Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling is scheduled to be published by Scholastic Press (NASDAQ: SCHL) on July 21, and some fans are speculating that Harry will die. I am quite confident in telling you that he won't, for several reasons.
1. The artistic.
Experienced authors will tell you that a satisfying ending is one that, after it happens, readers will see as inevitable, even if they didn't see it coming. For example, the ending of Sixth Sense, while a shocker to many (including me), worked because it neatly tied up loose threads we'd momentarily lost sight of. The ending completed the Bruce Willis' character arc.
Rowling has not established the need for someone to sacrifice his life so that Voldemort might die. In fact, she has already given Harry's parents and Dumbledore to the cause. Harry's death would be gratuitous, and, most importantly, inconsistent with the rest of the saga. Harry is the viewpoint character, and it is our vicarious enjoyment of his overcoming obstacles that gives the series such impact. It's hard to enjoy the denouement of a dead character.
Most importantly, though, Harry is not a flawed character seeking redemption through sacrifice. He is an innocent predestined to conquer the wicked AND LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER.
2. The practical.
If Rowling were to kill off her hero in the final book, it would not only diminish sales of this volume, but horribly impact the future sales of the series. Knowing that Harry was to die, (and who on Earth would not know of this plot twist?), would change the reader's experience, robbing each bit of conflict of its gravitas. Plus, fans would revolt. Arthur Conan Doyle learned this lesson when he tried to kill off Sherlock Holmes -- some plot reversals fans will simply not accept.
3. The financial.
With two more films on the planning board (including Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, due for release July 11th by Warner Brothers, a division of Time Warner, NYSE:TWX) and a theme park in development, I can't believe these companies would invest so much in a closed-end storyline. And while Rowling may have all the money she needs, keeping the tale open-ended is a much shrewder business decision.
So I'm not worried about Harry. My prediction -- he'll defeat Voldemort with Snape's help, assume Dumbledore's position as head of Hogworts, marry Jenny Ginny and stand as best man at Ron and Hermione's wedding.
Harry Potter can't die. Trust me.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 11)
7-06-2007 @ 1:48PM
me said...
Ginny - not jenny
7-06-2007 @ 1:55PM
David Weinstock said...
I don't think the financial and practical reasons matter, but I'm with you on the literary reasons; the logic of the story does not require Harry's death, quite the reverse. "One cannot live while the other survives." Voldemort dies, Harry survives. Harry faces a very hard choice, kill OR be killed; not kill AND be killed. I think we can take the prophecy as a promise.
7-06-2007 @ 1:54PM
Tom Barlow said...
Thanks. It was Voldemort caused me to misspell her name. Really.
7-08-2007 @ 10:20PM
milt said...
Harry lives.
Snape will die while protecting Harry in killing " he who must not be named "!
7-08-2007 @ 10:24PM
milt said...
and R. A. B. who replace the locket is none other than Sirius Black 's( Harry's godfather ) dead brother who joined the Death-eaters and tried to quit the gang.
7-09-2007 @ 7:37AM
Adam said...
In your point #2, who is "Rawlings"?
7-13-2007 @ 10:12PM
M connors said...
A definite possibility is that far worse than death, Harry will become a dark wizard. Any thoughts?
10-15-2007 @ 9:07PM
Jake said...
Hermione dies so harry can't be part of their wedding
7-12-2007 @ 2:17PM
Kathy said...
Perhaps you don't know where the last Horcrux lies. Could Harry follow in his mother's footsteps, dying to protect someone he loves?
7-12-2007 @ 2:19PM
Mike said...
Harry will not die!!! But, it isn't going to be that happy ending we all want. I have a feeling that in the final conflict between Voldemort and Harry Potter there will be a tranfer of power again, just like it all started, but, this one will be bad. My ending scene is the final battle: Harry standing victorius over Voldermort but in the last few frames Harry looks into the camera and his eyes are like a snake--The New Dark Lord
7-12-2007 @ 11:34PM
Nancy said...
Harry is the last horcrux (or his scar is); all the horcruxes must be destroyed in order to destroy Voldemort. Wormtail will tell Harry how to destroy the horcrux without destroying himself, and Snape will help Harry destroy Voldemort. Wormtail will tell Harry how to destroy his scar.
Dumbledore is not dead; it was staged. If Voldemort thinks that Dumbledore is dead, then he will let some of his defenses down.
Voldemort kills Draco.
These are my thoughts anyway.
7-12-2007 @ 2:40PM
Christine said...
Also, I don't think she would kill him off because it's been stated more than once that one of them (Harry or Voldemort) has to die. I don't think she would make it Harry that dies just because that would be kind of ridiculous if she let Voldemort be the one that lives.
7-12-2007 @ 2:47PM
Tianyu Yao said...
Harry Will DIE!
7-12-2007 @ 2:44PM
Amanda said...
Harry's not going to die. He's going to marry Ginny and Snape is going to Azkaban. So everyone chill out with the whole 'Harry's guna die' thing.
7-12-2007 @ 2:49PM
valerie said...
wow. it seems as if you guys have actually read the "final" book.
i don't know, but i can't wait. i have to agree with the final horcrux is harry's scar and that snape will die saving harry. i believe voldemort will die and i actually, kinda hope, draco dies. but i guess we shall all see in the moment of truth, july 21.
as for the whole, dumbledor is alive thing, i think that harry will once again be reunited with his parents, godfather, and headmaster. somehow. but that's just my guess.
but i highly dought he will die.
7-12-2007 @ 2:49PM
roar said...
hasn't jk rowling already confirmed that harry will not go on to be headmaster?
or is that from another website
idk
but that would be an ideal ending
7-12-2007 @ 2:50PM
Christina said...
I do not think that she will kill Harry, but I agree with milt that it is likely that Snape will die. I have been wondering about R.A.B. too, and the only character in the books with those possible initials is Regullus Black. Or It could be someone else, because sometimes the last initial is put in the middle of the monogram.
7-13-2007 @ 10:43AM
Michele Woolam said...
I agree with all of it. Long live Harry!
7-12-2007 @ 2:54PM
Sarah said...
I agree that Harry won't die, although I have wondered about his scar being a horcrux. However, I don't believe he will be headmaster of Hogwarts at 17 years old. If he chooses to return, it'll be as Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts. Rowling hints at this in "Phoenix" when he forms Dumbledore's Army. If McGonagall lives and Dumbledore is really dead, she'll be headmistress.
7-12-2007 @ 2:57PM
chris duncan said...
Harry must die, according to the prophecy neither can live while the other survives. also harry is a horcrux and carries part of voldermorts soul. therefor in order for voldermort to die and not come back, harry must die.
1. Harry must die
2. Ron and Hermione will marry
3. Neville will kill voldermort and be the hero.