"Magic is Might"

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 177085

Wondering about the unifying concept behind DH led me to consider how 
important the concept "Magic is Might" is to the story and series.  

The desire to control via magical power is set up as a pervasive 
problem in the WW from how I understand the story.  The desire is the 
basis for various agendas from Muggle domination, to magical humans 
divided by blood trying to control each other, to humans justifying 
the oppression of magical creatures and finally even the attempt to 
overcome human limitations such as death.  What all have in common is 
the belief that magical power can be a means to some 'better' end, 
one which will redefine a certain boundary present in the WW.

In HBP, Dumbledore and Voldemort present two views of magical power 
with the suggestion that 'the old argument' is one the two of them 
have had before, or perhaps it is a long-standing discussion in the 
WW.  Voldemort represents the pursuit of magical power at all costs 
vs. Dumbledore's balancing of magical power with one's humanity 
(that's how I understand this argument after DH rather than as an 
argument about different branches of magic).

'You call it "greatness", what you have been doing, do you?' asked 
Dumbledore delicately.

'Certainly,' said Voldemort, and his eyes seemed to burn red.  'I 
have experimented; I have pusheed the boundaries of magic further, 
perhaps, than they have ever been pushed -'

'Of some kinds of magic,' Dumbledore corrected him quietly.  'Of 
some.  Of others, you remain ... forgive me... woefully ignorant.' 
[]

'The old argument,' he said softly.  But nothing I have seen in this 
world has supported your famous pronouncements that love is more 
powerful than my kind of magic, Dumbledore.' (chap. 20, p. 415, UK 
ed.)

Interestingly, DH reveals that their opposing beliefs evolved from 
similarities as much as differences.  Dumbledore's description of 
young Riddle as 'highly self-sufficient, secretive and, apparently, 
friendless' in chap. 13 of HBP isn't far off from the description 
Aberforth gives of Albus when he says, "And did he tell you 
everything, was he honest with you? [...] I knew my brother, Potter.  
He learned secrecy at our mother's knee.  Secrets and lies, that's 
how we grew up, and Albus...he was a natural."  Both are described as 
extremely intelligent and magically powerful.

One main difference between them is how Dumbledore's remorse over 
Ariana led him to attempt to limit his power over the years, a 
balancing act that wasn't always successful.  Sometimes his secrecy 
and personal desires interfered with his moral responsibilities.  
He's noted on the chocolate frog card for his 'defeat of the Dark 
Wizard Grindelwald' a defeat that wasn't exactly a noble quest on 
Dumbledore's part to rid the WW of evil as he notes here:  "I delayed 
meeting him until finally, it would have been too shameful to resist 
any longer.  People were dying and he seemed unstoppable, and I had 
to do what I could." (DH, chap. 35, p. 718, Am. ed)

Another area where both Dumbledore and Voldemort sought power was the 
defeat of death, Hallows vs. Horcruxes.  Voldemort latched onto 
pureblood supremacy as the justification for extending Slytherin's 
line indefinitely through his own immortality and proceeded to split 
his soul to that end.  Dumbledore attempted to balance his desire to 
unite the Hallows with the realization he was 'unworthy' to do so, 
only good enough to 'tame' the Elder wand and keep it out of 
another's hand.  Ultimately his own temptation got the best of him 
when discovering the Hallow he desired most, forgetting that the 
Resurrection Stone had ironically been turned into one of Voldemort's 
Horcruxes.  

Considering 'Magic is Might' again and how control and domination is 
only as far as one's wand hand, it seems like the inherent struggle 
of the WW is balancing the use of magical power with the acceptance 
of being human.  At least, this idea explains to me why Harry was the 
person JKR envisioned as a hero for the WW.  His solutions in moments 
of crisis almost always focus on the limits of his own power rather 
than his magical prowess and he instinctively turns to others for 
help rather than attempting to pursue a magical agenda of his own.  
His biggest flaws are connected to his humaness rather than his 
magical ability, times when he lashes out in anger or acts without 
thinking or is reckless in his 'rightness.'  Even his final 
confrontation with Voldemort was mostly Harry talking, no magic until 
he unleashes one last signature 'Expelliarmus,' a move that is a firm 
denial that Magic is Might!

Jen