Wrapping Up

I'm really satisfied with how the Harry Potter narrative wraps up in The Deathly Hallows. The final chapter and epilogue are some of my favorite moments in the series, as they tie together a lot of loose ends really artfully and in a way that is consistent with the overarching tone and ethos of the story. From the unexpected conclusion with Snape and the reaffirmation of Dumbledore's love to the finally realized romances between Harry/Ginny and Ron/Hermione, everything comes together really nicely. One of the most powerful moments in the story is after Harry's 'resurrection', when he faces Voldemort for the last time, and chooses not to use a killing curse on him, encouraging him to feel remorse as a sort of penance. Voldemort's refusal of Harry's gesture and ultimate refusal of love is his own demise, and the curse he aims at Harry ends up killing him -- this is the best illustration in the story of the overarching theme of the self-destructive nature of the desire for power and a lack of humility/empathy; a life built on self-absorption, Rowling might suggest, can't sustain itself. All things considered, I just appreciated the way the story comes together, reaffirming the central themes in the series -- the death-defeating power of love and the importance of empathy, self-sacrifice, friendship, and remembrance.