What Harry Potter Has Taught Me

Once in a lifetime, there comes a book, a movie or even a meme, that leaves a lasting impression. But it is not every day that a single book series has created an impact so large, that millions of people resonate with the stories and its learnings even a decade after the stories were released. That is the impact of the Harry Potter series. As someone who grew up with Harry Potter, there are many reasons that I love and adore this phenomenal series by JK Rowling. Whether it is a magical story that covers every front of life, an array of characters who turn into your friends or even the sheer magic that was created in this wizarding world.

This article is not about the general points that make the series so iconic but rather focused on the lessons this series has taught me. Whether you associated with the seven books, the eight movies, or are simply intrigued by the buzz that still surrounds this world of magic, I hope this article helps you to relate or simply understand some reasons that make Harry Potter truly magically.

Warning – This post is filled with spoilers and might be confusing for someone who hasn’t read Harry Potter.

Source: EW

Instills Empathy

Kids novels and books are known to be filled with excitement, fun, adventure and maybe a little emotional drama. However, Harry Potter, for me began with the emotional troubles of a young boy, who has been tormented and never appreciated. The first book, as well as the movie, beautifully captures the difference between living in a house without being loved and finding a family that truly loves and cares for you (even if it is your friends and teachers at school). The movie begins by instilling a deep compassion and empathy for all the characters, that keeps resonating throughout. So much so, that you will find people who are all empathetic towards the lead villain, Voldemort aka Tom Riddle. This series taught me and millions of others to not judge or hate people, but simply try to understand their point of view. (Except Umbridge, EVERYBODY HATES UMBRIDGE).

Depression is Real

Towards the middle of the series, Harry Potter dares to dive into the world of mental health. We have characters like Sirius Black, that appear psychotic, and creatures like dementors, that suck out all the happiness from the world. While JK Rowling confirmed that the dementors were a representation of the looming depression that she suffered from, the books and movies brought out this issue in a unique way that made people more aware. The darkest part of the series, Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix, brought the emotions and the sufferings of those combating mental health issues in a very unique way.

The Young Have Power

Whether it was an 11-year-old Harry fighting Voldemort in the first book or the 17-year-old Harry walking to death, so there would be peace, the Harry Potter series showed that young people have the power to fight against the wrongdoings. While we do not live in a magical world where one dark wizard is forming his army, we do live in a world where dark forces are all coming together. In a time like this, the thought that the young have power, or anyone and everybody have the power to raise their voice and make a difference is something that we need to realise and believe.

The list of everything that Harry Potter has taught me can go on to fill the pages of seven books, but I leave you here. If you want to know more such articles, let us know in the comments below.