Harry Potter and the Sorcerer\'s Stone by JK Rowling

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"

J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" is the first book in a trilogy based on her child-wizard character Harry Potter. Rowling has created a world of wizardry and witchcraft that enchants both children and adults. Her story confronts good verses evil with larger than life mystical heroes and villains.

Harry Potter, the hero of Rowling's story, has been raised by his aunt and uncle, Vernon and Petunia Dursley, and their son Dudley. On his eleventh birthday he discovers that he comes from a long line of wizards and that his parents had been killed by an evil wizard named Voldemort. Harry also learns that he, too, is a wizard of renown and soon leaves for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to study the craft. It is here that the major portion of the story takes place.

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is a castle-like building in the countryside outside London. It has towers and battlements that add a scary feel to the setting, much like the castles in horror movies. The school looks as if it belongs to another time and place. It has a mid-evil era feel to it, filled with secret chambers and unlit passageways. It is a magical and mystical place that is truly a world of its own.

Harry is a modest boy with green eyes and a scar on his forehead that resembles a lightning bolt. He has spent the first ten years of his life being neglected and mistreated by the Dursleys, while his cousin, Dudley, was spoiled and indulged. Even before Hagrid, the giant from Hogwarts, arrives, Harry knew he had special powers, he just didn't know what they were or for what purpose they served. Hagrid informs him of his past, that both his parents were powerful wizards. Hagrid tells Harry that the night Voldemort killed Harry's parents, he had also tried to kill Harry, resulting in the scar on Harry's forehead.

Harry is rescued that night by Hagrid and is taken to the doorstep of his aunt and uncle by Dumbledore. Albus Dumbledore is Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He is said to be the most powerful wizard in the world. Dumbledore is patient and tolerant, compassionate and sympathetic. He appears wise as the universe and becomes Harry's mentor at Hogwarts.

Voldemort is Dubledore's counterpart, as evil as Dumbledore is good. The night Voldemort killed Harry's parents, his curse or evil spell was reversed. It bounced off baby Harry and turned back on Voldemort, reducing him to spirit form. Although without body, he has remained a powerful evil force. He has vowed to avenge his circumstance by destroying Harry. Only then will he be able to possess the Sorcerer's Stone and the key to ultimate power. Harry becomes Voldemort's nemesis, triumphantly succeeding in destroying Voldemort and winning the Sorcerer's Stone.

Although the general theme of Rowling's book is good verses evil, there are several other themes that run throughout the story. Discrimination is one main theme that Rowling creates. Most wizards hate or are at least intolerant of Muggles, non-magic people. And in turn most Muggles are intolerant of wizards. The Dursleys are Muggles and so that is perhaps why they treated Harry with such disdain, for they always knew he was a wizard. Rowling shows the intolerance of class-status distinction, rich verses poor. Harry's schoolmate, Draco Malfoy, comes from a rich and powerful family. Each shows intolerance for the other, Draco thinking he is better and above Harry, and Harry resenting Draco for his wealth and privileged life.

Harry and Draco become rivals, competing it seems at all turns. However, for all Draco's wealth and ego, Harry wins each challenge, such as the school's game of Quidditch, a bit like hockey on broomsticks. Harry even eventually wins the cup for his team.

While most of the other children have gone home for the Christmas holidays, Harry remains at school rather than returning to the Dursleys. He is given an anonymous Christmas gift, an invisibility cloak, once belonging to his father. With the aid of the cloak, Harry is able to roam the dark corridors of the school and enter secret chambers undetected. He discovers the Mirror of Erised, a mirror that allows one to see what they truly wish to see, for Harry it was his parents. Harry also discovers the Sorcerer's Stone, for which he fights his ultimate battle for good.

Rowling's story is not only a story of good and evil, it is a coming of age story. Harry matures from a modest under-privileged boy to a powerful wizard of fame and respect. His first year at Hogwarts taught him not only the use of magic, but also an understanding of the human soul. Dumbledore had nurtured him as no one else had, giving him love and sense of purpose.