Valuess In Harry Potter Essay, Research Paper

Valuess in Harry Potter

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer & # 8217 ; s Stone by J.K. Rowling is a kids & # 8217 ; s novel about a immature male child, Harry Potter, and his escapades at Hogwarts, a school for aces and enchantresss. The novel is filled with humourous narratives of exciting adventures in and around the school. There are many characters in the novel, and they do non ever acquire along good. They make merriment of each other and justice each other by a certain set of criterions. Some of these criterions include wealth, intelligence, household and athletic ability. These are all superficial ways of judging people. Bing a kids & # 8217 ; s writer, Rowling shows her readers other, more of import ways of categorising others through less evident methods. These true values that she emphasizes are judging others by their character and bosom.

The false values by which kids judge each other are more blazing in the novel because they are illustrated through conversation alternatively of actions. The chief ways that they judge each other are: fiscal position, household background ( Muggle or ace ) , house association, intelligence and athletic ability. Almost every character has some good values and some bad values in the novel. By exemplifying the characters with mistakes, Rowling makes them more realistic and credible.

The first tegument deep value used to mensurate the position of a character is money. Merely as in the existent universe, some people have more money than others. One character that seems to be really good off in the ace universe is Draco Malfoy. He has all of the newest and nicest books and school supplies on the first twenty-four hours. His bird of Minerva is of the nicest strain. When the pupils receive mail at repasts, Malfoy often receives bundles of dainties from his household and he is non low about it. He is rather a contrast to Ron Weasley and his household. Ron comes from a hapless household. Everything he brings to school with him seems to be a hand-down. Ron says, & # 8220 ; you ne’er acquire anything new, either, with five brothers. I & # 8217 ; ve got Bill & # 8217 ; s old robes, Charlie & # 8217 ; s old wand, and Percy & # 8217 ; s old rat. & # 8221 ; ( p. 100 ) . Malfoy likes to utilize this failing to do merriment of Ron. He makes remarks such as, & # 8220 ; What would you cognize about it, Weasley, you couldn & # 8217 ; t afford half the grip & # 8221 ; when Harry gets a new broom ( p. 165 ) . Subsequently, when they run into Hagrid, Malfoy says to Ron, & # 8220 ; Are you seeking to gain some excess money, Weasley? that hut of Hagrid & # 8217 ; s must look like a castle compared to what your household & # 8217 ; s used to & # 8221 ; ( pp. 195-196 ) . These are really barbarous remarks, but money is non the lone manner that Malfoy Judgess others.

Family background is the 2nd unforesightful manner of judging people in the book. Whether a character comes from a Muggle household, a pure Wizard household or a mix between the two seems to play an of import function in the book. For illustration, Draco Malfoy is from a pure Wizard household and he takes great pride in it. He frequently Judgess others by this step. On the train to Hogwarts he says to Harry, & # 8220 ; You & # 8217 ; ll shortly happen out some wizarding households are much better than others, Potter. You don & # 8217 ; t want to travel doing friends with the incorrect sort. & # 8221 ; ( p. 108 ) . Harry has Wizard parents, but he has lived with Muggles his whole life so he has no experience in genius at all. Harry & # 8217 ; s friend, Hermione Granger, is from a pure Muggle household. For this ground, Malfoy makes merriment of her on more than one juncture. Ron is besides from a pure Wizard household, but he does non do merriment of those who are non.

There are still other shallow ways of judging others. One of these ways is which house each individual belongs to. Each individual is assigned to a house when they get to Hogwarts. There is much competition between the houses, but the greatest competition is between Gryffindor and Slytherin. When presenting the houses the Sorting Hat says, & # 8220 ; you might belong in Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at bosom, their dare, nervus, and gallantry set Gryffindor apart ; ? or possibly in Slytherin you & # 8217 ; ll do your existent friends, those cunning common people usage any agencies to accomplish their ends. & # 8221 ; ( p. 118 ) . Slytherin has a history of holding its members from pure Wizard households and of winning the House Cup many times. Draco Malfoy is portion of that house. However, it is non needfully the best house. There have besides been a figure of bad Aces that belonged to that house. Voldemort, a maestro at dark humanistic disciplines came from Slytherin. Gryffindor besides has a good repute. On the train to Hogwarts hermione says, & # 8220 ; I & # 8217 ; ve been inquiring about, and I hope I & # 8217 ; m in Gryffindor, it sounds by far the best ; I hear Dumbledore himself was in it. & # 8221 ; ( p. 106 ) . The competition is so ferocious between the houses that even the professors get involved. Many of them seem to be prejudiced in awarding and taking points from their ain or opposing houses. For illustration, Ron says, & # 8220 ; Snape & # 8217 ; s caput of Slytherin House. They say he ever favors them. & # 8221 ; ( p. 135 ) .

Fictional characters are besides judged by their intelligence. Hermione is the smartest individual in the category so she has a good repute. Rowling describes her when she writes, & # 8220 ; Hermione was on the border of her place and looked desparate to turn out that she wasn & # 8217 ; t a dunderhead. & # 8221 ; ( p. 137 ) . By the terminal of the novel she accomplishes this through her concluding test classs, & # 8220 ; Harry had about forgotten that the exam consequences were still to come, but come they did? Hermione, of class, had the best classs of the first years. & # 8221 ; ( p.307 ) . Neville Longbottom, on the other manus, is non so intelligent. He does non make really good in school so his repute is non every bit good. Hagrid has the lowest repute for intelligence. He is non really smart and is non even allowed to utilize thaumaturgy because he was kicked out of Hogwarts. Whenever he does utilize thaumaturgy he seems to mess it up in one manner or another. This is non truly a good manner to justice others, but it is used rather frequently, particularly by Draco Malfoy. He enjoys doing merriment of Hagrid for his stupidity.

