The words that no one hears

Reflections on love in A Wrinkle in Time and Harry Potter

I just got back from seeing the fourth Harry Potter movie. I realized something about one of the themes of the Harry Potter story that I should have realized a long time ago. In the movie it was briefly mentioned how Harry was saved by his mother's love. That is something that has been talked about over and over in the books. I suddenly realized how much it is like A Wrinkle in Time. In that book, Meg is finally able to overcome IT (the evil power thing) and get through to her brother, who has had his mind taken over by IT, when she realizes what she has that IT doesn't - love. When she realizes this, she is able to get through to Charles Wallace by letting him know how much she loves him. IT has no defense against love, because IT doesn't know or understand it at all.

So today I finally realized how similar the whole idea of love is in Harry Potter. Harry's mother used some type of spell on Harry so that evil wouldn't be able to touch him. When Voldemort tried to kill Harry, his spell rebounded on him and nearly destroyed him. Lily Potter's love covers Harry's skin and has made it very painful for Voldemort to come near him.

I've always found the ending of A Wrinkle in Time really cheesy. "What is it that you have that IT doesn't, Meg?" "It's love. Oh, Charles Wallace, I love you. Do you hear me, I love you." That's pretty much how it plays out. I had never even connected the themes of the two because they are done so differently. Rowling has done a much better job of making the love subtle. Love is everywhere, and yet it isn't sickeningly sweet like in A Wrinkle in Time. Somehow, Sirius Black even survived Azkaban due to having love. Love of James and Lily and perhaps Remus Lupin carried him through.

posted by Shannon @ 10:11 PM