Mirror of Erised

[houyhnhnm102]

No: HPFGUIDX 154552

Mark:
 
> Do you think the HP books could be considered one of these 
> external things? The HP books themsleves are like the mirror; 
> everyone sees what they want to in them (I think this list 
> proves that) and it's best not to spend all your time reading 
> them. The HP books "give us neither knowledge or truth. Men 
> [and women] have wasted away before [them], entranced by what
> they have [read], or been driven mad, not knowing if what 
> [the books] [say] is real or even possible."

houyhnhnm:

I see the Harry Potter books as being more like a Pensieve.  
Thoughts about RL people and conflicts can be put into the 
Potterverse, examined with greater objectivity and analyzed 
with greater detachment. Then, hopefully, one comes out 
with fresh insight.

Like lately I have been thinking a lot about the 
characteristics of the four Hogwarts houses, their 
strengths and weaknesses, and why they don't get along.  
In the real world (of an urban school)I don't have to 
deal with Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff, 
but I do have to deal with four cliques-Latin, Asian, 
black, and white.  The conflicts between them are very 
similar to what occurs between opposing house members at
Hogwarts. Even the stereotypes that each group has about 
the others are similar.  I don't think it is time wasted at all.