Neville Longbottom has a below mean intelligence, every bit good as below mean accomplishments at merely about every undertaking that involves magic. His charming ski

lls overall are really hapless. For illustration, when he tries to wing a broom handle he ends up interrupting his carpus because he can’t command it. Malfoy taunts him invariably for this. Harry, on the other manus, has great accomplishments at winging a broom handle. On his first attempt he has great legerity and velocity. Professor McGonagall describes him by stating, “The boy’s a natural. I’ve ne’er seen anything like it? He caught that thing in his manus after a fifty-foot honkytonk, didn’t even rub himself.” ( p. 151 ) . Harry receives much congratulations and many regards for all of his great dramas at Quidditch.

All of these ways of judging people are non good ways to judge others. Peoples can non command how much money their parents have, whether or non they are from Muggle households, which house the Screening Hat puts them in, their natural intelligence or innate accomplishments at thaumaturgy, so it is unjust to utilize these agencies to go through judgement on a individual. Rowling understands this fact and she makes an of import point by demoing her readers better ways to justice people through the character & # 8217 ; s actions. She shows that it is preferred to judge people based on their unity and bosom. This is a really of import message to direct off in a kids & # 8217 ; s book.

Although the characters have defects, she makes the readers see their goodness by doing the virtuous characters heroes and by leting their reputable qualities overpower their unfavourable defects. For illustration, although Hagrid is non particularly intelligent or proficient at thaumaturgy, he has a good bosom. He cares really much about the well being of others. This is seen in all of his actions, from the beginning of the novel when he brings Harry to the Dursley & # 8217 ; s doorsill, to protecting Harry, Neville and Malfoy in the wood, to caring for the babe firedrake to the present he gives Harry at the terminal of the twelvemonth. Neville besides illustrates honest qualities to look for in a individual. Even though he is seen as kind of a weak and unqualified character he is rewarded for standing up to his friends to seeking to protect them at the terminal of the novel. This is a really courageous and baronial thing for him to make. Hermione is besides rewarded for her admirable qualities. She does non come from a Wizard household but that does non maintain her from being the smartest in the category. This illustrates the importance of a sound work ethic. Her intelligence ends up assisting Harry acquire through the secret transition to contend Voldemort. The full clip that she is assisting Harry she is paying close attending to his good being because she is worried about him. She knows that intelligence is non the most of import thing. Right before Harry continues on his manner she proves this by stating, & # 8220 ; Books! And inventiveness! There are more of import things? friendly relationship and courage and? oh Harry- be careful! & # 8221 ; ( p. 287 ) . This shows that it is non merely what one holds in their caput, but what she holds in her bosom as good. Ron besides exhibits some outstanding character traits. He sacrifices himself in a chess game to assist Harry out. It proves that he is willing to give himself for the greater good. Finally, Harry exhibits legion positive features. He is generous, lovingness, and he ever does things in order to accomplish some greater good. Although he gets in problem a batch, he is non a bad child. Alternatively he is the hero in the novel. By doing Harry the hero, Rowling Teachs kids assorted delivering qualities for which they should endeavor. In the terminal, all of these characters win points for Gryffindor and Gryffindor ends up winning the House Cup. This is the manner the stoping should be because all of the virtuous characters are in Gryffindor. By holding Gryffindor win, Rowling shows that upright, honest characters don & # 8217 ; t ever finish last.

Rowling non merely teaches a lesson by honoring the good characters, but she besides teaches a lesson by penalizing the immoral and corrupt cats. At the terminal of the narrative Dumbledore awards Ron, Hermione, Neville and Harry a sum of 170 points for their courageous actions in contending Voldemort. This puts them nine points in front of Slytherin in the conflict for the House Cup. When Gryffindor win the House Cup, Slytherin loses. This is of import because Malfoy is a member of Slytherin. By holding Slytherin lose, Rowling illustrates the point that all of Malfoy & # 8217 ; s superficial judgements are non a good manner to judge people. He ends up being seen as the adversary. He becomes the bad illustration that kids should non follow. The most of import illustration of immorality and evil in the novel is Voldemort. In the conflict between Voldemort and Harry, Voldemort loses. He loses because his powers are non stronger than love. Harry was saved by love. Dumbledore says, & # 8220 ; Your female parent died to salvage you. If there is one thing Voldemort can non understand, it is love? Quirrell full of hatred, greed and aspiration, sharing a psyche with Voldemort, could non touch you for this really reason. & # 8221 ; ( p. 299 ) . This message is the strongest message in the whole book. It teaches kids that love is ever better than hatred and that love conquers all. There are non many messages that are better for kids to read.

By the terminal of the fresh J.K. Rowling has taught her readers many of import life lessons. The manner the characters judge each other on an external degree can be compared to the manner many people are judged in existent life. Peoples are judged all the clip by their intelligence, fiscal position, their assorted accomplishments and abilities and by the colour of their tegument. Rowling shows through the actions of her characters that it is better to judge people by their character and their bosom than by facets of their life that they can & # 8217 ; t control. She besides shows her readers how of import it is to love and take attention of each other. If people do non take attention of each other than they will carry through nil. Although Harry is the hero in the novel, he couldn & # 8217 ; Ts have beaten Voldemort without the aid of his friends. Teamwork is a necessity for holding a successful life. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer & # 8217 ; s Stone is a really entertaining novel, but more significantly, it gives off many indispensable life lessons.