| The Arc of the Potter |
In Book 1, we meet Harry as the abused, neglected orphan and
watch as he is taken from his world of solitude and cruelty and
introduced to a world of magic where he is all but a boy prince!
Over the course of the book, we discover that this new Magical
World isn’t as ideal as it seemed at first glance. There is a
dark lord, long believed dead on the road to coming back to full
power and settling the score with the last Potter.
From the first book, we are faced with the idea of mortality and
death. Lily and James’ deaths precipitate the action, the book
starting what must be shortly after their massacre.
During the book, a supposedly dead man is trying to regain his
life. And it becomes very clear by the end of the novel, that
it’s not just power he seeks, but revenge on Harry.
The idea of Harry’s life hanging in the balance is not a new idea
come Book 5 when we first hear the prophecy or Book 7 and the
assumed Hunt for Horcruxes. It’s something we’ve all accepted...
the stakes of the book.
If they can’t manage to find a way to stop Voldemort it not only
means the end of the Wizarding World as we know it, it also means
the end of Harry’s life.
watch as he is taken from his world of solitude and cruelty and
introduced to a world of magic where he is all but a boy prince!
Over the course of the book, we discover that this new Magical
World isn’t as ideal as it seemed at first glance. There is a
dark lord, long believed dead on the road to coming back to full
power and settling the score with the last Potter.
From the first book, we are faced with the idea of mortality and
death. Lily and James’ deaths precipitate the action, the book
starting what must be shortly after their massacre.
During the book, a supposedly dead man is trying to regain his
life. And it becomes very clear by the end of the novel, that
it’s not just power he seeks, but revenge on Harry.
The idea of Harry’s life hanging in the balance is not a new idea
come Book 5 when we first hear the prophecy or Book 7 and the
assumed Hunt for Horcruxes. It’s something we’ve all accepted...
the stakes of the book.
If they can’t manage to find a way to stop Voldemort it not only
means the end of the Wizarding World as we know it, it also means
the end of Harry’s life.
| Philosopher's Stone |
The very first thing we see of Harry’s life is the abuse he’s
been forced to endure these last ten years. Having been abandoned
on the doorstep of the “worst sort” of muggles imaginable, Harry
knows nothing but cruelty and neglect.
been forced to endure these last ten years. Having been abandoned
on the doorstep of the “worst sort” of muggles imaginable, Harry
knows nothing but cruelty and neglect.
He has been mistreated and underfed...physically and emotionally
abused. He’s never had the benefit of a loving family, or even a
hug! And yet the boy we meet is sweet, shy, and gentle.
abused. He’s never had the benefit of a loving family, or even a
hug! And yet the boy we meet is sweet, shy, and gentle.
He is caring and stands up for others. Maybe this is a direct
result of being picked on his whole life without ever being able
to fight back for himself.
Knowing he was different then everyone else, but never imagining
just how different he could be, or how his life would transform
with one undelivered message...
His first real friend is Hagrid, who rescues him both from the
carnage of that Halloween 10 years ago and now from the demented
Dursleys. Hagrid serves as his first reality instructor, leading
Harry into a new world... This friendship is as close as family
and remains strong throughout the books, showing Harry’s loyalty.
With Hagrid introducing him to this new world, we get to see
everyone else’s reaction to Harry’s past. He’s a cultural icon! A
celebrity without doing anything but living.
We also see his reluctance to accept this and his desire to just
be a normal boy. This is entirely different from little Tom
Riddle, whose reaction to finding out he was different was
ecstatic at the thought of being special and uncommon.
Excited and scared out of his mind by this uncharted territory,
Harry shows his stock right off by refusing to befriend the likes
of Draco Malfoy. Just from hearing the boy talk, Harry can tell
he’s not a person to be friends with, even though Harry is
currently friend-less and clueless as to the ways of wizards...
he’d rather be alone than with a kid like Malfoy.
The twins are very excited to have met Harry on the train to
Hogwarts and tell their mother on the platform, to which Ginny
freaks and cries over not being allowed to meet him. Even Ron
spazzes out a little when he meets Harry for the first time.
result of being picked on his whole life without ever being able
to fight back for himself.
Knowing he was different then everyone else, but never imagining
just how different he could be, or how his life would transform
with one undelivered message...
His first real friend is Hagrid, who rescues him both from the
carnage of that Halloween 10 years ago and now from the demented
Dursleys. Hagrid serves as his first reality instructor, leading
Harry into a new world... This friendship is as close as family
and remains strong throughout the books, showing Harry’s loyalty.
With Hagrid introducing him to this new world, we get to see
everyone else’s reaction to Harry’s past. He’s a cultural icon! A
celebrity without doing anything but living.
We also see his reluctance to accept this and his desire to just
be a normal boy. This is entirely different from little Tom
Riddle, whose reaction to finding out he was different was
ecstatic at the thought of being special and uncommon.
