So I am working off the assumption that if you are reading this then you have read the book, and probably don’t need or want me to review the entire plot. I love the first book; there’s something in the mixture of the innocence and reality that shows that life is no cake walk, even with magic. These books are very complex and I can’t possibly analyze everything, so I tried to pick a few important points that will lay the foundation for the rest of the series.
Character Development
Throughout this book, we see a big shift in Harry’s character. Harry grew up in a house where he was unloved, abused, and looked down upon. His biggest wishes were to be left in the house alone for a few hours and he was thrilled when he got a simple lemon pop. He submitted to all the abuses of the Dursleys without fighting back. When he went to Hogwarts, he was nervous and quiet, but as the year went on and he proved himself through quidditch and had some “adventures”, he grew into the character that we find at the end of the book. At the end of the book when he is clinging to Quirrell until he passes out, he is a far cry from the reserved boy in his cupboard. He became a strong character and a leader. In the final chapters, he shows his strength as a leader and character; something he certainly didn’t have at the beginning of the book. The Harry who arrived at Hogwarts would not have been able to face Voldemort, but he developed into a character that could.
The development in this book mirrors the development he goes through in the series. He begins as abused and shy, yet he ends up a hero who is able to defeat Voldemort. When Harry is able to look in the Mirror of Erised and sees himself getting the stone but not for his own benefit, it shows the kind of leader he is. He had power thrust upon him, and he never looked for it. He doesn’t want power, wealth, or fame like many other characters do; he doesn’t share many of the qualities of a common leader.
Theme of Love vs. Hate
At least that is what I’m going to call it. This book establishes the theme of the struggle between love and hate that continues throughout the whole series. From the very beginning, we see the clashing of these values. Voldemort, representing hate, murders the Potters, who represent love, and fails to kill Harry, leaving him with a protection from Voldemort because of Lily’s love and sacrifice for her son. Love is Harry’s greatest weapon in the series. Love is what Voldemort will never understand. At the end of the book, we discover that Harry is imbued with a protection because his mother had sacrificed herself in order to protect him. In many ways this makes Harry the symbol of love, while Voldemort, who has propagated prejudice and killed so many and ultimately reduced himself to something less than human, becomes the symbol of evil and hate. The struggle between these two things is the backbone of the series, so it is no wonder that the entire first book is spent on establishing it. This is one of the two most essential themes of the series, but Paige will have to tell you about the other one.
The Symbol of the Mirror of Erised
The mirror is one of the most talked about symbols in the series. I contend that it is because of the simple genius of it. The mirror has the ability to show our deepest desires, something that we all too often hide. “I show not your face but your heart’s desire” is the inscription (when read in a mirror or backwards) on the top of the Mirror of Erised. The mirror is both captivating and dangerous: “men have wasted away in front of it.” It is a mirror like none other; it doesn’t simply reflect what is put in front of it, instead it reflects emotions, desires, and intentions.
In the end of the book it is able to perfectly display the contrast between Quirrell/Voldemort and Harry. When Quirrell looks in the mirror, it shows him giving the stone to Voldemort and using it to make himself and his master more powerful, but Harry only sees himself possessing the stone so that Quirrell can’t have it. The mirror shows both of them having the stone, but the magic of the mirror is able to distinguish what they want most from the stone.
Some Considerations
This book is amazing because it is able to show fantasy in a realistic way, and it simplifies complex themes and ideas. The characters are not perfect; they all have flaws. This isn’t a story about rainbows and puppies; it is a story about good and evil. J.K. Rowling doesn’t create a generic version of a happy, fun children’s story. But her writing, like her story, does contain some flaws. As you read, you do find some errors where it is apparent that she hadn’t yet created some of the rules that appear later in the series. For example: both Quirrell and Dumbledore do magic without wands, Hagrid vanishes from a train platform, there are a few others, but you get the general idea. This shows that JKR has fine tuned her world as she goes, and I see nothing wrong with that. It has allowed it to become very rich and multilayered, but as you read the first book, you do see a few things that are said to not be possible later on. So as you read, keep this in mind. They aren’t signs of a poor author, but a good one.
As I said I love this book. It is a very strong foundation for the rest of the series. In many ways, it is a microcosm for the plot of the series. It establishes the role of Harry as the protagonist and the theme of love vs. hate. She creates the conflict that will continue until the end of book seven. This conflict between the forces that stand for good and those that stand for evil are what set this book apart. It is an incredible book not only because of the intricate plot and complex themes, but because of her entire treatment of children’s literature. She didn’t tip toe around real life problems or conflict. She created a plot that had some dark elements, these elements are what make the fantasy realistic. She also created characters that aren’t all good or all bad, they are complex. The heros have flaws and the good guys aren’t always good. By doing these things she revolutionized what a child’s book could be.
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