The end of the series was a highly anticipated event. People flocked together to guess at the end of the series, fans developed intricate and complex theories in hopes of uncovering the clues, and friends and families planned extravagant pre-release parties. I was one that could fit into all these categories. The experience of the pre-release mania was something I will always cherish. I was hooked onto the series and emotionally attached to all its characters. I felt a sense of anticipation and a sense of foreboding about the end, but when I finally received my copy of the book and reached the end, I was extremely content with the end.
As I read the last book, a few scenes in particular stuck out to me: Harry’s use of the Resurrection Stone and Harry being carried back to the castle by Hagrid. The Resurrection Stone allowed Harry to see his mom, dad, Sirius and Lupin before he himself walked into the forest where he was sure to meet his death. That scene had such emotional depth. Harry’s lost ones were able to reconvene with him to give him the strength to meet a fate e feared. It was beautifully written and emotionally captivating. It might be my favorite scene within the entire series. Shortly after, we were given the passage where Harry feigns his death and is carried back to Hogwarts by Hagrid the Giant. Though Rowling employed a sense of dramatic irony, the passage was enthralling nonetheless. The reactions to those back at the castle were debilitating and painfully accurate. I firmly believe that the shrill shriek heard as they approached was from McGonagall. I really hope that the movie makers are able to perfectly capture the depth and power of these two scenes.
These two scenes were so powerful for me because I had that emotional attachment to the Trio. The Trio and the Weasley family were the characters I focused on throughout Rowling’s epic. With that said, the whole ordeal with Snape was not as compelling for me. I appreciated all the work and thought Rowling put into the character, but the question as to what his loyalties were was not are prevalent for me. I just simply saw it as another part of the story, one that supported the plot. So, when the time came, the revelation of Snape’s history was not as engaging for me. However, the revelation of Dumbledore’s past was. Throughout the series, Dumbledore is portrayed as a living paragon of perfection, and it’s his past that humanizes him. We see Dumbledore engage in prejudice and discriminatory acts and tendencies, we are exposed to his fear of death and the means he sought to escape it, and we are given a glimpse into his dysfunctional family. Simply, we get to see the man’s flaws. Despite his brilliance and wise nature, Dumbledore was revealed to be a man and not a god. I found this to be very potent for me.
On a larger scale, apart from myself, I know that people were disappointed with the deaths that came from the final battle. Others were upset with the Epilogue chapter at the end of the novel. But if we look past these minute details, I believe that the last book and the series as a whole was positively received by the public. Despite the bumpy beginnings with conservatives Christians banning their children from reading the books, the series ended on a universal note that helped remove that discomfort with the series. It is simple: Good triumphs over Evil. With that said, I know many of my friends who were finally allowed to read the novels because that simple, yet grand, theme came to fruition. In addition, millions of people found ways to relate to the Potter books, and because of that, they have found their way into the lives of all those people and thusly our culture. It would be difficult to find someone who has never heard of the series. And for that, I believe that the series has found a lasting place in our current culture and society.
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