From: Peggy Rader <rader004>
Date: Wed, 6 Sep 2000 16:13:20 -0500

I didn't read the review cited by Brenda Bowen that stated the Harry Potter books ranked lower than C.S. Lewis and Tolkien because they didn't contain a *greater* good or *greater* evil, but I think there is some merit in the *greater* good and evil observation. Maybe I was gobbling the books too quickly to recall more universal implications, but it seems to me that the forces of good and evil exist only on a very personal level in the HP books. It's all about Harry and Voldemort--I don't have a sense of impending doom for the forces of good if Voldemort were to triumph, only doom for Harry.

The books exist so much within the world of wizardry that I have no sense of what would happen in the Muggle world should Voldemort take over Hogwarts or disband it or blow it up. There is a disconnect between the *real* world and the magical world that somehow makes the ongoing battle between good (Harry) and evil (Voldemort) somewhat immaterial to more universal themes. There are references to the fact that *good* wizards were creeping about quaking in their capes during the time of Voldemort's rise to power, but that's about as deep as it goes.

The fate of humankind doesn't hang in the balance when I'm reading HP. They're great tales, fun to read, a celebration of friendship, honor, courage, and many other important qualities, but I think I would agree with the reviewer that they do not rank with C.S. Lewis. Tolkien I can't say, having read only The Hobbit
(a rather awful confession for a former flower child).

Peggy J. Rader College of Education and Human Development University of Minnesota Minneapolis MN 55455

"I think . . . I think it's in my basement. Let me go upstairs and check." -- M.C. Escher
Received on Wed 06 Sep 2000 04:13:20 PM CDT