Comments on: Harry Potter and the Textbook Case http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/07/06/harry-potter-and-the-textbook-case/ culture blogging for the good of the planet Mon, 08 Sep 2008 18:51:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: gord brown http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/07/06/harry-potter-and-the-textbook-case/#comment-7457 gord brown Sat, 07 Jul 2007 14:34:41 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/07/07/harry-potter-and-the-textbook-case/#comment-7457 The key to Harry's success is not who his parents were or his "bloodline" and you're not the first to suggest this, but to who his friends are and to teamwork and community. This isn't some hidden theme, its quite explicit. Sometimes, the villains are foiled because of the jealousy and refusal to work together. And often Harry is successful because of the help of Ron and Herminone (or the order of Phoenix and its many surrogate parents, including Sirius, Lupin, the Weasleys and Haggrad). Look at Sirius. Unlike his biological brother who joins the dark side, he leaves his birth family to become James Potter's brother. The real strength are the communities you build (through adventures together at school) not the community you are born into. Harry immediately rejects Malfoy and old wizarding (although he was invited in) because he sees in Malfoy a bully like his cousin Dudly. Instead, Harry hangs with Ron (not the right sort) and Hermione (born of Muggles). And by growing together and learning from the 'good' wizards, they become expert wizards. Although they do have natural talents, these often prove to be insufficient without the compliment of the natural talents of others. Teamwork, community, helping others. Democratic values. Selfishness, Republican values. That's why these books are so powerful. Further, we know from the OOP that James was a bully too. Something made him grow up and become acceptable to Lilly. Harry's ability to beat Voldemort I'm sure will come in part from learning the rest of this story. The key to Harry’s success is not who his parents were or his “bloodline” and you’re not the first to suggest this, but to who his friends are and to teamwork and community. This isn’t some hidden theme, its quite explicit. Sometimes, the villains are foiled because of the jealousy and refusal to work together. And often Harry is successful because of the help of Ron and Herminone (or the order of Phoenix and its many surrogate parents, including Sirius, Lupin, the Weasleys and Haggrad).

Look at Sirius. Unlike his biological brother who joins the dark side, he leaves his birth family to become James Potter’s brother. The real strength are the communities you build (through adventures together at school) not the community you are born into. Harry immediately rejects Malfoy and old wizarding (although he was invited in) because he sees in Malfoy a bully like his cousin Dudly. Instead, Harry hangs with Ron (not the right sort) and Hermione (born of Muggles). And by growing together and learning from the ‘good’ wizards, they become expert wizards. Although they do have natural talents, these often prove to be insufficient without the compliment of the natural talents of others.

Teamwork, community, helping others. Democratic values. Selfishness, Republican values. That’s why these books are so powerful.

Further, we know from the OOP that James was a bully too. Something made him grow up and become acceptable to Lilly. Harry’s ability to beat Voldemort I’m sure will come in part from learning the rest of this story.

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