CHILDREN'S/YA: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

 STORYTELLING: 5/5 

WRITING STYLE: 5/5

THEMES/MESSAGE: 5/5

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: 4/5

IMPACT/ENGAGEMENT: 4/5

Total Grade: A- (92%)

Every time I read a Harry Potter book I’m reminded why the millennials continue to hold these stories so near and dear. I would’ve loved to have read these in real time, though I’m a strong believer in the idea that books don’t let you read them until you’re ready. Yet, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, along with the books that preceded it, are stuffed with symbolism and spiritual themes that are worthy of the adult reader’s time and contemplation. 

The writing is SO English, and by this I mean that the humor is smart, linguistic, and mostly has to do with the funny little things that make humans the ridiculous, admirable creatures we are. Children's/YA books always offer a nice pace, often calling back to previous events from the earlier books (which felt like a TV show saying “Previously on Harry Potter…), or presenting small moments of introspection that make the story feel very straightforward and simple. We always know how the characters are feeling and we’re feeling it with them.

This book came with a whole new crew of characters, most of which were easy to visualize because I’d seen the film a hundred times over. Before reading this, the film adaptation was my favorite of the first four films, but now, I think the third film is my favorite, and I think the third book is still my favorite of the Harry Potter books so far. The fourth film is much more focused on amping up the action and entertainment, leaving beloved and compelling characters out of the story all together (Dobby, Winky, Ludo Bagman, Bill Weasley, etc). Winky (the house elf) was a STAR and a reason in itself to pick up the book or re-read it. We also learn a lot more about Neville's background that made my heart swell. Him and Harry are far more similar than one might expect. (There's also a full on political lens I could've adopted to interpret a lot of the conflict and tragedy within the story, but I'll save it for the following books when things, I assume, really get amped up).

I loved Viktor Krum and I loved the little romance he shared with Hermione because it created in me the same sort of satisfaction I felt as a child when I watched Rocky fall in love with Adriene. The shy, bookish wallflower catches the attention of the beautiful star athlete and everything in the world suddenly feels right and fair again.

“His eyes fell instead on the girl next to Krum. His jaw dropped. It was Hermione. But she didn’t look like Hermione at all. She had done something with her hair; it was no longer bushy but sleek and shiny, and twisted up into an elegant knot at the back of her head. She was wearing robes made of a floaty, periwinkle blue material, and she was holding herself differently, somehow–or maybe it was merely the absence of twenty or so books she usually had slung over her back,” (414). 

While the magic in the book is used for a variety of reasons (entertainment, protection, bullying, etc.), more often than not it serves as a parallel to the wonder one feels in school. I loved school. I loved learning. I was terrible at Math, Science was mildly intriguing, but History, Art, and English were the topics that really felt like magic to me. Knowledge feels like magic. Moreso, Hogwarts becomes Harry’s home because it’s the only place where he truly feels like he belongs. That’s how school feels for a lot of people. 

I love the Weasleys so much. Mr. Weasley, in particular, is exceptionally curious and open minded, not just with muggles but with everyone. They’re such kind and decent people and I rejoiced when one of them appeared on the page. Furthermore, there were countless little scenes throughout the book that mean so much to Harry’s character development, most of which, regrettably, were cut from the film. For example, the day before the final task of The Triwizard Tournament, the champions’ families are given the opportunity to come visit their kids and cheer them on. Of course, Harry’s parents have passed and the Dursleys don’t care about him in the slightest, so instead of having a blood relation show up, Mrs. Weasley and her son Bill come to support Harry. This, of course, plays into the inverse relationship of riches he has with Ron. In this book, Ron repeatedly expresses his dissatisfaction with being poor, while Harry has inherited loads of money, and is awarded even more by the end of the tournament (which he gives away to Fred and George Weasley). But then, in another sense, Harry is poor in that he doesn’t have the large family that Ron was blessed with, and the familial support and love that Harry only receives as an adopted Weasley. Beyond the wands and spells and magical creatures, this is a very real thing that we can all empathize with, in one way or another. 

“Mrs. Weasley set the potion down on the bedside cabinet, bent down, and put her arms around Harry. He had no memory of ever being hugged like this, as though by a mother. The full weight of everything he had seen that night seemed to fall in upon him as Mrs. Weasley held him to her,” (714).

The section of the book that really took hold of me was the foreshadowed yet abrupt meeting with Harry, Cedric Diggory, Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters near the end of the book, and there’s a few reasons for this. Of all the scenes within the book, this is the one that felt the realest and the most familiar to me because it’s a very clear and obvious representation of evil. There are definite themes of good and evil across the book series, that’s no surprise. In fact, you could say the battle of good and evil is what the heart of the story hinges on. But there are things within this aforementioned scene that truly reminded me of the devil and/or demonic forces: 

• “At the mention of Dumbledore’s name, the members of the circle stirred, and some muttered and shook their heads,” (648). Think of every horror movie you’ve ever seen. When the priest finally says the name of Jesus Christ, things get REAL. This would also mean that we can view Dumbledore as a sort of Christ figure. Or if that’s a leap, think of the commonalities in his disposition and temperament he shares with Aslan from C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe (1950).

• “I do not forgive. I do not forget, (649). This is an inherently anti-Christian statement, when the Bible repeatedly promotes love and forgiveness, particularly toward your enemies (Luke 23:34, Matt 5:44, Matt 6:9-13). It also preaches that we are made righteous by God once we put our faith in Him, meaning, our past mistakes are also forgotten (Romans 5:1, Hebrews 8:12, Isaiah 43:25).

• Voldemort emphasizes the fact that he did not die and yet was able to regain his strength through possession, murder, etc. Christ died and conquered death through real resurrection, something the devil has never done and could never do. 

• The sacrificial love exemplified by Harry’s mother who died her attempt to protect Harry plays out as a sort of “old magic” Voldemort had not anticipated, and it’s ultimately what defeated him. Voldemort, the embodiment of darkness and evil, was overcome by sacrificial love. 

It’s been argued by various authors, from Tolkien to Lewis and beyond, that every great story will, in one way or another, mimic the Gospel, and while I’m liable to seek out Jesus in nearly everything I read/watch/consume, I think it’s important to recognize just how permeable and ubiquitous God is, and how familiar He may be to the secular reader. It’s a shame that so many well-meaning Christian parents prevented their children from reading these books for fear it would lead to a serious interest in witchcraft. If anything, it might’ve been a great tool in helping children understand the reality of good and evil. But hey, that’s just me.