Term Paper on "Transmedia Characters"

Term Paper 4 pages (1322 words) Sources: 2

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Explication

Quote 2 Rowling

"To the well organized mind, death is but the next great adventure," and so death is not to be feared, but rather accepted as a natural part of life (Rowling 297). The last chapter of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone really nails down a very existential theme, one which allows the text to allude to prior literary works but also to remain relevant enough to be able to transcend into a cinematic context. Here, Harry is exposed through Dumbledore's wise words to the concept that death is not the end of a journey, but rather the beginning of a whole new journey.

All mortals will eventually die. That is, in fact, what constitutes the definition of a mortal in the first place. This quote comes from Dumbledore to explain to the agitated Harry as he rests in the hospital the reason for destroying the sorcerer's stone. Dumbledore's partner, Nicolas Flamel, had previously sought the stone in order to achieve ever lasting life, and to avoid the impending death that was to come. However, the stone clearly became a danger to others, as Voldemort, Harry's nemesis, sought it as well to return to his former state and undoubtedly cause mayhem and distress for all parties involved. As such, Dumbledore and Flamel make the wise decision to destroy the stone, even if that means Flamel will die with it. Harry does not understand this decision at first, as he does not want Flamel to die. Dumbledore tries to explain to Harry that death is just a natural part of life itself, and that pursuing such a selfish aim at the expense of other's safety would constitute as a more unorganized strategy, similar to Voldemort's attempts to remain alive -- which are ultimately thwarted at the end of the first novel in the iconic series. Essentially, this means an ultimate death sentence for Flamel; yet, he is seen as having a more organized approach, and thus will be able to enter in to the next journey that is death. See, death is not something a good, honest individual should fear. Rather it is feared by those who are selfish, evil, and to those who refuse to accept the truth of their mortality. For them, death is a horror. Yet, for those who have lived a good life, it is just another journey along the road. Dumbledore is trying to reassure Harry that Flamel made the right decision and that he is not to be worried about because the rational nature of his decisions in life will lead him to have great adventures in death. This is starkly contrasted with the irrational image of Voldemort who holds such a grudge against Harry and the obsession with returning to life in his former glory. As Flamel accepts his own mortality in a healthy and rational manner, he is saved from the fate that befell Voldemort, to never be able to rest and to obsess to the point of insanity.

Death is a major theme throughout British literature, but becomes a positive image here in the closing chapter of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Dumbledore tells Harry this after Harry has been saved from a dangerous battle he faced with Voldemort, the man who killed his parents, and who himself is a strange state in afterlife. The idea here is that death is a natural part of who we are as mortals. The whole novel is obsessed with the stone that is supposed to bring immortal life; however, this is clearly a breach of the natural order of things. Rowling brings in the image of a rational mind, a real individual who's intelligence was preserved, not through immortality, but rather through literature -- Nicolas Flamel. In real life, Flamel was a French alchemist and scribe. As a mere mortal, he perished…but his adventure continues on through text, and then through the success of the translation… READ MORE

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