Treading on hallowed ground

I read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows recently, the seventh and purportedly, the last of the stupendously imaginative Harry Potter series. It was quite a page-turner, with very few dull moments. Potter Inc.’s antics had me at the edge of my seat. However, the grand finale of the seven book long struggle of our bespectacled hero with his arch-nemesis Lord Voldemort was a little too predictable.

No Potter fan worth his or her salt would want Harry to die. There would have been an inevitable public outcry were the teenage wizard to be killed in a fight with the Dark Lord. Throughout the series there were tantalizing hints as to the outcome. Neither can live while the other survives, was the constant refrain. One character in the book augured Harry’s untimely demise. Every act, every word indicated that Harry was a Horcrux (non-Potter aficionados go read the book). And so it was revealed towards the end of the seventh book. But killing off Harry, would go against vox populi. And not doing so would falsify the entire mythology of The Boy Who Lived. So J.K. Rowling took the middle ground. Harry did die, but chose to come back to life to finish off Voldemort, restoring our faith in the age old maxim, “good over evil”. Besides, it would not do for Harry’s courage, perseverance and righteousness to go unrewarded. We have always been taught that these virtues are highly desirable. The boy had already lost his parents at a tender age. It wouldn’t do to kill him off at age seventeen. He had pity on his side. Hence, he lived to sire cheesily christened Potterlets.

Nevertheless, J.K Rowling’s genius in crafting this masterpiece cannot be gainsaid. The invention of a whole new sport (Quidditch) is just one example of her wonderful imagination. She was successful in sustaining the interest of children and adults alike. She captured the imagination of millions all over the world and spawned what journos have termed, Pottermania. But it is her marketing acumen that is the most commendable. There was always this will-she-won’t-she, cliffhanger like quality to the book. The hints in the book generated immense curiosity and left people wanting more. Die-hard Potter fans were glued to the book trying to second guess and speculate about what lay in store for Harry, whether Snape was indeed evil and so on. The book had the quality of a cleverly designed peep-show, revealing just enough to pique people’s senses and building up to an extravagant climax in which all the loose ends were tied up. People bought the books to find out if their theories were right. All this guaranteed readership and also a position in the list of best-selling authors. Futhermore, by introducing a new generation of Potters, Weasleys and Malfoys, Rowling has left open the option of continuing the Potter series; the new generation of wizards and witches could be passed on the mantle.

And those who dismiss the series as children’s books are in for a surprise. True, the young protagonists, the world of magic and the surreal, mind-boggling adventures appeal in a large part to children. But, the emphasis on sublime virtues of loyalty, courage, honor and determination and the importance of love, friendship, family, lend the books an admirably universal quality. There are clever references to mythology. For instance, Hagrid says that he got the three-headed dog, Fluffy from a “Greek chappie”, in an obvious reference to Cerberus, the creature which guards the gates of the underworld. Remus Lupin, a character which turns into a werewolf every full moon, is named after brothers Remus and Romulus, who built Rome and were raised by wolves. Interestingly, Lupin is derived from Lupa, meaning wolf in Latin. The name of another werewolf in the book( Fenrir Greyback) is derived from Norse mythology. In Norse mythology, Fenrir or Fenrisulfr is a wolf. Also, the Philosopher’s Stone, known to bestow immortality upon anyone who owns it, is said to have been the property of a Nicolas Flamel, who lived a hundred years. Nicolas Flamel was, in fact , an alchemist.

Moreover, there are other complex concepts and subtle undertones in the book which are altogether too advanced for children to grasp. The persecution of and hatred towards “Mudbloods”, mirror real life. “Mudblood” is a derogatory term used for those witches and wizards whose parents are non-magical or “Muggles”. They are thus discriminated against. Some pure-blooded wizards in the series advocate a complete annihilation of these “Mudbloods”. This intolerance is quite analogous to the anti-Semitism of Nazi Germany, the rampant racism in certain nations, the Varna system in India and the ethnic cleansing in Bosnia. Some of the horrors wrought on the victims of such bigotry is paralleled in the book. For instance, all “Mudbloods” are ordered to register their names with the Ministry, an act reminiscent of the Nazi orders to Jews to register with the SS and to wear the Star of David as a distinguishing mark.

Still think it is child’s play?