Tara McQuinley
Blog #2
Professor Heller
March 13, 2013
Blog #2
Professor Heller
March 13, 2013
Sirius Heart
Characters
in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series
are continually evolving. The fact alone that the majority of the main
protagonists are teenagers suggests to the story that they will undergo
transformation. The character who changes the most, however, is not one of
Hogwarts’ young students, but middle-aged Sirius Black. Black does not
experience as much personal change perhaps, but he develops much more in the
mind of the reader than any other character.
Sirius Black is introduced in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban as an infamous murderer and the most powerful and loyal follower of the dark wizard Voldemort. From Harry’s point of view the reader learns that Black is Harry’s godfather, he betrayed Harry’s parents and is now after him to finish the job. Later in the novel Sirius, in the form of a black dog, drags Ron by the leg into the Shrieking Shack. All evidence pointed to his guilt until it is revealed that he was framed. Onward through the series Black becomes an adult presence in Harry’s life which he has been missing; someone he can go to for counsel and advice. Sirius is Harry’s only family. Just as Harry begins to trust in this bond the reader begins to see the flaws in Black’s character.
During a conversation over the fire between Sirius and Harry, Black asks if he can join Harry in Hogsmeade for the weekend in disguise. Harry adamantly refuses the offer to which Black responds “You’re less like your father than I thought,” he said finally, a definite coolness in his voice. “The risk would have been what made it fun for James” (Rowling, 305). It is now evident to the reader that Black is living vicariously through Harry and clinging to the notion of his youth. Harry is always so compared to his father, and Sirius begins to mistake him for his best friend rather than his god-son.
Finally, in the Order of the Phoenix Harry is tricked into coming to the Ministry of Magic to save Sirius, who he believes is being tortured there. After Harry falls into the trap Sirius, among other members of the Order of the Phoenix arrive and duel against Voldemort’s Death Eaters which ultimately leads to Sirius’ death. Rowling uses this fatality to illustrate that Harry cannot always count on people just because they are adults or because they are family. Mainly Rowling uses this death to show that Harry’s greatest strength and greatest weakness go hand in hand, his capacity to love. Dumbledore explains to Harry that it is the one thing that separates him from Voldemort. Harry’s heart is his greatest power.
Sirius Black is introduced in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban as an infamous murderer and the most powerful and loyal follower of the dark wizard Voldemort. From Harry’s point of view the reader learns that Black is Harry’s godfather, he betrayed Harry’s parents and is now after him to finish the job. Later in the novel Sirius, in the form of a black dog, drags Ron by the leg into the Shrieking Shack. All evidence pointed to his guilt until it is revealed that he was framed. Onward through the series Black becomes an adult presence in Harry’s life which he has been missing; someone he can go to for counsel and advice. Sirius is Harry’s only family. Just as Harry begins to trust in this bond the reader begins to see the flaws in Black’s character.
During a conversation over the fire between Sirius and Harry, Black asks if he can join Harry in Hogsmeade for the weekend in disguise. Harry adamantly refuses the offer to which Black responds “You’re less like your father than I thought,” he said finally, a definite coolness in his voice. “The risk would have been what made it fun for James” (Rowling, 305). It is now evident to the reader that Black is living vicariously through Harry and clinging to the notion of his youth. Harry is always so compared to his father, and Sirius begins to mistake him for his best friend rather than his god-son.
Finally, in the Order of the Phoenix Harry is tricked into coming to the Ministry of Magic to save Sirius, who he believes is being tortured there. After Harry falls into the trap Sirius, among other members of the Order of the Phoenix arrive and duel against Voldemort’s Death Eaters which ultimately leads to Sirius’ death. Rowling uses this fatality to illustrate that Harry cannot always count on people just because they are adults or because they are family. Mainly Rowling uses this death to show that Harry’s greatest strength and greatest weakness go hand in hand, his capacity to love. Dumbledore explains to Harry that it is the one thing that separates him from Voldemort. Harry’s heart is his greatest power.
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