G.O.F. Make-Up Blog: Trishia Mudd

Rowling uses memory in various ways throughout the series, particularly in Goblet of Fire. We discover the Pensieve, a magical object used primarily to store old memories for safe keeping.
Using this Pensieve, Harry learns of the Lestranges' and Barty Crouch Jr.'s involvement in Voldemort's army, known as the "Death Eaters." He also discovers Snape's former alliance with Voldemort before he turned spy for the good side. Lastly, we see memory in the graveyard when Harry and Voldemort's wands meet, causing Voldemort's wand to repeat the last spells he cast before he vanished, also known as Priori Incantatem. This connection causes the forms of the Riddle's old caretaker Frank Bryce, Cedric Diggory, Bertha Jorkins, and finally, Lily and James Potter to reappear.
I think Rowling strategically employs memory to remind her characters that we must use the past to learn and guide our future, but to dwell on the past is dangerous. Harry is constantly reminded of his past not only from his scar but also from others, who stare at him. Now that Voldemort is back and his scar is frequently hurting, that past is much more present. I think Rowling also wanted to emphasize the importance of varying perspectives of a memory. We see Dumbledore's perspective of the memory in the Pensieve where Karkaroff gives insight information. However, Alastor Moody has a much different interpretation of that memory than Dumbledore, which we see through his frequent snide remarks. Memory is an important theme in Harry Potter, particularly Goblet of Fire, because it preserves one's past and can either enhance or demise one's future.

Goblet of Fire Make Up Post: Kelsey Kennedy

Rowling uses memory as a reoccurring theme in the Harry Potter series, especially in Goblet of Fire. The fourth installment in the series is definitely more darker. This is the book where Voldemort comes back. Harry feels that he is contributing to the rise of his nemesis. By feeling the occasional pain in his scar, it gives Harry and the reader a sense of ominous foreboding.

When we discover Dumbledore’s pensieve, we realize that it is a source for keeping memories. This is essential to the plotline because it shows how essential memories can be to the wizarding world. In our world – the muggle world – we succumb to our old age and lose our memories. Whether that loss of memory is through diseases like Alzheimer’s or not. As non-wizards, we don’t have room to store our lost memories. So we phase them out, letting new experiences penetrate our minds. When Harry and Voldemort’s wands meet, not only do the recognize each other as the same, but they remember each other. This creates a magical phenomenon, and Harry’s wand overtakes Voldemort’s.

The pensieve is so significant because it gives Dumbledore the opportunity to store his memories for safe keeping.

Dumbledore chose to deposit his memory of the sentencing of Barty Crouch Jr. into the pensieve. I believe Dumbledore finds it necessary to “have it on file” but not let the memory bother him all the time. Perhaps this is why Dumbledore seems to be the constant optimist in the first four books of the series. 

Memories are not only responsible for reminding us of the good in the world, but reminding us of the bad. Bad memories are essential to growth - so we can choose to learn from them. 

The Things We Lose Have a Way of Coming Back to Us in The End (Missed Quiz Blog)

 

In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban we are introduced once again to two characters that are, at least initially, polar opposites. Professor Remus Lupin, the new mysterious Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and the mass murderer Sirius Black, evolve into a new extended family for Harry Potter. While both Lupin and Sirius become a link to Harry’s dad, they assume different roles in Harry’s life.

Professor Lupin is kind towards Harry and develops into a strong father figure and protector and gains Harry’s trust. Lupin attempts to protect Harry not only from the dementors and Sirius Black, but from Harry himself as well.  It is plausible that Lupin recognized Harry’s father’s, somewhat reckless, personality in Harry and realized that once Harry knew the truth he would likely go after Black himself. Lupin is comforting and understanding of Harry’s feelings but is careful not to cross the boundary between student and teacher. He confiscates the Marauder’s Map from Harry, in order to keep him in the castle and out of danger, and berates Harry for being careless. But rather than constantly lecturing Harry to stay out of trouble, Lupin takes him under his wing and guides and prepares him to defend himself against the dementors by teaching him the Patronus charm. Much as a father would do, Lupin tells Harry what he is supposed to do but then prepares him in the likely event that he does not heed the advice and needs to protect himself.

Sirius Black, throughout most of the book, is a deranged mass murderer who escaped the wizard prison, Azkaban, in order to hunt down and kill Harry Potter. Harry initially seems to take this in stride as if it was really no surprise to him that yet another person he did not know wanted to kill him. When Harry discovers that Sirius was his father’s best friend and betrayed his parents to Lord Voldemort leading to their deaths, Harry becomes enraged and seeks revenge. Upon learning the truth, that Sirius was not responsible for his parent’s death, and was in fact Harry’s godfather, Sirius morphed from a threat to Harry into a glistening ray of hope. From this new understanding Sirius Black quickly becomes Harry’s new family. The pair rashly makes plans to live together and Harry finally has a real family and a reason not to have to return to the Dursley’s.

Both Professor Lupin and Sirius Black represent a link to Harry’s father, James Potter. This not only gives Harry a chance to learn more about his father, but also gives Remus Lupin and Sirius Black a part of their best friend back. Both men continually remind Harry just how much like his father he really is. Their pride in James Potter, now projected onto his son, is comforting to Harry. Through his father’s two best friends, Harry finally has a part of his father returned to him.

 

 

#1 Great Expectations

I have read each Harry Potter book countless times. The first time I remember my mom reading Sorcerer’s Stone to my younger brother and me. As a child, Severus Snape was possibly the scariest villain I had ever encountered. All along my little brother and I swore he was the bad guy. This is probably the most typical of expectations associated with the first harry potter novel. However it is interesting to think how the story would be different if our expectations had been correct. The story wouldn’t be as memorable or as thrilling. The beauty of these stories is that they always keep you guessing and constantly changing your expectations for the characters as well as the plot. If Rowling had ended Sorcerer’s Stone with Snape walking in trying to steal the stone where would the mystery be in that, it was exactly what every 9 year old had expected?! I think it is vital to Rowling’s novels for her to raise expectations and then fail to fulfill them. The vitality comes from the fact that by doing this she can keep the story going. We were given the idea that Snape was a bad guy but he ended up not being the bad guy, so why were we given the negative impression of him in the first place, what was Rowling’s ulterior motive? This questioning leads to more stories and more character development, Rowling is always opening new doors, many of which she does not close until the end of the series.