Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Findings
One of the major moral problems of modern societies is the lack of a sense of community (Lickona, 1991a, p. 107). Individualism seems to make people reluctant to participate in public life and intimate relationships with others (Lickona, 1991a, p. 107). Character education seeks to implement curriculum to make children internalize moral cognition and affect their feelings through practice of character traits in order to solve the problem of a lack of sense of community such as moral decay and to educate the citizenship in school-based curriculum. The Harry Potter story shows desirable character traits of members of a society. The process of coding the episodes in the Harry Potter story finds themes related with character traits through diverse characters and episodes of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The description of the main characters gives tips to make the world a better place, namely, a place with a sense of security and trust. In the findings section, character traits, leadership, friendship, respect, caring, and educational implications from the Harry Potter story namely, socialization of students through friendship rather than parentage or expertise; Hogwarts as the second home for students; and reflective thinking about human being’s imperfection under an on-going process will be explored.
The Deathly Hallows (Rowling, 2007)
The theme of the last sequel of the Harry Potter stories is the way to approach death with wisdom rather than the denial of it. The wizarding folklore of the Deathly Hallows delivers the message of respect for others and the acceptance of mortality as the wisdom to overcome the fear of the death encountered by mortal beings.
Aberforth Dumbledore, the younger brother of Dumbledore explains to Harry the reason that Dumbledore regrets his deed to pursue the ideal world of wizards and witches with Gellert Grindelwald, his friend who is genius magician but lacks the respect of Muggles, is the death of Dumbledore’s weak younger sister. The sacrifice of Harry’s mother keeps Harry alive while the death of Voldemort’s mother due to the loss of hope breaks the link between Voldemort and the members of his community. Distrust of others and the abhorrence toward his Muggle father who abandons his mother, leads Voldemort to kill others ruthlessly and to dread being killed. The respect of family members and friends with diverse characters is the fundamental condition to build a decent wizarding world.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione encounter difficulties and contradictions during their quest to find and destroy the horcruxes. Harry experiences loss: The death of Moody, Dobby, Fred Weasley, Lupin and Tonks; the suffering of Hermione from being tortured; and the injury of George Weasley, who loses one ear forever. However, Harry finds the way to accept the death of his loved ones while keeping the memory of them when he is attacked by Voldemort in their final duel. The moment Harry faints, he encounters all the people who he misses desperately. Ironically, Voldemort attempts to kill Harry without realizing that he kills his own soul inside Harry.
The production of Horcruxes is a defensive way for Voldemort to protect his life from enemies while the pursuit of the Deathly Hallows is an active way to possess the magical treasures which are believed to make wizards and witches avoid the death through beating challengers, resurrecting the dead, and hiding their owners from risks. However, the folklore of the Deathly Hallows reveals the lesson that the death is a natural phenomenon and should be accepted. Voldemort who lacks wisdom tries to achieve the Elder Wand, the wand of the greatest magicians that beats all challengers. Harry finds that Dumbledore and Snape protect the three Deathly Hallows: the Elder Wand, the Resurrection Stone and the Invisibility Cloak. Neville Longbottom, who was once considered the weakest, destroys Nagini, Voldemort’s pet snake that is the last horcrux. The quest of Harry to fight against Voldemort is over and Harry’s scar does not give him any more pain. Harry marries Ginny and Ron marries Hermione. Harry also becomes the god father of the orphan boy of Lupin and Tonks.
Aberforth Dumbledore, the younger brother of Dumbledore explains to Harry the reason that Dumbledore regrets his deed to pursue the ideal world of wizards and witches with Gellert Grindelwald, his friend who is genius magician but lacks the respect of Muggles, is the death of Dumbledore’s weak younger sister. The sacrifice of Harry’s mother keeps Harry alive while the death of Voldemort’s mother due to the loss of hope breaks the link between Voldemort and the members of his community. Distrust of others and the abhorrence toward his Muggle father who abandons his mother, leads Voldemort to kill others ruthlessly and to dread being killed. The respect of family members and friends with diverse characters is the fundamental condition to build a decent wizarding world.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione encounter difficulties and contradictions during their quest to find and destroy the horcruxes. Harry experiences loss: The death of Moody, Dobby, Fred Weasley, Lupin and Tonks; the suffering of Hermione from being tortured; and the injury of George Weasley, who loses one ear forever. However, Harry finds the way to accept the death of his loved ones while keeping the memory of them when he is attacked by Voldemort in their final duel. The moment Harry faints, he encounters all the people who he misses desperately. Ironically, Voldemort attempts to kill Harry without realizing that he kills his own soul inside Harry.
