"[Harry] had forgotten about magic -- he had forgotten that he was short and skinny and thirteen, whereas Black was a tall, full-grown man -- all Harry knew was that he wanted to hurt Black as badly as he could and he didn't care how much he got hurt in return --" (Rowling 340)
The quote above occurs during the confrontation in the Shrieking Shack. Sirius Black declares that he will be killing only one person, and Harry mistakenly assumes that he is the target. Harry feels desperate hostility towards Black because he believes the lie: that Black killed his parents and is now after him. Though the truth is uncovered later, and Black and Harry are able to begin building a relationship of love, I believe that this moment exemplifies Harry's most heroic and valued qualities. Harry Potter is a hero because of his dauntless dedication and selfless courage in the face of danger.
Yet, these are human qualities; dedication and courage are not limited to Hogwarts and the wizarding world. Harry’s heroism, like the reader’s closeness to him, does not stem from the charm of Rowling’s world of magic and the challenges therein. The inner conflict Harry felt when confronting Black in the shrieking Shack was not founded in his identity as “wizard.” Rather, it is rooted to Harry’s developing and maturing identity as a young man struggling to understand the nature of family and friends, good and evil, truth and deception. Harry’s journey mirrors the reader’s in that he must face the challenges of coming to know himself through trials and tribulations.
Though the subject matter of Harry’s difficulties is quite dark (i.e. his parents were murdered, he is abused by his aunt and uncle, he braves the pressures of school while believing that Black is trying to kill him), the magical setting of Hogwarts places a distance between the reader and these threats. Harry becomes a comfortable character that the reader can relate to and care about. Every time I read a Harry Potter book, I feel a tug at my heartstrings to pack up and trundle off the Hogwarts with Harry. For me, the value of Harry’s character as a hero is most evident when I feel myself undergoing a personal transformation with him.
When Harry confronts Sirius Black in the Shrieking Shack, he puts faith in his inner sense of right and wrong, and acts. Magic and wizardry do not factor in to his judgment. For me, this moment of heroism resonates because I can relate to his sense of injustice and rage, and I admire Harry’s nerve and bravery. I believe that Rowling gives Harry’s heroism another dimension by creating a character that so many readers of so many ages can relate to and care about. He does fulfill the role of the hero in the tradition of High Fantasy, but Rowling seems to value Harry as a young man, over Harry as a wizard. In moments of emotional and personal upheaval, Harry shines brightest as a hero because he is able to overcome and believe in himself.
 GREGORY HEISLER |
