Blog 46: Anything, Harry Potter

It began a little more than 13 years ago, and now as a whole generation we witness the genesis and finale of the boy who lived in the closet under the stairs, No. 4 Privet Drive. As his primary viewers have changed with time, so have the actors, the book and its contexts and contents. Without changing the core ideas Rowling has allowed the ideas to mature into different form in each successive books. The first book was undoubtedly for children, with magic fun and a bad guy. The final book was far sinister with deep attitudes on life. 

The real joy in the Harry Potter story lies in the way how a magical and mythical world can show us so much about the realities of life. It does this in a steady progression of books that a child grows around, much like a creeper growing around a sturdy stick. In phases it covers pretty much a spectrum of an individual from childish inhibitions, to tantrums, rise of ideals to falling in lust and then love. Finally as the characters mature, they display control, good judgment and resilience. In this respect the fifth through seventh book are most alluring. While the fifth highlights the zest of young people in work and snogging, the sixth displays an air of caution and responsibility. The seventh book is where everything comes together and they work as a team taking tough calls while sparks of love and passion fly. The most obvious of changes in this respect can be found in Neville Longbottom who showed tremendous change between the fifth and seventh books. 

Due to the similarities between the wizarding world of Rowling and our own we can visualize and imagine it to be anything we are familiar with. We can associate with it and sublimely believe it to be true.This is not to say the movies were without flaw (Why do they run hilly-nilly when the snatchers find them instead of fighting or disapparating) The basis of the book may be fantastical and amazing for some to reconsider if it merits closer inspection. The reason I re-look at Harry Potter is not because of its dubious plausibility of facts but because of its graceful evolution with time while still retaining a message. 

 The message to me today is as clear as it was nearly a decade ago when I after much cajoling by mother, read the first book on my own. (She read the book but wouldn’t tell me the story only how awesome it was!!! and she kept the book always in plain sight. Curiosity killed my laziness). The values delivered are one of camaraderie, honesty, good values and purpose. A lot of books before and most certainly after will continue to tout these traits of character. The only difference will lie in how they present them. For me, it was a privilege to grow up in time pacing myself with Mr. Potter.  I did read all the books since the third in closely the same ages the characters in the book were. It would be a shame if those after me could enjoy only the movies and not the pleasure of reading. It would be an even bigger shame if they choose to not observe their self evolution with each series and redefine the similar concept of each book in a new perspective that ageing with time provides. 

Much like Enid Blyton, J.K Rowling has for sometime at least spurred on younger kids to read novels. I was one of them. I do hope that with time other series come out to replace the stories of Platform 9 ¾. I do certainly hope that when that happens it remains as largely in the history of the English language, a Briton that scripts history. For most of us in my generation, the novels of Harry Potter might remain an irreplaceable kind of series. A magical story of an almost real world.