The production of Horcruxes is a defensive way for Voldemort to protect his life from enemies while the pursuit of the Deathly Hallows is an active way to possess the magical treasures which are believed to make wizards and witches avoid the death through beating challengers, resurrecting the dead, and hiding their owners from risks. However, the folklore of the Deathly Hallows reveals the lesson that the death is a natural phenomenon and should be accepted. Voldemort who lacks wisdom tries to achieve the Elder Wand, the wand of the greatest magicians that beats all challengers. Harry finds that Dumbledore and Snape protect the three Deathly Hallows: the Elder Wand, the Resurrection Stone and the Invisibility Cloak. Neville Longbottom, who was once considered the weakest, destroys Nagini, Voldemort’s pet snake that is the last horcrux. The quest of Harry to fight against Voldemort is over and Harry’s scar does not give him any more pain. Harry marries Ginny and Ron marries Hermione. Harry also becomes the god father of the orphan boy of Lupin and Tonks.
The Half-Blood Prince (Rowling, 2005)
The answer for the identity of Half-Blood Prince leads readers to the key theme, and the tension between stratification by expertise and classification by lineage. Harry borrows a textbook for potion making. The book is scribbled with various tips on potion making and spells that help Harry to complete his tasks in potions class. To Harry’s surprise, Snape becomes the professor for the Defense against Dark Arts course. Dumbledore provides Harry with independent study which is composed of tracing back the memories about Tom Riddle, who later becomes Lord Voldemort. Draco Malfoy’s mother asks Snape to protect her son, Draco Malfoy who is ordered by Voldemort to kill Dumbledore. Snape agrees to do the job himself. Draco attempts to assassinate Dumbledore and suffers the horror of his own death in case he fails to complete the mission.
Harry accompanies Dumbledore to destroy a horcrux among seven horcruxes which carry the divided souls of Voldemort who desires immortality. Dumbledore explains to Harry about the production of Horcruxes: Tom Riddle’s diary, Marvolo Gaunt’s [Voldemort’s grandfather] Ring, Helga Hufflepuff’s Cup, Salazar Syntherin’s Locket, Rowena Ravenclaw’s Diadem, Harry Potter and Nagini [Voldemort’s beloved snake]. Dumbledore becomes weak as a result of his injury while destroying another horcrux, Marvolo Gaunt’s ring, which attacks its wearer to death and Salazar Slytherin’s Locket which requires Dumbledore to drink potions that cause him pain, despair and hopelessness.
At the end the book, Death Eaters attack Hogwarts. Snape kills Dumbledore and only Harry witnesses this. Frustrated and furious with the death of Dumbledore, Harry attacks Snape with lethal curses. Snape discloses that he is the Half-Blood Prince who creates charms and potions that Harry takes advantage of. Hogwarts loses its headmaster and security. Students leave Hogwarts. Instead of returning to Hogwarts, Harry decides to search for the rest of the horcruxes to destroy them and in turn, destroy Lord Voldemort. Ron and Hermione announce to accompany Harry’s quest.
Harry accompanies Dumbledore to destroy a horcrux among seven horcruxes which carry the divided souls of Voldemort who desires immortality. Dumbledore explains to Harry about the production of Horcruxes: Tom Riddle’s diary, Marvolo Gaunt’s [Voldemort’s grandfather] Ring, Helga Hufflepuff’s Cup, Salazar Syntherin’s Locket, Rowena Ravenclaw’s Diadem, Harry Potter and Nagini [Voldemort’s beloved snake]. Dumbledore becomes weak as a result of his injury while destroying another horcrux, Marvolo Gaunt’s ring, which attacks its wearer to death and Salazar Slytherin’s Locket which requires Dumbledore to drink potions that cause him pain, despair and hopelessness.
At the end the book, Death Eaters attack Hogwarts. Snape kills Dumbledore and only Harry witnesses this. Frustrated and furious with the death of Dumbledore, Harry attacks Snape with lethal curses. Snape discloses that he is the Half-Blood Prince who creates charms and potions that Harry takes advantage of. Hogwarts loses its headmaster and security. Students leave Hogwarts. Instead of returning to Hogwarts, Harry decides to search for the rest of the horcruxes to destroy them and in turn, destroy Lord Voldemort. Ron and Hermione announce to accompany Harry’s quest.
