Theme of Love and death
Love
Love plays a crucial role in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," as well as all of the remaining books in the series. Rowling demonstrates the power of love from the very beginning of the narrative by explaining that Harry's ability to survive Voldemort's killing curse is a direct result of his mother's love. By sacrificing her own life to save that of her son, Lily Potter gave Harry an magical form of protection that shielded him from Voldemort's curse and nearly destroyed the dark wizard. As Professor Dumbledore asserts, Voldemort is incapable of understanding love, particularly in comparison to the strength of his own dark power, and so he was taken entirely by surprise when it came to Lily's sacrifice.
Death
Near the end of the book, Professor Dumbledore tells Harry, "Death is but the next great adventure." Rowling does not describe death as something to be feared or dreaded, but rather a part of the natural cycle of life that should be embraced as part of an individual's humanity. Death can also be viewed as something beautiful. For example, by sacrificing her own life for Harry, Lily Potter gave him the wondrous protection of her love and a chance at a life free from Voldemort's tyranny. Her death also provided Harry with purpose in his life and the determination to stop Voldemort from harming other innocent people.
Although none of the main characters die over the course of the book, Rowling still makes a clear distinction between the natural process of death and Voldemort's warped attempts to "defeat" it and attain immortality. After his failed attempt to kill Harry, Voldemort spent the next ten years existing only as "shadow and vapor," neither dead nor alive. Voldemort acheives a twisted form of immortality, but his refusal to accept the natural order of life and death demonstrates his evil nature and further distinguishes him from the pure-hearted Harry.
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Resource:
https://www.gradesaver.com/harry-potter-and-the-philosophers-stone/study-guide/themes
Love
Love plays a crucial role in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," as well as all of the remaining books in the series. Rowling demonstrates the power of love from the very beginning of the narrative by explaining that Harry's ability to survive Voldemort's killing curse is a direct result of his mother's love. By sacrificing her own life to save that of her son, Lily Potter gave Harry an magical form of protection that shielded him from Voldemort's curse and nearly destroyed the dark wizard. As Professor Dumbledore asserts, Voldemort is incapable of understanding love, particularly in comparison to the strength of his own dark power, and so he was taken entirely by surprise when it came to Lily's sacrifice.
Death
Near the end of the book, Professor Dumbledore tells Harry, "Death is but the next great adventure." Rowling does not describe death as something to be feared or dreaded, but rather a part of the natural cycle of life that should be embraced as part of an individual's humanity. Death can also be viewed as something beautiful. For example, by sacrificing her own life for Harry, Lily Potter gave him the wondrous protection of her love and a chance at a life free from Voldemort's tyranny. Her death also provided Harry with purpose in his life and the determination to stop Voldemort from harming other innocent people.
Although none of the main characters die over the course of the book, Rowling still makes a clear distinction between the natural process of death and Voldemort's warped attempts to "defeat" it and attain immortality. After his failed attempt to kill Harry, Voldemort spent the next ten years existing only as "shadow and vapor," neither dead nor alive. Voldemort acheives a twisted form of immortality, but his refusal to accept the natural order of life and death demonstrates his evil nature and further distinguishes him from the pure-hearted Harry.
Go to main blog
Resource:
https://www.gradesaver.com/harry-potter-and-the-philosophers-stone/study-guide/themes
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