing all the muggles and muggle-borns, the ministry passes laws putting anyone who is muggle born through a trial which will most likely have them end up in Askaban. There is no real proof that Voldemort is behind this, though as the reader it seems safe to assume. That however is the problem, you are assuming, not certain. In life, when something is not certain the imagination is left to wander and wonder. Much more powerful then solid facts even if the facts work against you. Solid facts you can hold on to and figure things out with. Uncertainty is no help. The wizards aren't sure who is on Voldemort's side and who they can trust so no one can help them. Then, there is whispered gossip about Voldemort. I think that gossip is just uncertainty in a more real form. A form that can be passed on and changed causing misinformation. Like when you are little and play "telephone." You start with one word but end with another. I think Voldemort knows this and won't go out and say what the word is but passes it around knowing that it will change and become more deadly.

Seeing Red

Earlier today, I talked about my views as Harry as a person in the seventh book. This goes somewhere far different than the issues of government, racism, etc. However, it does tie in with the issues revolving around characters such as Dumbledore and Snape. These people have changed Harry, and his perspective on the world. In fact, every character in Harry Potter has affected his outlook on life. Even the tiniest, most irrelevant characters have had something to say that makes Harry think in a different way than before.

This charges full steam ahead in "The Deathly Hallows". His views are being changed. Harry is a 17 year old boy, being pressured to drop everything he has and fight against the dark arts. He is hormonal, young and moody. I can't say I blame him, but something about his characterization in the seventh book makes me cringe. He goes from this sweet, although slightly naive, boy in his Uncle's cupboard to this brooding, angry man. From the very first book, his eyes open to a world that he never knew existed- that he couldn't ever have dreamed of.  But at this point in time, the air Harry gives off is so unappealing to me.

It's not even something I can place, exactly. It's just the way J.K. Rowling writes him in general. Everything he says, and the description following seems to have this tight, arrogant feeling to him. It isn't a specific line, but it's the way he treats other characters. Even Lupin, who is his elder and someone he used to respect immensely, is someone he told off in a less than kind fashion. His attitude is growing strongly irritating. He flips out due to information on Dumbledore's past, when all their conversations had been about Harry. As someone in the book club said, there were more important things going on. Fighting the Dark Lord seems to take an infinitely huge priority about a few months of funk Dumbledore went through when he was 17.

In conclusion, there isn't one piece of textual evidence I can use to support this. It's just the general aura you get (or I get) from reading the seventh book. Such as with Romeo, you get that he's sensitive, gentle and naive. With Harry, I get that he's (currently) angry, irritated and arrogant.

The Media=The Masters of Manipulation

As I continue reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, I have noticed that J.K. Rowling uses issues she sees in real-life in the Harry Potter books. For example, Voldemort's rise of power is VERY similar to Hitler's Nazi regime during the Holocaust/World War II. I think the character Rita Skeeter shows J.K. Rowling's portrayal of the media.

As we already know, Rita Skeeter has published countless lies about Harry, (especially during HP and the Goblet of Fire and HP and the Order of the Phoenix. So why is Harry believing her every word in the book The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore?

She is manipulating Dumbledore's past. According to Merriam-Webster, to manipulate means to to control or play upon by artful, unfair, or insidious means especially to one's own advantage. Rita only cares about publicity and money. Sometimes, she doesn't lie about things, but she is an excellent manipulator.

He had trusted Dumbledore, believed him the embodiment of goodness and wisdom. All was ashes....
"-but don't forget, Harry, this is Rita Skeeter writing."
"You did read that letter to Grindewald, didn't you?"
"Yes, I- I did...."
"I thought you'd say 'They were young.' They were the same age as we are now. And here we are, risking our lives to fight the Dark Arts, and there he was, in a huddle with his new best friend, plotting their rise to power over the Muggles." (pg 361)

Harry had trusted Dumbledore completely. He had idolized Dumbledore as if he were, you could say, "God." But the more information he hears about Dumbledore, such as his friendship with the notorious wizard Grindewald and his attempt to "rise to power," the less faith he has in him. This was so unlike him. Harry is angry and unsure whether to trust him or not. Hopefully Harry will come to his senses and realize that Dumbledore has made up for his "shady" past.