Because
each person reading the Harry Potter series for the first time will likely not
have the same imagination as J.K. Rowling herself, it makes sense that the
expectations that these readers forge while reading Rowling’s novels will most
likely not come to fruition. This is especially true when we consider that
Rowling wanted to keep things interesting for her readers, keeping certain
characters enshrouded in mystery and dangling miniscule but savory hints of
their true nature in front of our noses. I found the development of two
characters—Professors Snape and Quirrell—to be excellent examples of how
literary expectations are often changed or left unfulfilled.
From our
first introduction to Professor Snape, we see that he is a shadowy teacher who
leads the House of Slytherin—the house in Hogwarts (in)famous for producing the
most evil wizards in the history of the school. We also find that he takes an
immediate and intense aversion to Harry Potter, our protagonist. Reading the Sorcerer’s
Stone for the first time, I fully expected Snape to be revealed as the villain
responsible for both the attempted murder of Harry and the theft of the
Sorcerer’s Stone. Instead, we find that Snape has been trying tirelessly to
prevent Harry’s demise and the theft of the Stone by Professor Quirrell. Both
the revelation of Snape as having good intentions and Quirrell, a timid and
unassuming professor at Hogwarts, as the true villain, were both entirely
unexpected.
Though
these character developments were very much unexpected, I am glad that Rowling
decided to weave her story in this way. These unfulfilled expectations keep me
on my toes and eager to read more, a state in which all writers desire their
readers to be.
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