I think I am going to choose to first discuss context:
Most of us have probably heard Jo discussing how her own mother's death from MS really hit her emotionally and actually was part of the reason the books have so much focus on death and loving while you're living. In fact, I think she even elaborated on Harry's loss a bit more than she might have originally had it not been for her needing a way to express the pain she felt.
Also, Jo had a background in education, watching and helping children develop and know themselves. I think her books really attempt to depict the challenges of growing up and also the adventures that only children seem to be willing to take much anymore. Books 1 and 2 attempt to show Harry beginning this journey into finding out who he really is (literally and metaphorically speaking) and becoming an individual, not being defined by his life at the Dursleys or his infamous past, but actually showing who HE is and learning who he is along the way. Just like the children Jo taught, Harry learns who he is and who he wants to be by his interactions with his peers, making friends and learning about loyalty, witnessing lies and deceit and deciding whether or not he wants to live that way.
Last edited by lemondrop13 : 02-01-2008 at 01:58 AM.
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