Celebrating the Triumph of Imagination

Warning: Deathly Hallows spoilers below

This is a summer with tragedies from Minneapolis to Baghdad. This is a summer in which the Democratic majority in Congress bent to the politics of fear and further contracted our civil liberty protections from an unchecked Chief Executive. It is a summer where escape is needed. Thank you God for J. K. Rowling.

S
P
O
I
L
E
R

S
P
A
C
E

Last night I finished the 7th and final Harry Potter book by the marvelous Ms. Rowling. I have been a fan of the series since I picked up the first book in the late 1990's. I didn't become enthralled until I read the 3rd book, but I enjoyed the first two a lot. I've not been a fan that needs to read the books as soon as they came out, but this time I decided to read the 7th right away. This book is a roller coaster ride that would overwhelm Indiana Jones. This is an intense, emotional, and marvelously satisfying book. It is a triumph for J.K. Rowling and a book that leaves you wanting to go back to Book 1 and start all over again.

Beginning the final book, I sent my sisters (bigger fans than I am) predictions that started with the view that Harry would live. This was based on announcement of the theme park to be built in Florida. I figured that you don't build theme parks for dead heroes. Here is what else I thought:

Dumbledore is dead, but he will still have ways of helping Harry. Like great Jedi, great Wizards don’t die they just find other ways to communicate. Snape was under Dumbledore’s orders to kill him. I don’t think Dumbledore wanted Harry to see it, but he had no choice. If he had let Harry move, Harry would have taken on Draco and I’m very convinced that Dumbledore was working with Snape to save Draco’s soul. I don’t know if Snape has anyone left who think he’s a secret agent inside Voldemort’s camp working for the good guys. Given Snape’s personal history, of course, it fits for him to be the ultimate outsider. I am so glad it is Alan Rickman playing this part in the movies.

That much I got right. What I didn't expect was how much the book told us about Dumbledore and how much depth of that character we got to see. He becomes a more flawed and human character than other mentors I've read in books or seen in movies. As a Star Wars fan, I'd love to see such an in-depth view on Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda. The prequels gave us some background on Ben, but nothing close to this book's revelations on Dumbledore's desire for power and dalliance with Grindelwald's anti-Muggle attitudes. It was much more interesting than portraying the character as the director of Harry's hero journey.

As for Snape, I am pleased with his role as deeply flawed anti-hero. Leave the Malfoys to be the cowardly evil family. Snape was too much fun, particularly as played by Alan Rickman in the movies to just be the evil professor. If I knew who was directing the 7th film, I'd begin a campaign insisting that Snape's line when Dumbledore orders Snape to kill him be preserved. I can hear Rickman's voice saying the line already, (p. 683) "Would you like me to do it now? Or would you like a few moments to compose an epitaph?" As for the character, his motivation is simple but fits Rowling's theme of the power of love. For the love of Lilly, Snape secretly becomes "Dumbledore's man" and Harry's unknown ally.

I suspected a Weasley would die. I was sure it wouldn't be Ron. I don't think Harry operates well without Ron or Hermione. I didn't think it would be Ginny, but I wasn't expecting Rowling to take one twin and leave the other. I feared for Hagrid, but like Ron and Hermione he seems essential to Harry Potter. The saddest death was Dobby's who died the bravest death of all. The other deaths were sad, but not crushing. The idea that Harry was left as a godfather to a orphaned infant boy seemed to be the simple closing of a circle set in motion by fate. I was thrilled by Neville who is the Boy Who Must Be Cheered. Don't most of us see ourselves much closer to Neville than Harry? His triumph gives us all hope.

Ron and Hermione's roles also played out well. Hermione continues as the voice of reason and the brains of the operation essential to Harry's success. I am going to go through all the books and see how many times Harry was on the wrong track and Hermione was trying to pull him toward the right one. Ron's role as the most vulnerable of the three continues but he is their equal because of his love for and loyalty to his more talented friends. Though Ron succumbs to his fears and insecurities, he returns at just the right moment to save Harry once again. I think he grows more than either or Harry or Hermione in this book. He faces his fears and conquers them and, in what was a brilliant scene, finally gets to kiss Hermione. As for Hermione, the "most brilliant witch of her age" demonstrates a level of courage in the face of torture not often granted to female characters. J.K. Rowling has promised an encyclopedia that tells us more on the future of the characters. Hermione must become the great Minister of Magic who brings equality to all the magical creatures and true understanding with those muggles who are capable of believing in the parallel magical world.

Finally, I come to Harry Potter. There are so many themes within this one near-sighted, lightning scarred hero. He is the abused boy who finds love and the power that love can bring. He is the young man who has finished his hero's journey in triumph, but knows how much of it required the skill and sacrifice of others. He is the powerful wizard whose final duel with Voldermort is won by his own courage and skill, Voldemort's flaws, and an unintentional assist from the cowardly bigot, Draco Malfoy. Rowling could find no greater downfall for Draco than for his actions to be essential to Harry's ability to defeat Voldemort. The complicated role of the wands sent me scurrying back to my copy of Book 6. Draco's success at disarming Dumbledore, but failure to murder him as ordered is the final key to Harry's triumph. For the more obsessive fans who treasure every detail, having victory tied to what seemed such a small detail must be a source of true joy.

These characters, these details, these timeless themes set within the magical world of Rowling's imagination will continue to delight and enthrall children and adults for generations to come. The story that "sprung" into Rowling's mind on a train will be read and re-read over and over. It will continue to inspire fans to dream of worlds that are both mirrors of our world and reflections of our hopes. Rowling's name is assured among the treasured writers whose talent leaves the rest of us in awe.

Thank you, J. K. Rowling for Harry, Ron, Hermione, Dumbledore, Sirrius and the rest of the Order of the Phoenix, Snape, Dobby, Ginny and all the rest of the Weasleys, Luna, Neville and the rest of Dumbledore's Army and, yes, even the Malfoys and Voldemort. You have given us a treasure that even the deepest vaults in Gringott's could not hold.