Excited and scared out of his mind by this uncharted territory,
Harry shows his stock right off by refusing to befriend the likes
of Draco Malfoy. Just from hearing the boy talk, Harry can tell
he’s not a person to be friends with, even though Harry is
currently friend-less and clueless as to the ways of wizards...
he’d rather be alone than with a kid like Malfoy.
The twins are very excited to have met Harry on the train to
Hogwarts and tell their mother on the platform, to which Ginny
freaks and cries over not being allowed to meet him. Even Ron
spazzes out a little when he meets Harry for the first time.
- “You know that black-haired boy who was near us in
- “Who?”
“Harry Potter!”
Harry heard a little girl’s voice.
“Oh, Mum, can I go on the train and see him, Mum,
- “You’ve already seen him, Ginny, and the poor boy
- “Anyone sitting there?” he asked, pointing at the
- Harry shook his head and the boy sat down. He
window, pretending he hadn’t looked.
- “Are you really Harry Potter?” Ron blurted out.
Harry nodded.
“Oh – well, I thought it might be one of Fred and
you know...”
- He pointed at Harry’s forehead.
Harry pulled back his fringe to show the lightning
- “So that’s where You-Know-Who –?”
“Yes,” said Harry, “but I can’t remember it.”
“Nothing?” said Ron eagerly.
“Well – I remember a lot of green light, but
- “Wow,” said Ron. He sat and stared at Harry for a
what he was doing, he looked quickly out of the window
again.
| ... |
| ... |
| Philosopher's Stone Chapter 6 |
The Weasley’s are used to show the Magical World’s view of Harry
and his situation. Not very many people truly comprehend his life
or the origins of his fame. He’s been completely idealized.
and his situation. Not very many people truly comprehend his life
or the origins of his fame. He’s been completely idealized.
Molly Weasley has a
maternal instinct for him
immediately, as would most
mothers who heard the story.
Ginny has a crush on the
boy hero.
maternal instinct for him
immediately, as would most
mothers who heard the story.
Ginny has a crush on the
boy hero.
They next meet Neville, who is looking for his toad. They’re of
no help to him. For some reason, they don’t recognize that he’s
in the same position as them. Or it makes them feel better to
think they’re at least better off then poor Neville.
Next, Hermione Granger comes looking for the toad. She took pity
on Neville, lost without his pet. She cares even then. Hermione
blows both boys away, but whereas Ron’s reaction seems annoyed or
even intimidated, Harry seems impressed.
Standing up for Neville, Harry makes the Quidditch team, youngest
player in a century. He discovers his first true love: flying.
This will forever provide an escape, a source of comfort and
release in dark and frightening times.
The emphasis in this book is certainly in the three of them and
how they work together...that they are stronger together than
they are apart.
They are all together as they discover dragons, three headed
dongs, mountain trolls and what exactly lies hidden beneath the
trap door.
The trio becomes a unit when Harry remembers Hermione crying in
the girls’ loo because of a nasty comment Ron made about her.
While Harry doesn’t stop Ron, nor defend Hermione to him, he does
go after her when no one else knows where she is.
no help to him. For some reason, they don’t recognize that he’s
in the same position as them. Or it makes them feel better to
think they’re at least better off then poor Neville.
Next, Hermione Granger comes looking for the toad. She took pity
on Neville, lost without his pet. She cares even then. Hermione
blows both boys away, but whereas Ron’s reaction seems annoyed or
even intimidated, Harry seems impressed.
Standing up for Neville, Harry makes the Quidditch team, youngest
player in a century. He discovers his first true love: flying.
This will forever provide an escape, a source of comfort and
release in dark and frightening times.
The emphasis in this book is certainly in the three of them and
how they work together...that they are stronger together than
they are apart.
They are all together as they discover dragons, three headed
dongs, mountain trolls and what exactly lies hidden beneath the
trap door.
The trio becomes a unit when Harry remembers Hermione crying in
the girls’ loo because of a nasty comment Ron made about her.
While Harry doesn’t stop Ron, nor defend Hermione to him, he does
go after her when no one else knows where she is.
- “It’s no wonder no one can stand her,” he said to
corridor, “she’s a nightmare, honestly.”
- Someone knocked into Harry as they hurried past
face – and was startled to see that she was in tears.
- “I think she heard you.”
“So?” said Ron, but he looked a bit uncomfortable.
- Hermione didn’t turn up for the next class and
Great Hall for the Halloween feast, Harry and Ron
overheard Parvati Patil telling her friend Lavender
that Hermione was crying in the girls’ bathroom and
wanted to be left alone.
- As they jostled their way through a crowd of
- “I’ve just thought – Hermione.”
“What about her?”
“She doesn’t know about the troll.”
Ron bit his lip.
“Oh, all right,” he snapped. “But Percy’d better
| ... |
| Philosopher's Stone Chapter 10 |
The Bathroom Rescue is pivotal in the development of the novel.
It’s when the three kids become inseparable...Hermione even lies
for the boys making her a bit more human.
