This fifth volume of the Harry Potter series marks the end of the complication phase of the overall series arc, and it does so in an unusual fashion. Up to this point in the series, each volume was essentially dominated by one major quest: finding and protecting the Sorcerer’s Stone, finding the Chamber of Secrets, dealing with the “threat” of Sirius Black, and the Tri-Wizard Tournament.
That’s not quite true for this novel, which is less about a specific quest and more about living through a siege mentality between a soul-crushing bureaucracy and the rising threat of Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters. It is also about the effect this struggle has on Harry in particular, thanks to an ill-advised decision on Dumbledore’s part.
Surprisingly, despite the enormous length of the novel, the story hits the ground running and rarely slows down until the final page. After the return of Lord Voldemort at the end of the fourth book, one might have expected the war to begin immediately. Instead, the author approaches the situation in a more realistic fashion. Voldemort prepares in the background while Harry deals with issues within the Ministry of Magic.
The Ministry has decided to deny reality, suppressing any knowledge of Voldemort’s return. This begins as a nuisance and quickly becomes more disturbing than I ever would have imagined. Harry is at the center of a concerted movement to discredit him and anyone willing to listen to him, and just when you think it can’t get any worse, it does.
This is not a short process, so the length is entirely justified. It’s not enough to set up each new obstacle; it’s equally important to explore the consequences on Harry and his friends. These effects are amplified by Harry’s anger, which was an unexpected direction. Dumbledore has decided to distance himself from Harry, but he still has instructions for him. Harry feels more and more out of the loop and out of control of his life, and his temper compels him to rebel. This makes the situation worse, of course, which fuels the downward spiral.
Hogwarts slowly but surely falls into the equivalent of a police state, and that psychological space is not easy to enjoy. Yet it also reflects, to a certain extent, how nearly every teenager feels in the real world. It’s amplified to a massive degree, but the parallel is there. And like any teenager, Harry takes it upon himself to take action according to his view of reality, despite several warnings to the contrary, and the resulting battle at the Ministry of Magic exacts a terrible price.
Along the way, Harry learns a lot about himself and his legacy, and he comes to understand how others perceive him. In particular, he comes to understand Professor Snape a bit better, but not enough to avoid making a costly mistake. His impetuous temper leads him to an assumption that is terribly, terribly wrong. In essence, Voldemort uses Harry’s emotional and psychological issues against him, and the plan nearly succeeds.
The end of this book marks the end of the complication phase, as mentioned before, because the war begins in earnest and the subsequent action is all about resolving the threat of Voldemort, not recognizing and preparing for it. The book ends with a revelation that defines Harry’s life and purpose in the wake of Voldemort’s corporeal return. And of course, there is the death of Sirius Black, whose introduction marked the beginning of the complication phase of the arc. Moving forward, the reader is on notice that the casualties will begin to mount, and the losses will be more substantial as the war continues.
Amidst the larger themes, there is the important counterpoint of Harry’s growth as a young man. He attempts to find joy and happiness despite the darkness, some sense of normality, and that gives the story enough space to advance several of the other character arcs along the way. Some of this material can be repetitious, and if anything could be removed without too much impact on the tone of the story, it’s the endless sniping between Harry and his friends in the first half of the book.
Looking back on the series to this point, the difference between the first volume and this book is astounding. Yet those earlier books are becoming more important as a consequence. The first two books have darker elements, but the overall tone is more carefree. We had to see those earlier, happier moments, or the darker moments wouldn’t have the desired impact. We wouldn’t understand Harry’s frustration, or recognize his mistakes, if we didn’t get to see how his psychology changed over time.
Rating: 8/10
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