Apparently, Harry Potter has messed up millennials, and we’re confused
Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter. Image courtesy of Warner Brothers
No, this isn’t clickbait, either. According to the New Yorker, Harry Potter is among many popular stories that messed us up. “Us” being the generation called ‘millenials’. Yup, along with avocado toast and Instagram and Snapchat, Harry Potter is to be blamed for why we get questioned relentlessly around the holiday times about our life.
Reading the article, it actually places the blame on many popular stories, so at least we’re in good company. The Dark Tower, a popular Stephen King novel and Star Wars.
But let’s take a look at what they specifically say about the story of the boy who lived.
"As a preteen, Harry attends Hogwarts School, where most of his teachers bow to his magnificence. There Harry discovers he has a knack for performing difficult spells and flying broomsticks. He makes the school’s Quidditch (a sport played on said brooms) team his very first year. Sure."
Whoever wrote this article obviously has never read the books. “Bow to his magnificence”? Is that before or after Snape continues to humiliate him and his Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher tries to throw him off said broom.
I’m just wondering.
"Harry has multiple run-ins with Voldemort throughout the seven books, and, like Mark Zuckerberg with a wand, he always defeats them despite being a young student. See, Young Impressionable Minds? You, too, can ditch class and be exceptional!"
Because…he was totally going to learn how to defeat Voldemort in class. Not to mention he got fantastic grades on his OWLs.
For those wondering:
Astronomy: Acceptable
Care of Magical Creatures: Exceeds Expectations
Charms: Exceeds Expectations
Defense Against the Dark Arts: Outstanding
Divination: Poor
Herbology: Exceeds Expectations
History of Magic: Dreadful (He fainted.)
Potions: Exceeds Expectations
Transfiguration: Exceeds Expectations
He averaged a B. At LEAST. Not many people can handle trying to not be killed, Quidditch, and OWLs at once. I for one think this shows immense scheduling.
Deep breath everyone.
Okay, so people are going to have differences of opinion. However, it is also important to notice that as the books go on (because I’m pretty sure the writer only read Sorcerer’s/Philosopher’s Stone), they aren’t about school. If the books were about a boy going to school, of course, they would have a different setting!
But these books are about a boy trying to survive multiple attacks and keep his friends safe, as well as his school and the magical world. Do I think he copied? Yes. We know he did. Did that ever make me think it was okay to copy? No. Because I can separate the fiction from reality.
Next: What is JK Rowling's tweeting telling us?
So, it’s good to know that at least one of the reason “us darn millenials” are so messed up is one of the biggest books of our generation.