So much for style. The fantasy itself is at once typical and innovative. It is typical in the connections between this world and the other (brick walls not really there, etc.), the interesting and powerful characters introducing the young hero to the world, nobody in the real world believing in the magic (it's either a "load of rubbish" or else "wrong"), the wise old wizard, goblins, dragons, trolls, magic, mirrors, castles, and wands. But just because these are typical does not mean they are humdrum or predictable. Rowling gives them a freshness and a reality that brings us along with very little if any hesitation or suspicion. In fact, this brings us to one of her innovations, which is in what one might call the parallel development of the two worlds. The whole "other", magical, world works in much the same way as ours does. Magic is a technological tool, like electricity in our world. There is a hierarchical socioeconomic system, infrastructure, attitudes, preconceptions, small talk, all of which lend a sort of familiarity, a comfortably disarming aspect to the world. In this sense, then, the fantasy could be labeled "shallow". It is the reader who must bring the mystery, for the world seems like a "normal" world, just as mundane as ours to those who live there. This is good in that it is safe (for the reader), friendly, and aids in our suspension of disbelief. It can also be hilarious or cute at times. In fact, the matter-of-factness of the magic is perhaps the chief draw of the fantasy aspect of Rowling's book. But what you do not get from this book is a sense of higher mystery, what one might call "deep" fantasy. The fantasy world is "same thing only different". The numinous, or the mysterious, is minimized. The three-headed dog is called "Fluffy", for example. You can have comfy or numinous, cute or awesome, shallow or deep fantasy. I intend this entirely as an observation rather than a criticism, however, as we can use both kinds of fantasy. It is probably impossible to achieve both at once. Rowling is in great literary company with her choice, with Lewis Carroll leading the way. And, what is most important, is that we are swept away by her book, however we label it.
A sure sign that a reader is suckered by a plot is that he is willing to pick bones with it. As far as I am concerned, McGonagall's punishment of 150 points to Harry's house was simply unfair. Period. Malfoy should have gotten a greater punishment. And the headmistress was inconsistent—if punishment was so severe for breaking the school rules regardless of the reason, why were they rewarded at the end for breaking the #1 school rule (don't go through the door where Fluffy is)? Granted, in the first case the headmistress didn't know what they were doing, whereas in the second case they saved the world. But, in the first case they failed and were caught and punished, whereas in the second case they succeeded and so were allowed to get away with it, as in ancient Sparta. Is this a wizard’s conception of wisdom? Another curious aspect of the book is the fact that teachers had set up the obstacles of wizardry that must be navigated in order for the ever-powerful and dangerous Philosopher's Stone to be apprehended. Yet children, even first-years, could outwit them relatively easily. Getting to the Stone was like a fun game, with only Dumbledore's protective spell being a sensible one if the object was seriously to ward off intruders. This is perhaps an example of how making everything cute and funny may have injured the plot. But then again, in picking this book apart too much there is a real danger that we are missing the point, which is just to have fun.
Now, is the book immoral? Oscar Wilde would have had a conniption at this question. I’m tempted chuckle a little at it. Nevertheless, the matter has caused controversy, perhaps mostly because the book is so popular with children, and because the influence of witchcraft and the occult are feared by many parents. One must admit that, because of the sheer charisma of the work together with its subject matter, it will probably encourage kids to peek into the section of the bookstore where dust jackets are black and the titles in red or gold mystery-affirming fonts. Witchcraft in this book is portrayed as fun, cool, OK, and harmless unless the user is really a bad seed. In fact, who wants to be an anti-magic "Muggle"?! Also provocative is the fact that the term "witchcraft" is used rather than the more generic "magic". Its portrayal as harmless in itself, and even sometimes absurd (broomsticks, etc.) helps in a way, but also could mislead. The cute and funny nature of the book together with its use of witchcraft could be an unfortunate combination, making the occult look fun and friendly. However, I would hesitate to warn parents off of this book. Literature is by its very nature a dangerous thing, since it causes people to think, regardless of their ages. My sympathy with parents' worries is counterbalanced (if not outweighed) by the multitude of good lessons in the book (take, for instance, the ingenious and philosophically interesting revelation in chapter 17 that love is a talisman against evil), as well as reminiscences of my own childhood library, in which there were not a few books with questionable content for children. Think of Lewis Carroll, with that caterpillar sucking on a hookah. In fact, with respect to the occult and other fantasy, think of Hallowe'en. If Rowling is dangerous, such things must be dangerous as well. I suspect that a young reader will have to be intelligent to appreciate the book in the first place, and such intelligence will go quite far in distinguishing the real world from fantasy. In any case, a child should also have parents who will instill wisdom. And most importantly, no well-balanced kid will become a thoroughgoing Potterhead for long-- other books should be around the house too!
This book was renamed Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone for the American market; presumably all of the references to the stone were changed throughout the text as well. It is a strange modification, since the object that was the supreme end of alchemy, and therefore the object in this novel, has always been called the philosopher's stone. My conjecture as to why the powers that be decided to modify the work for our readers is perhaps pessimistic: I think the publishers figured that the word "philosopher" in the title would steer away sensational American readers, whereas "sorcerer" would draw them. The mislabeling of the object wouldn't matter a bit, since most Americans would not have paid attention to their medieval history lessons, if indeed kids here are still taught such antiquated things. Whether all of this is an indictment of America, of publishers, or just myself, I'll leave for someone else to decide.
