Choices

After reading this book for the third time, I have a deeper understanding of the plot and the decisions that the characters made that I did not have the first two times that I read it. I also believe that choices are another major theme in the series. Without Voldemort’s choice, there would have never been anything extraordinary about Harry Potter.

 I understand why Dumbledore made some of the decisions that he made concerning Harry. He reminds me of a parent who tells his son what he feels is appropriate for him to know at that point in time. It was essential that he did not tell Harry everything about defeating Voldemort. He gives him the opportunity to prove himself as a man by allowing him to make his own decisions. He also gives him room to come to an understanding of certain issues on his own. Even after his death, Dumbledore was still pulling strings. However, it made me respect him more because I know that he handled the situation the way he did because he loved Harry. Even though he knew the danger Harry faced, he tried to protect him as best he could. Yes, he wanted his plan to work out, but he could have told Harry everything and not care about how it affected him.

The decisions that Snape made and the bravery he has shown made me look at him in a different light. At first I thought he was mean and spiteful. I had a change of mind after his revelation in the pensieve. I believe that in addition to being in love with Harry’s mother, he also felt responsible for her death. So he made choices out of love and guilt. He did not have to protect Harry. He could have just found a way to cope with the fact that he led Voldemort to Lily, and moved on with his life. However, he made the choice to do the right thing. I believe that what he did was both admirable and respectable.