The Fundamental Message of the HP books? (was Re: Appeal of the story ...)

[teddyb142002]

No: HPFGUIDX 175935

I have been following the discussions about the message of the Harry
Potter series from a distance, but I have decided to chime in...

I feel no need to defend JKR's book or message or be disappointed in
them.  Is revenge part of the book? Yes.  Many of the characters get
revenge in Book seven.  The reasons for revenge range a wide spectrum
and trying to blanket them in a revenge is not a positive message
cloak totally undercuts the complexity of the plot and characters.  I
think what JKR was trying to get at is that there are no easy answers
and draw your own conclusions.

What struck me about the book was how much pain, suffering, and
sacrifice one man's evil could cause.  Yet it seems there are examples
all over the world of how the evil intentions of a few can cause so
much suffering to the masses of people who are, at their best, good
and just, and at their worst, just trying to get by.  What's so
uplifting about that you say?

The second thing that struck me about the books was the courage that
many of the characters showed even when facing the worst.  Neville
telling Harry that they would continue to fight when Harry was walking
into the Forbidden Forest, and doing just that thinking that Harry was
dead in front of him, for example.  What made them do that?  Their
love of each other and ability to trust that even in death love was
the truest path.

It is easy to sit up on a moral pedestal and judge those who are
fighting, their methods, and their motivations.  It is necessary to
debate all of these things.  Challenging morals are what helps
cultures and societies refrain from sinking into blood thirsty chaos,
but those who judge should walk a mile in their shoes as the saying goes.

It takes courage to fight.  Many of those who fight make the ultimate
sacrifice.  All of those who fight give something of themselves to the
battle.  Ask the war veterans who have nightmares 60 years after their
 encounters if they have sacrificed.  Many of them have given part of
their soul to make better world.  Their courage should be celebrated,
not disparaged.

That's my take on what the message of the books is.

Ted- Longtime fan of Harry Potter and quite satisfied with the message
of the series