So much for style. The fantasy itself is at once typical and innovative. It is typical in the connections between this world and the other (brick walls not really there, etc.), the interesting and powerful characters introducing the young hero to the world, nobody in the real world believing in the magic (it's either a "load of rubbish" or else "wrong"), the wise old wizard, goblins, dragons, trolls, magic, mirrors, castles, and wands. But just because these are typical does not mean they are humdrum or predictable. Rowling gives them a freshness and a reality that brings us along with very little if any hesitation or suspicion. In fact, this brings us to one of her innovations, which is in what one might call the parallel development of the two worlds. The whole "other", magical, world works in much the same way as ours does. Magic is a technological tool, like electricity in our world. There is a hierarchical socioeconomic system, infrastructure, attitudes, preconceptions, small talk, all of which lend a sort of familiarity, a comfortably disarming aspect to the world. In this sense, then, the fantasy could be labeled "shallow". It is the reader who must bring the mystery, for the world seems like a "normal" world, just as mundane as ours to those who live there. This is good in that it is safe (for the reader), friendly, and aids in our suspension of disbelief. It can also be hilarious or cute at times. In fact, the matter-of-factness of the magic is perhaps the chief draw of the fantasy aspect of Rowling's book. But what you do not get from this book is a sense of higher mystery, what one might call "deep" fantasy. The fantasy world is "same thing only different". The numinous, or the mysterious, is minimized. The three-headed dog is called "Fluffy", for example. You can have comfy or numinous, cute or awesome, shallow or deep fantasy. I intend this entirely as an observation rather than a criticism, however, as we can use both kinds of fantasy. It is probably impossible to achieve both at once. Rowling is in great literary company with her choice, with Lewis Carroll leading the way. And, what is most important, is that we are swept away by her book, however we label it.
A sure sign that a reader is suckered by a plot is that he is willing to pick bones with it. As far as I am concerned, McGonagall's punishment of 150 points to Harry's house was simply unfair. Period. Malfoy should have gotten a greater punishment. And the headmistress was inconsistent—if punishment was so severe for breaking the school rules regardless of the reason, why were they rewarded at the end for breaking the #1 school rule (don't go through the door where Fluffy is)? Granted, in the first case the headmistress didn't know what they were doing, whereas in the second case they saved the world. But, in the first case they failed and were caught and punished, whereas in the second case they succeeded and so were allowed to get away with it, as in ancient Sparta. Is this a wizard’s conception of wisdom? Another curious aspect of the book is the fact that teachers had set up the obstacles of wizardry that must be navigated in order for the ever-powerful and dangerous Philosopher's Stone to be apprehended. Yet children, even first-years, could outwit them relatively easily. Getting to the Stone was like a fun game, with only Dumbledore's protective spell being a sensible one if the object was seriously to ward off intruders. This is perhaps an example of how making everything cute and funny may have injured the plot. But then again, in picking this book apart too much there is a real danger that we are missing the point, which is just to have fun.
Now, is the book immoral? Oscar Wilde would have had a conniption at this question. I’m tempted chuckle a little at it. Nevertheless, the matter has caused controversy, perhaps mostly because the book is so popular with children, and because the influence of witchcraft and the occult are feared by many parents. One must admit that, because of the sheer charisma of the work together with its subject matter, it will probably encourage kids to peek into the section of the bookstore where dust jackets are black and the titles in red or gold mystery-affirming fonts. Witchcraft in this book is portrayed as fun, cool, OK, and harmless unless the user is really a bad seed. In fact, who wants to be an anti-magic "Muggle"?! Also provocative is the fact that the term "witchcraft" is used rather than the more generic "magic". Its portrayal as harmless in itself, and even sometimes absurd (broomsticks, etc.) helps in a way, but also could mislead. The cute and funny nature of the book together with its use of witchcraft could be an unfortunate combination, making the occult look fun and friendly. However, I would hesitate to warn parents off of this book. Literature is by its very nature a dangerous thing, since it causes people to think, regardless of their ages. My sympathy with parents' worries is counterbalanced (if not outweighed) by the multitude of good lessons in the book (take, for instance, the ingenious and philosophically interesting revelation in chapter 17 that love is a talisman against evil), as well as reminiscences of my own childhood library, in which there were not a few books with questionable content for children. Think of Lewis Carroll, with that caterpillar sucking on a hookah. In fact, with respect to the occult and other fantasy, think of Hallowe'en. If Rowling is dangerous, such things must be dangerous as well. I suspect that a young reader will have to be intelligent to appreciate the book in the first place, and such intelligence will go quite far in distinguishing the real world from fantasy. In any case, a child should also have parents who will instill wisdom. And most importantly, no well-balanced kid will become a thoroughgoing Potterhead for long-- other books should be around the house too!
This book was renamed Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone for the American market; presumably all of the references to the stone were changed throughout the text as well. It is a strange modification, since the object that was the supreme end of alchemy, and therefore the object in this novel, has always been called the philosopher's stone. My conjecture as to why the powers that be decided to modify the work for our readers is perhaps pessimistic: I think the publishers figured that the word "philosopher" in the title would steer away sensational American readers, whereas "sorcerer" would draw them. The mislabeling of the object wouldn't matter a bit, since most Americans would not have paid attention to their medieval history lessons, if indeed kids here are still taught such antiquated things. Whether all of this is an indictment of America, of publishers, or just myself, I'll leave for someone else to decide.
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