What are some adult themes discussed in the Harry Potter book series?
I have been one of those quintessential Harry potter fans right from my teenage years! (Also, who is not?!). Like it is to many people, it has been one of those books that I read multiple times. As I keep reading it as a grown-up, I can’t help but wonder how it had many deep underlying motifs. Though highly touted as a teen fantasy novel. It does explore some very dark themes. Here are my thoughts on that:
The books have constantly addressed death beginning right with the brutal killing of Harry’s parents. This was followed across books by deaths of Sirius Black, Dobby, Fred Weasley, Lupin and Tonks (and many more in the Hogwarts battle). The central character has tussled with death and even vanquishes it in the end by willingly walking towards death in the end.
The books also constantly focus on fear. Voldemort has instilled so much fear in the magical community that people flinch calling his name (the very notorious” You-know-who”). Though he might be very powerful with his impeccable magical abilities and his powerful allies. He still could have been defeated if only more people believed that they could defy him. This also interplays with how magic people feared death as much as we mere muggles do.
It’s also not surprising that the antagonist is so unbeatable owing to the fact that he defeated some part of death though for a bigger cost (Horcruxes). Though one might imply that if people can perform magic then they could be immortal. The author ingeniously ensures that “killing curse (avadaka devara)” could not be survived with any other counter-curse (apart from the “charms” magic Lily potter does by sacrificing herself to death). Thereby creating a plethora of emotions that emerges from the futility of life (Isn’t Death the biggest fear we all have?).
The book also has broad strokes of themes like discrimination, racism where werewolves, giants and muggle-born are prejudiced by old magical families. This resonates so much with the muggle-world. The description of sad state of elves elucidates the oppressive slave culture.
On a happier note friendship, loyalty and bravery have been the vital themes that the three central characters stick to. Though it was a bit trying at times to see how Harry being the “hero” and saving Malfoy and his friends a few times though they have been cursing to kill. It drives point home on how one should stand up for the good side no matter how difficult it is and how worse the bad side can get.
There are other themes like loneliness which being an orphan Harry constantly faces, unworthiness and comparison that Ron struggles with, jealousy and hatred that Malfoy develops for Harry. There is a certain melancholic tone to characters like Snape, Lupin and Dumbledore. They constantly battle scars from their painful pasts and mostly live with guilt and shame. I just cannot stop appreciating how every character had an arch. And how layered most of them are fleshed out which makes them more relatable though set in a magical fantasy world. Snape and Pettigrew’s redemption, Neville’s slow and steady transformation from a coward to a fearless fighter. Also, on a side note just love how the Weasley twins kept tickling our funny bones with their wry British humor.
So, if you have lived under the rock and somehow missed to read the book in your teens. You could still pick it up and enjoy it as much if not more as you would have enjoyed as a teen. There is so much more to take away than just the fantasy part of this.
