Spiritual Education

            Spiritual education is a part of some fantasy novels, of course usually attached to withes, wizards and magicians. Taking a close look at the most popular of these is Harry Potter and how the books are really about growing up and figuring out your place in the world. J.K. Rowling did this really well be spanning out Harry’s story over eight books, and each book basically enveloping a year in Harry’s life. We go through his innocence of childhood, his angst and angry puberty and his acceptance of what he must do as he enters adulthood. Rowling’s writing also matured with each book, knowing her audience was also growing as each book came out. This allowed readers like me when I was younger to feel the same situation Harry was in and not even notice the slight changes in tone or writing due to being in that same state. Now going back to the books is more nostalgic, knowing of course what happens in the story, but for also having a more adult point of view. It’s like looking back to when you were in middle school or high school and seeing your mistakes and your accomplishments and getting a better picture of what really happened. And of course some of the embarrassment.  But in re-reading The Sorcerer’s Stone I see why Dumbledore kept so many secrets for so long. Yes it was in a way to protect Harry because he wasn’t mature enough, but it was also I think a sense of denial that this boy would one day have to die. With this in mind, if you follow the rest of the story, you begin to realize that Dumbledore was really helping Harry prepare for his death and that Dumbledore was trying to make sure Harry had a rich life, before the shit hit the fan.

            So yeah, the Harry Potter series is awesome and will always change with every age you read it, that’s its magic.