Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone: Analysis of the Mirror of Erised

In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry Potter is forced to learn many thing quickly - both as a boy of eleven and as a wizard in training. Two symbols of learning in the book are the Mirror of Erised and Professor Dumbledore. Along with Dumbledore's assistance, the Mirror of Erised gave Harry Potter a lot of insight concerning himself, his friends, his enemies, and human nature in general.

The first lesson Harry learned was that everyone has desires, the need to feel fulfilled, and the need to be happy - although happiness means something different to everyone. Dumbledore tells Harry "the happiest man on earth would be able to use the Mirror of Erised like a normal mirror, that is, he would look in it and see himself exactly as he is" (Rowling 213). In other words, a man who is already fulfilled would not see what he feels is missing in his life, because he doesn't believe anything is missing. In chapter twelve, Harry came to understand that something was indeed missing from his life - his family. Upon looking in the Mirror, he saw his parents and a host of other relatives that were very happy to see him.

Ron Weasley felt the same fulfillment when he looking in the mirror and saw himself as a head boy and Quidditch captain. While Ron stated that whatever he did a Hogwarts, it wouldn't be special because his brothers before him had done it all, the mirror showed that he indeed wanted to be as great as his brothers. Even Professor Quirrell, who wanted nothing more than to give Voldermort the Sorcerer's Stone saw himself doing that very thing.

The second lesson the Mirror and Dumbledore taught Harry was to not allow your desires to get in the way of how you ought to live. Ron and Harry were best friends, but they fought over who would look in the mirror and what reflection was more important to look at. Harry came back to the Mirror three times before Dumbledore explained exactly what the Mirror was revealing and how many have wasted time in front of it living in their fantasy. Dumbledore tells Harry "It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live" (Rowling 214).

The third lesson Harry learned was that some desires are personal. Not everyone is willing to share their deepest wants. This was evident when Harry asked Dumbledore what he saw in the mirror and Dumbledore gave an answer that Harry did not believe.

Next Harry learned that some desires are for personal gain, while some people desire to help others. Harry wanting his family and Ron being made head boy and Quidditch captain were obviously personal desires. However, when Harry wanted the Sorcerer's Stone, he wanted it not for himself, but for the good of everyone. Just like when Voldermort was driven away after attacking Harry as a baby, Harry wanted to drive him away again by obtaining the Stone before he would. Dumbledore revealed to Harry that "only one who wanted to find the Stone - find it, but not use it - would be able to get it, otherwise they'd just see themselves making gold or drinking Elixir of Life" (Rowling 300). The Mirror of Erised had a job of holding the Stone, but it would only allow the person with the "right" desire to access it.