The Order of the Phoenix (Rowling, 2003)
Harry and his friends are growing up. Adult wizards and witches are worried about their safety from the advocates of Voldemort but Harry, Ron and Hermione are enthusiastic to fight against the villains. Members of the Ministry of Magic including the minister Fudge, refuse to listen to Dumbledore’s and Harry’s warnings and do not admit to the resurrection of Voldemort.
Harry is invited to the ancient home of Sirius’ family and notices that Ron’s parents, teachers and his god father have joined the Order of the Phoenix, an association founded by Dumbledore to protect the magical community against the Death Eaters and Voldmort who commit atrocities. The hope of Harry to participate in the Order of the Phoenix is rejected by the adults since he is considered a teenager. When Harry returns to school, many wizards and witches express hostility on the basis of misinformation about the relation between Harry and Cedric’s death and the use of magic in the Muggle world. The Ministry of Magic appoints Dolores Umbridge as the principal of Hogwarts, she is a bureaucratic and hypocritical follower of the law of the Ministry of Magic. The school becomes a boring and painful place for students of Gryffindor because of Umbridge. Moreover, Umbridge forbids students to learn Defense magic against the Dark Arts. Students who disagree with the educational policy of Umbridge and believe they need to seriously learn magic, voluntarily constitute and participate in a secret organization while naming it Dumbledore’s Army. Harry trains his friends in disarming spells. However, Umbridge finds out about Dumbledore’s Army and tries to expel students. Harry and friends get out of the impasse by Hermione’s wit.
Harry and his friends go to the Ministry of Magic to rescue Sirius, thinking that he has been taken by Voldemort. Harry and his friends fight against the evil wizards and witches and members of the Order of the Phoenix come to help them. In the middle of the battle, Harry loses his precious guardian, Sirius. After the battle, Harry and his friend realizes the beginning of the war between good wizards and witches and their evil counterparts.
Harry is invited to the ancient home of Sirius’ family and notices that Ron’s parents, teachers and his god father have joined the Order of the Phoenix, an association founded by Dumbledore to protect the magical community against the Death Eaters and Voldmort who commit atrocities. The hope of Harry to participate in the Order of the Phoenix is rejected by the adults since he is considered a teenager. When Harry returns to school, many wizards and witches express hostility on the basis of misinformation about the relation between Harry and Cedric’s death and the use of magic in the Muggle world. The Ministry of Magic appoints Dolores Umbridge as the principal of Hogwarts, she is a bureaucratic and hypocritical follower of the law of the Ministry of Magic. The school becomes a boring and painful place for students of Gryffindor because of Umbridge. Moreover, Umbridge forbids students to learn Defense magic against the Dark Arts. Students who disagree with the educational policy of Umbridge and believe they need to seriously learn magic, voluntarily constitute and participate in a secret organization while naming it Dumbledore’s Army. Harry trains his friends in disarming spells. However, Umbridge finds out about Dumbledore’s Army and tries to expel students. Harry and friends get out of the impasse by Hermione’s wit.
Harry and his friends go to the Ministry of Magic to rescue Sirius, thinking that he has been taken by Voldemort. Harry and his friends fight against the evil wizards and witches and members of the Order of the Phoenix come to help them. In the middle of the battle, Harry loses his precious guardian, Sirius. After the battle, Harry and his friend realizes the beginning of the war between good wizards and witches and their evil counterparts.
The Goblet of Fire (Rowling, 2000)
This story is about the Triwizard Tournament which is the tournament of magical expertise, wisdom and the respectful spirit of students among three wizarding schools. The Goblet of Fire is similar to the Olympic torch. One topic of this story is about friendship not only between Harry and Cedric [a fellow student] but also between Harry and Dobby, the house elf who is encouraged to be free from slavery by Hermione’s campaign against elf slavery and helps Harry come out of difficulty. The other topic is the return of Voldemort in a full wizarding shape.
