Written by: Kimberly Gonong
The time many have feared in the Wizarding World has come. “The Brockdale Bridge… the Bones and Vance murders… not to mention the ruckus in the West Country…” only mark the beginning of this dark era. The penultimate novel of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, dives into the aftermaths of the “disturbance at the Ministry”, which resulted in devastation and death. The characters deal with Harry Potter owning up to his title as ‘The Chosen One’ and what this entails.
Revelations of the past and present surface, as readers discover the history and vulnerabilities of Voldemort, as investigated by Dumbledore and Harry, the secrets and duties of Severus Snape and Draco Malfoy, and the truths behind Dumbledore’s demise. In the midst of all this darkness, the book highlights camaraderie, friendship, love, and courage in the characters that have touched readers for more than a decade.
The Harry Potter books and films have been around for quite some time, gaining success in the late 1990s onwards. An iconic story of a young wizard’s entrance and impact on the world of magic is re-lived through these media. These allow audiences of all ages to discover the ways in which it resonates with themselves and the world. Though, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince specifically introduces new depths when it comes to understanding and illustrating real challenges, relationships, and stages of life.
The book starts strong with talk on politics. The first chapter revolves around the interaction between the Muggle (non-magic folk) Prime Minister and the Minister of Magic as they experience common worsened conditions and damages to their people and communities. This weight of social responsibility is heavy on their backs. Yet, one cannot help but see this burden on the politicians of today. Political figures begin to step up in order to handle these events as well. Some of them may even be put in position for their strength and straightforwardness to deal with such challenges, much like Rufus Scrimgeour, the newly elected Minister of Magic. Still, the book allows readers to understand the world not only through a broad, societal lens but also on a micro-level.
Complexities that make up a human person translate to one of the major themes of the book, which is being challenged by morality and vulnerability. Characters, such as Severus Snape and Draco Malfoy face the choice between good and evil while being influenced to join forces with only one side. Although the novel’s readers do not deal with magic the way these characters do, they ultimately share experiences in exploring their own morality. The book teaches that people are not entirely good or evil. Humans are multifaceted and learn to make decisions based on their experiences and own beliefs. Using the characters to express this, the novel reveals a hidden truth of humanity that prevails through time. The novel then continues its accurate representation of individuals as young characters explore their social lives..
The Harry Potter series mainly focuses on the youth. Though, it is in the Half-Blood Prince that readers go through adolescence with characters such as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger. They find their placement in social groups, such as the Slug Club, and in relationships with their peers. Some encounter struggles in dealing with these connections, with contrasting head and heart. Most importantly, the characters always fight as a team and confide in each other. As it seems, this is evident in the real world as well. Support systems consisting of family and friends will remain strong just as much as deep bonds and connections between people. These may serve as reminders to focus on the good in life to recognize beauty in the world and build resilience, while battling hardships, with one’s surrounding community.
Communicating themes on power, humanity, love, and friendship allows readers to enjoy the story. Most importantly, they reveal truths that others may overlook. The Half-Blood Prince as a piece of literature then humanizes its characters and grounds its audiences. This book truly is a timeless piece and holds its value with continuity. Past audiences of the Harry Potter series now pass down their wizarding knowledge to the younger generations, resulting in the education of children through fiction. Knowing this, the magic and depth of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, with the rest of the book series, will surely live on and manifest in people and the world.
