The Real Magic of Harry Potter
Posted: Friday, July 20, 2007
by Ken McCreless
RMS1437- "Answer the Call"
As I'm sure you already know, the final Harry Potter book has been, or momentarily will be, released. Here are a few thoughts as to why he is so popular.
Imagination.
The books and movies in the Harry Potter series are loaded with it. Author J.K. Rowling has opened up the minds of the readers to fantastic new worlds where anything is possible and things aren't usually what they appear to be. I know as a child I had an incorrigible imagination. Many are the times I was snapped out of a trancelike state, after a great deal of effort, by someone, like a teacher, trying to get my attention. How I would have loved to be encouraged to dream rather than being punished.
Stairs change location, paintings talk to you and candles hover above students; giving light, but protected from the clear ceiling that hovers above them. Strange and wonderful creatures abound- some friendly, some not. A whole new, wildly different world is made available for the price of a book or movie ticket.
Possibilities.
When you have more options you have more possibilities. I suspect that most of you, dear readers, have been maliciously excluded from a club or group that refused your companionship. How would you feel if you then discovered a secret club that you were privy to, that recognized the uniqueness of your character and would appreciate you for it? You're not likely to see any Harry Potter fans roaming the streets terrorizing people and destroying property in an attempt to "belong." They have found their "gang."
An unlikely hero.
Little Orphan Annie seemed able to step up and take care of a harrowing situation, but not nearly as much as Harry Potter and crew. Not only is Harry learning ways to overcome the normal troubles of childhood, but he is on his way to avenging the death of his parents and the cruelty of a snobbish arch-enemy.
Being so young and vulnerable is the natural state of early human development. As the young Harry matures he confronts and overcomes these same feelings and difficulties faced by us all, with the help of his friends and overseers. Even adults can relate to Harry Potter as their imaginations take them back to the specific childhood incidents that may still trouble them and allow them to see how far they've come.
Entertaining.
The story of children growing up and overcoming great odds to make it to adulthood is a wonderful antidote to the ills of today's world. What if someone about to be mugged on the street could shout a word or two and change the would-be attacker into a six legged toad? How cool would that be! Or how about being able to vindicate a loved one whose life was cut short and whose reputation was sullied? With so many people in the world wanting to kill us and relying on a government to protect us, in whom we cannot trust, we need these thoughts, if only to take us away for a little while.
And finally.
We need magic. Not some guy making a card appear out of thin air, but the kind that allows us to see the potential in any situation that the logical mind could nev er. Walking around on the furniture because the floor had suddenly become an alligator, a hungry alligator, infested swamp, saved at the last minute by the newfound ability to turn an enemy alligator into a hamburger so the other enemy alligators would eat him and not you. It's this sort of thing that trains children of all ages to look at problems in a different way- to solve the unsolvable.
And that's why Harry Potter is so popular.
Ken McCreless is just a guy who loves to write, and was born to do so. He is a freelance writer with several projects ongoing, including books and magazines. A huge fan of both irony and history, Ken has dedicated his life and his writing to serve the Lord Jesus Christ.
Got a need for short fiction? --Once-Told Tales-- Twilight Zone inspired!!
Got a need for short fiction? --Once-Told Tales-- Twilight Zone inspired!!
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