As JK Rowling celebrates her birthday today, Potterheads and Pottermaniacs all over the world can’t help but remember her famous fictional hero Harry Potter whose birthday also falls today. The ever-popular boy wizard turns 39 years-old-today. The Harry Potter series is an integral part of the Potterheads who swear by the books and its characters.
From Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone to the Deathly Hallows, this is a series that have left a deep impact on every generation with its rare mix of magic, intrigue, suspense, character depth and development, plot twists and the eventual triumph of good over evil. The Boy Who Lived stole our hearts and made us root for him right till the end. Here are some main reasons why the Harry Potter books are such a hit with people of different ages so much so that people swear by it.
Age No Bar
The Harry Potter series is highly remarkable in the fact that although it was aimed at children it proved to be an equally interesting and didactic piece of literature for adults also. The plot dealt with adult themes like love, betrayal, friendship, good vs evil, tyranny, power, bullying, depression, abuse and eventually death in a way that it is easy for children to understand as well as appeal to the older population as well. Moreover, the plot was realistic and even though based in a fictional magical world it was believable and rooted in day-to-day reality.
Characters
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The Harry Potter series is unique in the fact that every character has a moral arch and a development graph throughout the books. Nobody is above reproach and reproof and neither is anybody a chalk-and-cheese character. Everyone has a grey shade and appear to be loveable as well as hateful at times. Moreover, every character is given a redeeming quality and a choice which could have catapulted him or her into a better person. Rowling gave all her characters layers. Interestingly, Harry Potter is probably one of the rarest series in which the main antagonist –Voldemort is not hated as much as Professor Umbridge is hated.
Harry Potter
The main protagonist, Harry Potter, is not a foolproof character the way most heroes of books and films are. He is relatable, falls from grace and still manages to overcome his trials. Moreover, while Rowling gave most of her characters lofty Latin names with hidden meanings, Harry’s name is one of Britain’s most common names that was an indication of the fact that any Tom, Dick and Harry can achieve greatness. He has no distinctive quirk as compared to other characters like Hermione is the brightest witch of her age, Ron is a goofball and extremely loyal. Harry is ‘just Harry’ the ending of the story will culminate in the same way even if he dies in between. Neville would have taken over and Voldemort would have still been dead as the prophecy will come to fruition. However, it is Harry’s selfless attitude, choices and the fact that he rises above his immediate problems without a blemish on his soul is what makes him endearing.
The Magic
The magic is the crux of Harry Potter universe. Since Rowling based her spells and magic on Latin and Greek myths and words, it became very relatable and easily believable. There was no hocus pocus that was hard to believe and easily ignored. The magic was profound not only through the magic wands and spell work but through common emotions like love, friendship, betrayal, faith, choices and hope that makes the world go around and brings a smile on everyone’s face.
The School
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry became a model school in which everyone wants to study. After all, who wouldn’t like their principal to take a keen and personal interest in them? The teachers are strict disciplinarians but also kind-hearted and just. The school building itself has umpteen secrets and the magical objects are interesting and extremely funny. The subjects taught in the series are interesting and beneficial for the students as well, not to mention the thrilling game of Quidditch.
The Harry Potter universe is such a magical place that even after such a long time people still swears by the series. The children who were the first readers of the books are no longer children but it has made such an impact on them that even when they are dying of old age they would still be reading Harry Potter on their deathbed and passing it on to their grandkids.
(Source: PeepingMoon)
