Themes

While the books deal with difficult issues such as violence and death, and for this reason are not always be suitable for preteen children......Rowling never loses sight of the ultimate goal, which is ultimately Christocentric if not overtly Christian. "My books are largely about death. They open with the death of Harry's parents. There is Voldemort's obsession with conquering death and his quest for immortality at any price... I so understand why Voldemort wants to conquer death. We're all frightened of it." - J.K. Rowling “The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” - 1 Corinthians 15:26, The Bible - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows DEATH

PREJUDICE If you think this is far-fetched, look at some of the real charts the Nazis used to show what constituted 'Aryan' or 'Jewish' blood. I saw one in the Holocaust Museum in Washington when I had already devised the 'pure-blood ', ' half- blood ' and ' Muggle-born ' definitions, and was chilled to see that the Nazis used precisely the same warped logic as the Death Eaters. A single Jewish grandparent 'polluted' the blood, according to their propaganda. An understanding of history helps us learn from our mistakes. We can learn not to repeat the mistakes of the past through this story. Chatroom conversations show that readers have taken to using the term “Muggle” as an insult.

LOVE AND SACRIFICE Love is almost always linked to sacrifice in the novel. All people want to do the loving thing. This novel could encourage teenager to make drastic and dangerous sacrifices for love. “Harry's own ability to love and be loved are the key traits that distinguish him from Voldemort and ensure that Harry will never be seduced by the Dark Arts.” It was Harry’s mother’s love for him that saved him from Voldemort’s curse. The book argues that love is stronger than any other power.

MAGIC Magic is an essential part of childhood and innocence. It belongs to a world where anything is possible. Harry Potter encourages teens to engage in real and dangerous occult activities. “It is the magic that begins the happily ever after." “Teen-agers who have read Harry Potter books or have seen the Harry Potter movie were more likely to have experimented with psychic or occult activities than those teens who had not.”

Plots

Harry Potter is always breaking the rules. He does not respect authority and is a bad role model for teens. Ron and Harry steal Mr. Weasley’s car Harry and Hermione break school rules to time-travel and save Buckbeak. It is important to teach teenagers to think for themselves and to think creatively. We should not discourage these values in readers.

Harry has to die in order to end the battle between good and evil and save his friends from Voldemort. Rowling mixes Pagan and Christian symbols throughout the book, confusing young readers about the difference between good and evil. Harry Potter is a Christian allegory that can be used to inspire discussion in Christian education.

characters

settings

FRIENDSHIP The friendships in Harry Potter promote positive values such as dedication, understanding, empathy and teamwork. The main activity that Harry and his friends engage in together is rebellion. Such an example will encourage teens who read this book to break the rules. "Lord Voldemort has never had a friend, nor do I believe that he has ever wanted one." - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince "Books! And cleverness! There are more important things – friendship and bravery and – oh Harry – be careful!" - Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone