On Friday, February 18, Mr. John Granger paid a visit to the McConnell Center. A noted scholar in the developing field of Harry Potter studies, Mr. Granger shared some of his ideas and observations about J.K. Rowling's work with McConnell scholars as well as other students on campus. One of his observations was especially pertinent to the freshmen and sophomore scholars who are currently studying Plato's The Republic.
According to Plato, the human soul is composed of three distinct parts: the reasoning part, the high-spirited part, and the desiring part. When these three parts work harmoniously with one another, the soul is balanced and truly practices justice. J.K. Rowling, Granger argues, purposely used this theory when constructing her characters in order to create balance within the novels. We see Hermione who serves as the voice of reason throughout the series, Harry whose brave and noble spirit guides his actions, and Ron whose desires and appetites often heavily influence his decisions. When these three characters are in harmony with one another, readers feel a sense of balance. However, when they are at odds with one another (as we see in Books 4 and 7, for example), readers become uneasy and upset with the situation and are overjoyed when all is well again.
If you missed Granger's lecture, no worries. He has several books, including Harry Potter's Bookshelf: The Great Books Behind the Hogwarts Adventures, Unlocking Harry Potter: Five Keys for the Serious Reader, and The Deathly Hallows Lectures: The Hogwarts Professor Explains Harry's Final Adventure. Granger is also working on a book titled Harry Potter for Nerds. In addition to Harry Potter, Granger has also studied Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series. Even if you're not a wizard or vampire fan, his analysis of these intriguing artworks are impressive and interesting for everyone.