The power of magic

[Amy Z]

No: HPFGUIDX 55655

Mac wrote (Welcome, Mac!):  

> What, in Rowling's universe, qualifies a wizard to be powerful?
> 
> In most fantasy novels, a wizard's power tends to be a function of 
> their ability to weild powerful spells.  That is, the more powerful 
> the wizard, the higher the "calibre" of the the ammunition s/he 
> uses.  Yet in Rowling's universe, the entire gammut of spells seems 
> to be available to anyone, its just a matter of saying a couple of 
> words.  So if Dumbledore or Voldemort are the most powerful wizards 
> of their time, what makes them so - more than, say, Hermione, with 
> her focused intelligence and considerable drive?

I think Hermione may well become as powerful as Dumbledore and 
Voldemort in time.

It isn't just a matter of saying a couple of words, or else the kids 
could just memorize vocabulary lists and they'd be able to do all 
those advanced things like make their nose hair grow into ringlets.  
Hermione *does* learn things out of books ("Alohomora!"), but it 
takes work beyond learning the words, and I think it takes more than 
what we might call "natural ability" as well.  Hermione's a natural; 
so, it seems, is Harry, at least at some kinds of magic.  But it's 
more than that, and more than the swishing and flicking they learn in 
class as well.

Elements like concentration, intention, a certain emotional state, 
and even a certain moral orientation all seem to play into it.  E.g., 
you can't just say "Riddikulus" in a firm voice and make a Boggart go 
away.  You have to have your mind fixed on something amusing in the 
midst of terror, and that basically means you have to conquer your 
own fear.

Making magic also expends energy, which crops up in other fantasy 
works, but I agree with Terry Pratchett (who parodies the concept) 
that it is not a simple equation:  Lumos takes 100 kcal, conjuring a 
Patronus takes 10,000 kcal, that kind of thing.  

I look for moral and psychological depth in a book, so the way magic 
grows out of these qualities in HP is very compelling to me.  I hope 
we see a lot more of this.

I'm curious what you (Mac) think.

Amy Z