purplerabbit (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
purplerabbit) wrote2005-11-27 12:00 am
purplerabbit) wrote2005-11-27 12:00 am
Mulling on Harry Potter (no spoilers)
I have now seen "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" -- twice! I liked it much better than the other films. I realize that part of this is the intensity of the relationships in the film. As the characters mature, so does my interest.
Harry's special power is not his skill, knowledge or power as a wizard. It is his love, devotion and loyalty -- both to others and from others. It is what saved him as a child, and it is what continues to save him. And it is this trait that makes the series so appealing to me.
I also believe it is what draws my son to the character. Rowan is a deeply loving and loyal friend. He has known his oldest friend for five years -- more than half their lives. (It was fitting that she dressed as Hermione for his party last summer.) His devotion to her is a wonder to me. He loves his friends and family very passionately. Despite being gone from their lives for months at a time, he is always reaching out to his friends here. He makes sure they are invited to his parties, he asks about them and is always eager to reconnect.
It is no surprise then that his absolute favorite stories are the Harry Potter books/movies and the Buffy the Vampire series. Both stories feature magic and adventure. But more importantly, both feature a core group of friends who are are loving and loyal to each other. They are about chosen family. Both stories show that people can make mistakes and be redeemed by their choices and by love. I find them inspiring and, despite the dark themes, have no qualms about my darling son making these relationships his role models.
I have always told Rowan that he is "smart, beautiful and loving." When I ask him which is the most important of these, he gives me that classic Rowan grin and says with deep conviction, "Loving."
Harry's special power is not his skill, knowledge or power as a wizard. It is his love, devotion and loyalty -- both to others and from others. It is what saved him as a child, and it is what continues to save him. And it is this trait that makes the series so appealing to me.
I also believe it is what draws my son to the character. Rowan is a deeply loving and loyal friend. He has known his oldest friend for five years -- more than half their lives. (It was fitting that she dressed as Hermione for his party last summer.) His devotion to her is a wonder to me. He loves his friends and family very passionately. Despite being gone from their lives for months at a time, he is always reaching out to his friends here. He makes sure they are invited to his parties, he asks about them and is always eager to reconnect.
It is no surprise then that his absolute favorite stories are the Harry Potter books/movies and the Buffy the Vampire series. Both stories feature magic and adventure. But more importantly, both feature a core group of friends who are are loving and loyal to each other. They are about chosen family. Both stories show that people can make mistakes and be redeemed by their choices and by love. I find them inspiring and, despite the dark themes, have no qualms about my darling son making these relationships his role models.
I have always told Rowan that he is "smart, beautiful and loving." When I ask him which is the most important of these, he gives me that classic Rowan grin and says with deep conviction, "Loving."
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