We recently had dinner with a family who are big fans, might I say obsessive fans of the Harry Potter series. I have enjoyed reading Harry Potter myself. I believe J.K. Rowling is a gifted storyteller. So, this may seem somewhat random, even contradictory, and I realize that I’m speaking of what to some is sacred ground, but I am just going to put this out there and take the flak. I’m talking about Harry Potter. I just struggled with the end of that series. I’ve thought a lot about it because, hey, it’s Harry Potter, and everyone just raved (still raves) about it. And it is an engaging series. Let me just say in my defense that I really like the Harry Potter series. The books are clever and egrossing, but I really, really was disappointed with that climactic scene in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Let me tell you why. Through the entire series Harry Potter grows and learns. He becomes stronger as he makes good decisions and fights evil. His experiences, painful though they are, make him bigger and better and more able–more substantial. On the other hand, Voldemort, piece by piece, becomes less. He becomes less of a person/soul. So, he has fewer and weaker personal resources. Yes, he is still an evil force to be reckoned with. He has his followers, also strongly evil forces. He threatens everything in the magical world, but personally, though his magic is powerful, he has diminished himself by his choices and actions.
My struggle comes here. At the very end, I feel like the battle needs to be solely between Harry Potter and Voldemort. The wand switch thing, for me, seems a cop out. I know he came to it through a brave quest, but It makes it seem, to me at least, that Harry wins, not because of his valor and growth and Voldemort’s personal flaws as much as twists in plot and pure luck.
Okay. That’s it. I have formally put it out there. Go ahead. Tell me how/why I’m wrong, or if you agree, I’d love to hear that.