Harry potter esssay

Balances between the maintaining authority and the rebelling against it in Harry Potter

Nowadays, Harry Potter series becomes of one of the most popular novels in Children’s a literature, which is also approved by the writer’ Union with a high reputation. Especially, throughout the novel, Harry and his friends break numerous rules in Hogwarts, but Rowling did a good balance between the importance of maintaining authority and the importance of rebelling against it. Although countless factors affect our assessment of the author’s ability to balance between the two sides. There are three conspicuous events in the novel which can prove this: Harry helped Neville to grabbed the Remembrall from Malfoy but was found his nature by Professor McGonagall, Harry and Ron saved Herminone form the troll instead of went back the accommodation but were award the points by Professor McGonagall and Harry, Ron, Herminone broke the school rules but saved the whole Hogwarts.

The main method that Rowling balanced the 2 sides is that she described the scene that Harry Potter broke the rules for the appropriate reason- friendship. The author Rowling proved this by a event in chapter 9: one of the first rules that Harry breaks is during the flying lesson with Madam Hooch when Harry flies after Malfoy in order to retrieve Neville’s Remembrall. “None of you is to move while I take this boy to the hospital wing! You leave those brooms where they are or you’ll be out of Hogwarts before you can say ‘Quidditch’ ”.( Madam Hooch) Harry does not observe Madam Hooch’s direct order, and he knows the result if he broke it, but he still helping Neville. In the other words, Rowling tried use the event in the novel to tell us Harry potter never breaks the rules simply for the sake of breaking them, he breaks the rule only when he truly believes that his action are necessary help for friends or the reason is appropriate, which is also highlight his selfless and compassionate nature. By contrast, Harry Potter’s enemy, Lord Voldemoort, tried to control the whole magic world by the dark magic. He broke countless rules in magic world, just for achieving absolute power, first by stealing the Sorcerer's Stone and using the elixir of life to construct another body. Also, he prefers to be isolated and independent from those around him. Even Professor Quirrell, who drinks unicorn blood for him, is nothing more than a servant to Voldemort. Because Voldemort lacks the ability to form lasting friendships, he is always alone and has only himself to rely on.

It might also be noted that Rowling created the balance between the 2 sides is that she wrote the situation, which the good aspect of rule-breaking is more beneficial than the bad side. It also can be prove in chapter 9; Harry wanted to grab the ball, which Neville received from his grandmother from Malfoy. But Harry broke the rule, he used the broom to fly. Just then, Professor McGonagall arrives, reprimanding Harry and ordering him to follow her. But instead of punishing him, McGonagall introduces him to Oliver Wood, captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, explaining that Harry will make an excellent Quidditch player. One thing is more interesting is Harry flying into the air after Neville’s stolen ball, but his act is noble and displays his flying talents. Professor McGonagall may go through the motions of punishing Harry for breaking the rule, but the reason why Professor McGonagall did not punish Harry is because her true feelings are praise and admiration. The idea that a little rule-breaking may be acceptable and even valued because the benefits of this rule-breaking is obviously. “Heaven knows, we need a better team than last year. Flattened in that last match by Slytherin, I couldn’t look Severus Snape in the face for weeks…”(Professor McGonagall) Furthermore, this situation seems like a little selfish, but it happens a lot in the society. For example, a real story happened in Darlie Toothpaste Company in1865. A young salesman in company stole a box of toothpaste to sell to his friends and relatives. Just 10 minutes, he sold all of it. The salesman broke the rule, but because of his eloquence, he was promoted to a position of leadership by his manager. Therefore, rule-braking is dependents on the two sides of it.

Last but not at least, the author balanced the 2 aspects by achieving the purpose of the rule-breaking is same as the purpose of the rule. For instance, the event happened in chapter 10, Harry and Ron arrived at the Halloween feast to hear Professor Quirrell, the teacher of Defense against the Dark Arts, give a terrifying announcement about a twelve-foot troll in the building. As the prefects lead the students back to their dorms, Harry realized that Hermione does not know about the troll. So Harry and Ron decided to save Hermione. In the view of Harry and Ron, saving friend is the most important thing in their mind. They must to ensure the safety of Hermione. Also, in the view of the professors in Hogwarts, students’ safety is the top thing and their responsibility is to make sure that students are safe. So, the purpose of the rule is the same. This is the reason why the 2 sides are not contradicting. Moreover, in the end of the event, Rowling seems like admit this way of rebellion. “Well, I will say you were lucky, but not many first years could have taken on a full-grown mountain troll, you each win Gryfindor five points”(Professor MacGonagall).