Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Essay Example for Free

Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone EssayEver since the depression printing of the first Harry Potter novel, the book series has been under attack from people arguing that the books are intended to initiate children into witchcraft and blasted practices or that they undermine conventional spiritual values. Yes, indeed, there are ghosts and Halloween, and the practice of magic. However, Harry Potter books are no more a threat to the traditional spiritual values of our children than The Wizard of Oz was before them. Harry Potter has not grown up in a normal family, even outside of the wizarding world. The Dursleys do not care for Harry and treat him poorly. They are clearly nominally Christians in Chapter Two, Harrys uncle threatens him with punishment, saying that Harry will be in that cupboard from now until Christmas if he is involved in any funny business (24). There is no evidence, however, that the Dursleys ever practice any particular faith. That neglect of spiritual pra ctice carries through the book, even in the wizarding world. .While no one falls to his or her knees in religious fervor, neither does anyone sacrifice a yes-man to Satan.Rowling has kept her books carefully neutral, but not because she wishes to undermine traditional spiritual values. Rather, it seems that Rowling wishes to appeal to the largest possible audience, without appealing to one spiritual belief over another. Rowling presents Halloween in such a manner that would appeal to the imagination of children, with bats, thronedles in pumpkins, and a feast however, it is also merely a backdrop for the action that brings the Three Musketeers of Harry, Ron, and Hermione together (Rowling 172-179). Later in the book, the characters celebrate Christmas.Christmas, however, is no different from Halloween. The Christmas break serves only to give Harry a quiet moment to wonder the library and to investigate the Mirror of Erised (Rowling 204-209). Once again Rowling is carefully neutra l, describing Christmas only in terms of what would appeal to children. While Rowling focuses primarily on food, gifts, and games, Rons brother George also takes the cartridge holder to tell another brother that he will not be sitting with his fellow prefects, because Christmas is a time for family (203).Rather than glorifying the wizarding world, Rowling chooses to show that the wizarding world is no more appealing than the Muggle world. There are still bullies there Draco Malfoy is just like Harrys cousin, only he is thinner and can ride a broom. Friendship and loyalty and knowledge are all valued there fellowship and fun are as much a part of the school as magic is. Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone is simply a fantasy story about a boy and his friends away at boarding school. The only real magic connected to this book is that it rekindled many childrens interest in reading. Who can unfeignedly argue with that result?