It’s when the three kids become inseparable...Hermione even lies
for the boys making her a bit more human.
- Then a small voice came out of the shadows.
“Please, Professor McGonagall – they were looking
- “Miss Granger!”
Hermione had managed to get to her feet at last.
“I went looking for the troll because I – I
because I’ve read all about them.”
- Ron dropped his wand. Hermione Granger, telling a
- Hermione hung her head. Harry was speechless.
the rules, and here she was, pretending she had, to
get them out of trouble. It was as if Snape had
started handing out sweets.
- But from that moment on, Hermione Granger became
without ending up liking each other, and knocking out
a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them.
| ... |
| ... |
It is also pivotal in the development of Harry. Hermione is a
sort of guide for him. A moral compass.
Throughout the remaining novels, she consistently, and with
growing frequency, is the one Harry relies on and turns to for
answers, for comfort and for support. Without their friendship,
she would be dead as would he, or worse...expelled.
It is their friendship that is the real shining star here. They'd
each be dead if not for the others; they are greater than the sum
of their parts. Harry would never have made it to face the Mirror
of Erised, defeat Quirrel and save the Philosopher’s Stone had it
not been for Ron and Hermione.
Ron sacrificed himself on the Chessboard; Hermione knew how to
get out of Devil’s Snare; they all helped catch the key; and
Hermione outwitted Snape.
This is a pattern we see repeated: first in Third Year and again
in Fifth.
Ron sacrifices himself here, then Hermione has to leave Harry to
face the final battle alone. Here, in Book 1, they have a choice.
Later, Ron gets his leg broken and dragged through some tree
roots in the third book. Hermione’s there to help Harry fight off
Dementors, go back in time and save Sirius, but, in the end, it’s
Harry who casts the Patronus.
In Fifth Year, Ron makes it to the Department of Mysteries but
then is taken out as soon as they separate into two groups of
three. He’s not even with them in their group.
Hermione is at Harry’s side until she is brutally knocked out.
Harry is left with Neville, who despite a broken nose still puts
up a fight. (Nev takes a lickin' but keeps on tickin'!) Here,
too, Harry chases Bellatrix and fights her alone until he is
rescued by Dumbledore.
Will this pattern give us some insight into how events shall play
out in Book 7? In my deluded little mind, they all live happily
ever after and I’m not too sure I want to read about it if that
doesn’t happen.
Together, as one, as a team, they have the power and ingenuity to
save the Stone, stall Voldemort’s resurrection, and put
Gryffindor over the top to win the House Cup! And really, what is
more important than a Gryffindor victory?
sort of guide for him. A moral compass.
Throughout the remaining novels, she consistently, and with
growing frequency, is the one Harry relies on and turns to for
answers, for comfort and for support. Without their friendship,
she would be dead as would he, or worse...expelled.
It is their friendship that is the real shining star here. They'd
each be dead if not for the others; they are greater than the sum
of their parts. Harry would never have made it to face the Mirror
of Erised, defeat Quirrel and save the Philosopher’s Stone had it
not been for Ron and Hermione.
Ron sacrificed himself on the Chessboard; Hermione knew how to
get out of Devil’s Snare; they all helped catch the key; and
Hermione outwitted Snape.
This is a pattern we see repeated: first in Third Year and again
in Fifth.
Ron sacrifices himself here, then Hermione has to leave Harry to
face the final battle alone. Here, in Book 1, they have a choice.
Later, Ron gets his leg broken and dragged through some tree
roots in the third book. Hermione’s there to help Harry fight off
Dementors, go back in time and save Sirius, but, in the end, it’s
Harry who casts the Patronus.
In Fifth Year, Ron makes it to the Department of Mysteries but
then is taken out as soon as they separate into two groups of
three. He’s not even with them in their group.
Hermione is at Harry’s side until she is brutally knocked out.
Harry is left with Neville, who despite a broken nose still puts
up a fight. (Nev takes a lickin' but keeps on tickin'!) Here,
too, Harry chases Bellatrix and fights her alone until he is
rescued by Dumbledore.
Will this pattern give us some insight into how events shall play
out in Book 7? In my deluded little mind, they all live happily
ever after and I’m not too sure I want to read about it if that
doesn’t happen.
Together, as one, as a team, they have the power and ingenuity to
save the Stone, stall Voldemort’s resurrection, and put
Gryffindor over the top to win the House Cup! And really, what is
more important than a Gryffindor victory?
| Philosopher's Stone Chapter 10 |
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with him and want the gory
details of the story.
Ron only sits with him
cause there is nowhere
else to sit (though that
very well might be a
lie)...they are both
rejects. Harry in his
overly large clothes and
Ron in his hand-me-downs.
details of the story.
Ron only sits with him
cause there is nowhere
else to sit (though that
very well might be a
lie)...they are both
rejects. Harry in his
overly large clothes and
Ron in his hand-me-downs.
| The Ultimate Harry Potter Analysis Source |
| Choosing what is Right over what is Easy |
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