For “the greater good” is a theme in J.K. Rowling’s Harry
Potter series that serves as the rallying cry of the dark wizard community over
the non-magical community and is, somewhat, comparable to the Nazi persecution
of Jews and other non-Aryans before and during WWII.
Aristotle describes the idea in On Rhetoric, and defines the meaning of various terms such as,
good, great, and greater. “And,” he says, “things that are productive are
greater; for this was the meaning of productive of the greater. And [the good]
of which the producer is greater [is greater] in the same way.”(1.7.7-8) “And
if one thing is an ‘end’ and another is not [the end] is a greater good]: one
is sought for it’s own sake, the other for something else…”
“The greater good” implies that if, in the prosecution of
this repressive ideology in Harry Potter
and the Deathly Hallows, the conscience of any wizard is morally disturbed
by the thought of unjust behavior toward the ‘muggle’ or non-magic community,
it should be alleviated by the knowledge that cruel treatment is a just means
to the worthy end, that wizard domination over muggles is the greater good.
Certainly any reader of J.K. Rowling might think that the
following might serve as an apt description of Harry Potter, “And since the
more difficult and rarer is greater, so opportunities and ages in life and
places and powers make things great; for if a person [acts] beyond his power
and beyond his age and beyond such things, and if [the actions are done] in
such a way or place or at such a times, he will have greatness of fine and good
just things and their opposites. “(1.7.32), This seems to perfectly describe
seventeen year-old Harry Potter whose destiny is to face probable death in the
attempt to destroy the most evil wizard in the world. By facing his enemy in
the Dark Forest, the deliberately unarmed Harry chooses “what a better person
would choose [is greater]… to be wronged rather than to wrong...” (1.7.22).
Another Harry, the King of England, in Shakespeare’s Henry V, gives a famous and
inspirational pre-battle speech to his outnumbered men. It's meaning and choice of words also seem to be reminiscent of the following lines from On Rhetoric.
“…if courageously is finer [than] and preferable to temperately, courage is preferable to temperate….for good is what all desire, so
greater is what more people [desire]. And what opponents [regard as a greater
good] or enemies or judges or those whom judges judge….And sometimes the
greater is what all share (for not to share in it is a disgrace); but sometimes
[the greater is] what no one else or a few [have] (for it is rarer). For things
that are more praiseworthy [are greater]; for they are finer.” (1.7.27-30).
Karen,
ReplyDeleteI also thought of Harry Potter and the "greater good" when reading On Rhetoric. I, however, couldn't get my thoughts out on paper! Glad to see that you could. Also, what another great connection you found with Henry V. Thanks for sharing!