Spring Assessment

“It is vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquility: they must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it.” – Charlotte Bronte, author of Jane Eyre. I have been pondering the meaning of this quote for quite some time, and came to realize that this quote is only a half truth. Sometimes action finds you. What I mean is, sometimes you are thrust into the middle of action against your will. An example of this situation is evident in the seventh and final Harry Potter novel, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.  Harry, when he was eleven in the first book, found out he was a wizard. However, Harry soon discovered that not all wizards are kind. Now, in the last book, he is on the run hiding for his life from the most evil dark wizard of all time, Lord Voldemort. You see, Harry didn’t have a choice in what happened to him, or what happened to the ones he loved. The tranquility mentioned above is a state of mind, and when it is disturbed the consequences can be horrific, just like in the final chapter Harry Potter series.

Tranquility, known throughout the world by many different names, such as enlightenment, inner peace, and illumination. In the books leading up to the seventh Harry Potter novel, he has always been under protection from his close friend, and headmaster of the school he goes to, Albus Dumbledore. He has always been able to have peace of mind with Dumbledore close at hand. However, after the events of the sixth book, Dumbledore is murdered, and Harry is distraught with grief. Not only has he lost a protector and friend in his death, but he has lost his one true home, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You see, Harry lost his parents at an extremely young age, and was sent to live with his aunt and uncle, who were non magical. You see, they were terrified at even the idea of magic, which resulted in them not telling him he was a wizard, and abusing him. However, when he found out he was a wizard in the first book; Harry was sent to Hogwarts School to learn magic. At Hogwarts, he met his two best friends Ron and Hermione. They treated him like a brother, and as if he was a real person. Soon after, he met the headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore. Up until Dumbledore’s death, Harry was able to learn magic under his protection. After his death, Harry realized Hogwarts would fall under Lord Voldemort’s (the main antagonist throughout the series) rule. He would have to leave Hogwarts with Ron and Hermione, not to return for almost a year.

Giving up your home and the ones you love, just like Harry did in the last book, can be devastating. Sacrifice isn’t in human nature, but sometimes you have to be willing to give everything up, or it will be taken away from you. Harry had to leave behind the people he loved, gave up his fortune in wizard gold, his faithful pet which died for him, loses his wand (to a wizard or witch, this is like losing a part of ones self), and even is willing to break wizarding law and face death to restore order to the wizarding world. He goes on the run living in a magical tent, but food and clean water is scarce, and one of his friends is a time bomb of anger. He eventually loses that friend, but when a door is closed a window is opened. His friend is eventually returned to him with a new wand. However, he is even willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to save the entire world; death. You see, Harry realizes that a part of Voldemort’s soul lives inside of Harry himself. There is a prophecy in the series that speaks of Harry and Voldemort’s destiny together, and the most famous line in this prophecy is “Neither can live well the other survives.” Harry realizes that he has to die before Voldemort dies, because that part of him that lives inside of Harry must die in order for Voldemort to die. Harry bravely and selflessly goes to Voldemort and lets him kill him.

Voldemort has killed Harry, and Harry believes that everything is over, but then he realizes that he is not in heaven or hell, but inside of his own mind. He sees the dead part of Voldemort, and realizes he has a choice, which is to go to heaven, or go back and be brave, to defeat the most evil dark wizard of all time. You see, that is what it all comes down to, being brave. The final theme of the story is bravery. Harry knows that if he doesn’t return to the world of men, Voldemort wins. Well, Harry does return, but he still hasn’t won yet. He has to act like he is dead and has to be tossed around by Voldemort’s magic and followers. Then he has to go through the torture of hearing his friend’s reaction at seeing his body. Finally, however, he is able to move and duels Voldemort, but he has no protection, and Voldemort’s own spell backfires and falls dead, his eyes open, but never to see again. The second wizarding has been won, and peace is restored to the wizarding world.

Tranquility, mans greatest aim in life. The consequences have been dealt with in the case of Harry Potter after this state of mind has been disturbed. The themes of this story are sacrifice, friendship, and bravery. Every story has a moral, however this moral can be unclear, but in the case of this story it is be brave, and you can overcome any challenge thrust at you, even if all seems lost.