Dumbledore announces that the Triwizard Tournament will be held at Hogwarts and introduces Mad-Eye Moody as the new teacher for Defense against the Dark Arts. Mad-Eye Moody replaces the position of Lupin who is Harry’s father’s friend; is found to be a werewolf; and is forbidden to teach in Hogwarts by the Ministry of Magic. The Goblet of Fire announces one additional competitor, Harry, in addition to the other three competitors: Cedric Diggory, Fleur Delacour, and Viktor Krum. Harry completes the three tasks of the tournament. Although Harry and Cedric complete the three tasks perfectly, the two contestants touch the trophy at the same time due to their friendship rather than competition.
The trophy, which is a portkey [a magical transporter], sends Harry and Cedric to a cemetery and they are attacked by Voldemort. Wormtail kills Cedric, attacks Harry and succeeds to complete the resurrection of Voldemort. Harry manages to return to Hogwarts with the dead body of Cedric after witnessing the resurrection of Voldemort and after fighting against the deathly curse. It is found that the portkey was converted to transport to the cemetery and Voldemort devised this scheme to lure Harry and regain his power. After listening to Harry’s experience in the graveyard, Dumbledore warns Fudge, the minister, about Voldemort’ empowerment but Fudge ignores it.
Dumbledore announces that the Triwizard Tournament will be held at Hogwarts and introduces Mad-Eye Moody as the new teacher for Defense against the Dark Arts. Mad-Eye Moody replaces the position of Lupin who is Harry’s father’s friend; is found to be a werewolf; and is forbidden to teach in Hogwarts by the Ministry of Magic. The Goblet of Fire announces one additional competitor, Harry, in addition to the other three competitors: Cedric Diggory, Fleur Delacour, and Viktor Krum. Harry completes the three tasks of the tournament. Although Harry and Cedric complete the three tasks perfectly, the two contestants touch the trophy at the same time due to their friendship rather than competition.
The trophy, which is a portkey [a magical transporter], sends Harry and Cedric to a cemetery and they are attacked by Voldemort. Wormtail kills Cedric, attacks Harry and succeeds to complete the resurrection of Voldemort. Harry manages to return to Hogwarts with the dead body of Cedric after witnessing the resurrection of Voldemort and after fighting against the deathly curse. It is found that the portkey was converted to transport to the cemetery and Voldemort devised this scheme to lure Harry and regain his power. After listening to Harry’s experience in the graveyard, Dumbledore warns Fudge, the minister, about Voldemort’ empowerment but Fudge ignores it.
The Prisoner of Azkaban (Rowling, 1999b)
Loneliness from the absence of parents always sticks to Harry Potter. His aunt and her family exclude him from their lives. The scar on Harry’s forehead and the nightmares showing the scenes through Voldemort’s eyes give Harry severe headaches. Now, Harry finds that his god father, Sirius Black escapes the wizard prison after being imprisoned with a charge of murdering 13 people. When a Firebolt, a fancy racing broomstick for a Quidditch match [a wizarding sports played on broomsticks] is delivered from Harry’s god father, the existence of Sirius brings unexpected joy and curiosity to Harry. The rumor that Sirius Black, returns to kill Harry is found to be wrong. Harry and his friends reveal the evil behavior of Peter Pettigrew [his father’s childhood friend who is called Wormtail] who betrayed many people: sacrificed his friends for the scheme of Voldemort and transformed into Scabbers, Ron’s aged rat to bring a false charge against Sirius Black of being the murderer of his friends, Harry’s parents. Towards the end, Harry and his friends fail an attempt by the wizarding community to capture Sirius. They help him escape and Harry realizes that he has a god father who cares for him.
The Chamber of Secrets (Rowling, 1999a)
The second sequel starts with the letter from Hogwarts which allows students to come back to Hogwarts since the new semester starts. Instead of an invitation letter, Dobby, a house elf, warns Harry not to go back to school to keep his life safe. During the second year of Hogwarts, sinister writing appears on the walls, students are attacked, and the Chamber of Secrets which is supposed to be closed becomes open. Moaning Myrtle, one of the ghosts in Hogwarts, and Hermione become the victim of the Basilisk, the monster snake who turns victims into stones when they have eye contact with it. The unique talent of Harry to understand and speak the language of snakes [Parseltongue] gives him the clue of how to enter the Chamber of Secrets. Harry explores the Chamber of Secrets and kills the Basilisk with the sword of Gryffindor delivered by a phoenix. Harry destroys the diary of Tom Riddle, the young Voldemort, which charmed and kidnapped Ginny, Ron’s younger sister. Then Harry encounters Tom Riddle and defeats him.
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