On this day, you can hardly find a person who doesn’t know about the World of Wizards and Harry Potter. Many elements have captured the attention of the readers and the audiences. However, there’s a question lurking around the series about how Harry Potter will be remembered in the future. To me, it has a simple and easy answer. Harry Potter has many options that can keep its flame burning for a long time. Its rich storytelling, narrating style, themes, and a world that is completely different from the real world, yet the problems seemed pretty similar, made it one of the most popular phenomenons of history. Harry Potter has become a cornerstone of literature worldwide, and no one can deny the fact. Every critic of literature has accepted the fact that Harry Potter is the most successful franchise of the century.
The Timeless Themes of Harry Potter
Harry Potter has always been an interesting subject to fantasy admirers. It has such unique ways of capturing the reader’s attention that it always works out exactly as planned. Sometimes I again and again fall in love with the series as I learn to know something new about it. I guess the main reason for Harry Potter’s attention is its universal themes that help the readers connect emotionally with the series. Its majestic capturing of life has awakened the readers to such a core that they have become dedicated fans. We, the Potterheads, took the responsibility of continuing the legacy of Harry Potter to the next generation. The universal themes that have helped Harry Potter to capture the attention of the fans are:
Good vs. evil:
Harry Potter has perfectly portrayed the theme of good vs evil. The writer J.K. Rowling has created Harry Potter as an example of how the world works among two different kinds: good and evil. Harry Potter is a battle between these two kinds, where Harry Potter embodies the good along with his friends and mentors, and the dark, oppressive power of Voldemort embodies the evil. The fight is not completely about the idea of fighting against the evil that humans represent but the inner complexity of the human mind. Every individual character has their own choices to make that can change their character from evil to good from the audience’s point of view. Characters such as Severus Snape and Draco Malfoy add complexity to the narrative, showing that individuals can make choices that mirror their moral alignment. The series reminds readers that good and evil are not always clear cut and we can’t declare anyone good or bad by our choices.
Love:
Love is another powerful element of the universe, also a very important theme of the Harry Potter series, portrayed as the most powerful magic of all. From Lily Potter’s selfless sacrifice to protect Harry from Voldemort to the friendships and bonds that sustain him throughout his journey. This also helped Harry to overcome his fears and traumas. Dumbledore has many times referred to the powerful impact of love and emphasizes the importance of love. In the Harry Potter series, Love has been shown as the most powerful protection and the main source of strength in the fight against evil.
Sacrifice:
Sacrifice has also played a precious and required role in the Harry Potter series. Sacrifices symbolize the cost of fighting for justice and the greater good. Characters like Dobby, Sirius Black, and ultimately Harry himself face profound losses and make difficult decisions for the sake of others. These sacrifices give the story weight and teach the readers the value of selflessness and the courage to confront adversity.
These lasting themes make Harry Potter a novel for all ages and people. These characteristics of the novel gave it an immortality that no other novels have ever achieved. Harry
and his friends are a symbol of humanity, loyalty, and friendship, which encourages the young generation to become good human beings.
Moral Lessons That Shaped Readers
Harry Potter is rich with moral dilemmas that challenge characters to make tough ethical choices teaching readers about empathy, courage, and ethical decision-making. These dilemmas often require characters to evaluate personal desires against the greater good, which reflects real-world challenges and encourages the readers to think critically about their own decisions.
One example is Harry’s choice to pursue the Horcruxes over the Deathly Hallows in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Faced with the temptation of immense power, Harry chooses to prioritize the destruction of Voldemort’s Horcruxes, a selfless decision that portrays his moral growth and commitment to defeating evil. This decision shows the importance of resisting personal ambition in favor of doing what is right. This inspires the readers to become selfless and do what is right for the greater good, discarding their desires.
Another example of a moral dilemma occurs when Severus Snape chooses to betray Voldemort after Lily Potter’s death. Snape is a complex character from the beginning of the Harry Potter story. His journey from a Death Eater to becoming a secret protector of Harry was driven by love and remorse, illustrating that redemption is possible even for a deeply flawed person. This story of Snape helps the readers to learn that people’s actions are often shaped by their experiences and inner struggles.
Dumbledore’s secrets and questionable decisions, such as withholding information about Harry’s destiny, present a nuanced perspective on leadership and morality. His choices remind the readers that even the wise and good-intentioned person can make wrong decisions, encouraging a balanced view of every authority figure.
These moral dilemmas resonate with readers by emphasizing the complexities of ethical decision-making and the importance of empathy in understanding others’ actions. By showing the readers relatable challenges and difficult choices, the series not only entertains but also instills values of courage, compassion, and integrity, leaving a lasting impact on the audience.
The Magical Elements That Captured the Imagination
Harry Potter’s world-building was so realistic that a reader could easily imagine the places, characters, or creatures that were described. As this story was written for all age readers, its description of surroundings is more detailed and rich. These detailed descriptions make it more reliable to the readers and help them to connect with the series more intensely.
The magical themes of the story have captured the imagination of readers and inspired creativity in various ways. Such are:
Magical Objects:
Magical objects like the Elder Wand, the Resurrection Stone, and the Cloak of Invisibility are magical objects that are taken from The Tale of the Three Brothers. These objects played a vital role in the last two parts of the Harry Potter series.
Colors:
The four houses of Harry Potter’s magical school of Hogwarts are Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw. These houses are presented with different colors that represent the elements of the world and match the characteristics.
Gryffindor :
Red and gold are associated with fire. This house is mainly known for bravery, helping others, chivalry, etc.
Slytherin :
Green and silver are associated with water. This house is known for its ambition, cunning, resourcefulness, and leadership.
Hufflepuff :
Yellow and black, associated with earth. The house represents hard work, patience, kindness, fairness, loyalty, and fair play.
Ravenclaw :
Blue and bronze are associated with air and gas. This house is known for their intelligence, creativity, wit, problem-solving, and a thirst for wisdom.
Magic realist narrative world :
The Harry Potter series is a mixture of fantasy and realism. The writer has perfectly blended reality with the concept of magical worlds. In this world of magic, many magical miracles happen in parallel to the real world.
All of the themes have helped the Harry Potter series to grow as a favorite series for many readers. Readers like me have become die-hard fans who can no longer think of this series as a mere fantasy novel. This series is more like an emotion to us now, and it will not change, that is for sure.
Harry Potter is a story that is now a legend. It has captured the adoration of all ages and made itself a milestone for the fantasy literature world. The messages it gives us are universal and timeless, which gives it the longevity it needs to keep going for many more years. Nowadays, the question isn’t how Harry Potter will be remembered, but the question is what will be their next step. Harry Potter is an individual that can bring changes in the world and among people. Its imaginative power has given it life that participates in people’s decision-making in important aspects, and that is a huge topic. The Harry Potter series will last for many years with its relatable remarks and magical events.