One theme that resonated with me the most is the theme of choice. We watch as Harry Potter grows, and bear witness to the hardships he faces and his struggles to make the right choices in difficult circumstances. He is remarkably similar to Voldemort, frightfully so, yet despite everything, Harry does not let the hardships of his life consume him as it did Voldemort.
Nothing is set in stone in the series. Real prophecies exist in Harry Potter universe, with Trelawney making two of these which are just a few of many, but it is clear that they are not binding. When hearing of the prophecy, Voldemort chose to take it seriously and go after Harry, despite there being one more possibility of The Boy Who Lived.
Harry knows that he is a good fit for Slytherin, as the Sorting Hat tells him so, but instead, he chose to become a Gryffindor, like his parents. I like the theory that only people who ask or “choose” to be sorted into Gryffindor actually become the house’s students. And that sets in motion the events of the whole series. Just think about how the story would go if Harry did not choose Gryffindor?
“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”
What theme in the series resonates the most with you?
