Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows By: J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows takes the reader through a fast paced story of Harry Potter's battle to save the wizarding world. Lord Voldemort has risen to power and is beginning to take over the wizarding world by striking fear into the hearts of every witch and wizard in Britain. Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived, was destined from birth to clash with the dark Lord because of a prophecy foretold shortly before he was born. Along with his friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, Harry sets off to destroy Voldemort's horcruxes, fragments of Voldemort's soul that attach him to immortality. One by one, the three heroes dispatch of the Horcruxes, all of which are objects that are meaningful, or give a sense of power, to the Dark Lord. However, Harry becomes distracted by the idea of the Deathly Hallows, a tale told to children about three objects that, when united, give the title the master of death to the holder of all three. The quest proves grueling and tests the friendships of Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Finally, the final battle approaches upon the grounds of Hogwarts, the only place where both Harry and Voldemort ever found home. Harry and his supporters are driven by love and friendship, while Voldemort and his death Eater's are driven by nothing but greed of power and immortality. Voldemort is fighting for something out of reach, he wants to conquer death. As Albus Dumbledore says, "... the true master of death... accepts that he must die, and understands that there are far, far worse things in the living world than dying"(720-21). Voldemort cannot embrace death, he is afraid of what it holds. Harry was able to vanquish the Dark Lord because he knows there are things in life that tare worse than death and is able to welcome it by walking forward defenseless to Lord Voldemort. Death is a natural process in life, it is the final step one must take to go on; do not be afraid of death, but live enough to be able to welcome it with open arms when the time is right.


1.) Throughout the novel, and series, Voldemort lacks one power that Harry has: love. Voldemort does not have the ability to love, the ability to feel remorse or sadness. Voldemort never wanted a friend, he always chose to operate alone. Do you think if Voldemort had learned to love, he would have been as afraid of death?


2.) Harry does not want to subject Ron or Hermione to the dangers he faces throughout his journey to conquer the Dark Lord and is determined to set out alone. However, Ron and Hermione insist they accompany Harry, saying it has been decided for years they would stick together. Do you think Harry, although a powerful and resourceful wizard, would have had the strength to continue to destroy Horcruxes without the love and irrevocable friendship given to him by Ron and Herminone?

11 comments:

Tyler W 1-2 said...

I think harry would be over his head without the help of his friends.

Natesa W. 7-8 said...

Yes, Voldemort had no real reason to stay. The only thing that was keeping him alive was his power and greed to once again be the greatest wizard on Earth. He doesn't even really love any of his death eaters or followers.If he had had someone that gave him a reason to live then Voldemort probably would have feared death more.
I don't think Harry would have been strong enough to continue. The real difference between Harry and Voldemort was bis ability to love. Having his friends with him there game Harry the upper advantage when going against Voldemort.

Sydney M 7-8 said...

I think that Harry would not be able to go on without Ron and Herminone. Like you said he is strong but to take on Voldemort on his own would be overwhelming. Although they could be killed to I feel like Voldemort would worry about killing Harry more than them.

Hannah J. 7-8 said...

I think if Voldemort had learned to love and open himself up to people and friendsip, he may not have been afraid to death, but then again Voldemort is made to be the antagonist. I believe that Harry would not have been able to function as well without Ron and Hermoine because it always gave him some hope and a sense of love at the end of his tiresome journeys. That is not to say that Harry would not have been able to survive without his companions, I believe he would have made the adjustments and gotten done what needed to be done, because after all he is an all powerful wizard. With the addition of Ron and Hermoine, the story is much more interesting and hopeful.

Megan M 1-2 said...

I do not think Harry would be able to destroy the horcruxes without the help of Ron and Herminoe. They have helped him so much since their first year together at Hogwarts and this is probably the most difficult thing that Harry will have to do in his life so it would be stupid for him not to need their help.

Nicole H. 7-8 said...

I agree with all of your responses. Harry is strong, but no human being can face a challenge as great as that without love and comfort.

Nicole H. 7-8 said...

I also believe that because Voldemort knew nothing of love, he feared death. Had he found love on earth, he may have realized that death is just a passing obstacle. Everyone experiences death, and although the thought is scary, it is a natural part of a continuous cycle. Voldemort was afraid of death because it was unknown and out of his control, death is not in his power.

Monica J. 1-2 said...

I think Harry would be able to go on without his friend but i think in his journey without the love of his friends he would turn out like Voldemort.

Nathan S. 7-8 said...

I think that Voldemort actually did learn to love. Most people love others, but he loved power. Most people wouldn't be as afraid to die as him because they know that after they die, other people they love live on. All Voldemort had was his power, and he would lose all of it if he died.

Kourteney K. 1-2 said...

I think that although love would give Voldemort more reason to want to live, he would be able to accept death easier. Having people around you who care about you and love you make you stronger and make you feel as if you're invincible. They can make you forget about death, or they can help you face death head on. Granted he had no need to feel anymore invincible than he already had, but had he found love, he may've never become the Dark Lord, he may have stayed his whole life as Tom Riddle and faced death when it came.

Harry, while being exceptionally strong on his own, would NOT be able to carry on without Ron and Hermione. Though he acts like he is the strongest person, he acts as if he can do anything and everything, that isn't how he feels. He does feel the need to save his best friends and when he refuses their help it is only because he is worried about their safety, I would believe. When he realizes that they have stayed safe for the past six years, however, he would reevaluate. He knows nothing could stop them from coming, and he is grateful to have such amazing friends. Had it not been for them he would've faced many more hard times and he would never have been able to get through all that he did.

Morgan O 7-8 said...

1) Voldemort lacked the power to love because he grew up never having anyone show it towards him. I dont think, even if Voldemort had felt love, he would be afraid of death. Dumbldore showed throughout the novels that death is nothing to fear and that it is just the next great adventure we will experience. However i dont believe that Volemort could have learned love. His problem was that he was incabable of loving. Had Voldemort ever had the ability to love he could not possibly have done every horrible thing he did. The guilt of it would tear him to shreads.

2) Harry definatly could not have gone through it all alone beacause his friends filled in the areas of skill he lacked and they also were mental support for Harry. I think that this is p[art of the point though. In the end love trumphs all. Harry was able to conquer Voldemort because he had love and Voldemort never knew love.