Destiny Unfulfilled: A Critique of the Harry Potter Series

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No, you will enjoy unlimited free shipping whenever you meet the above order value threshold. This is especily odd given that it's the most popular book series ever written but none the less it's true. There are a raft of writers who want to analyze everything about Harry Potter other than its writing e.

Then there are some very fine writers who have critiqued the writing of the Potter series - both positively and negatively - but who clearly never read past book one and seem to have only skimmed it at best. A very few well known authors seem to have read it closely and written fine essays on it's writing merits Stephen King comes to mind but these rarely extend beyond newspaper review length.

And lastly - and by far most typically - there are a vast number of fans who believe in their earnest hearts that Harry Potter is simply the best thing ever written and is innately flawless in both conception and execution. So if you're looking for a truly critical and well read if not always well written or moderately worded critique of the writing in Harry Potter I do recommend Destiny Unfulfilled - it's the best I've come across yet. Feb 20, Jacquel rated it it was amazing. What a great and wonderful essay about the Harry Potter books. I'm glad that I have read it and learned about where Harry Potter succeeded and failed.

I hope to take what I have learned from the book and apply it to my alternative Harry Potter fan fiction, aptly called "Harry Potter Redux". I really hope that one day, the series can be rewritten and made better.

I want to see Harry as a real hero not just the title , Dumbledore as a mentor, and a real villain because Voldemort just doesn't cove What a great and wonderful essay about the Harry Potter books. I want to see Harry as a real hero not just the title , Dumbledore as a mentor, and a real villain because Voldemort just doesn't cover it. Aug 18, Iqra V rated it really liked it Shelves: When you've read and re-read the HP series a zillion times, there are things you start to notice, patterns you start to see and a number of flaws as well as strengths you start to appreciate, even if you can't put a finger on some of it.

Destiny Unfulfilled is not just a refreshing and coherent criticism of these very flaws of the HP books but goes further and attempts to provide solutions that could have made the series more ingenious than it already is. While there are already criticisms for plo When you've read and re-read the HP series a zillion times, there are things you start to notice, patterns you start to see and a number of flaws as well as strengths you start to appreciate, even if you can't put a finger on some of it. While there are already criticisms for plot holes and whatnots of the HP series, this book is rather a take on the creative decisions of JK Rowling.

The Harry Potter books are a phenomenon of our time and not without reasons. But that doesn't mean they don't have gnawing flaws. I came at this book after having heard it all in the fan pages and fandoms. Or so I thought. As Jim Adam has proved, it takes a book to comprehensively critique the phenomenon that is HP. I concur with most of the points author raises about our protagonist. This has been a serious peeve for me throughout the books. Harry is not much of a protagonist and Rowling seems to have lost a lot of opportunity by giving him a rugged upbringing and then completely failing to use it to develop him into someone who could match the stature of his mentors and nemesis as well as become a lot more than simply the "boy who lived" to go on an actually EARN the "boy who eventually killed the Dark Lord" title.

See a Problem?

There are times when we see the sassy, brave side to him but those are far and few in between. And quite accurately most of DU is based around how the main characters Harry, Dumbledore and Voldemort could have acted their part in a more realistic way and thus attaining the full potential of the universe JK Rowling has so creatively woven. I believe the ability of the HP universe to infuse and anchor itself in the reality of our world adds to it's addictive excellence. And when you see characters behaving in an illogical way or things happening that seem too fantastical even for a fantasy series, it gnaws at you.

That is exactly what the author has tried to address. The only problem is the alternatives that the author provides may not be the most effective resolution. Yes, the author is pedantic in some places but I overlooked that because I think that's a quality that has fueled much of this book. Different individuals may offer different takes on alternate plot lines that could have been but the author's efforts need to be applauded. I loved some of his arcs and his ability to weave a foolproof narrative.

Clearly, the critique comes from a place of immense appreciation for the series. And it shows in the writing and how far the author was willing to go with his analysis. Finally, this is a GREAT book for budding fiction writers for whom it could be nothing less than a generously done academic study of HP's many flaws. But this is what is so brilliant about Harry Potter. Even after years, you could continue to ponder over it, criticize it but still love it, still go back to enjoy it and still find something new.

Aug 04, Jaspal Rana rated it it was ok Shelves: I want to give this critical essay a better rating, I really do, but for the life of me, I can't. It began strong, but the author lost his way in the middle owing to rants, simplifications, and sweeping over-generalizations. As a result, what could have been a perceptive critique turned out to be a mix of hits and misses. The books' treatment of moral and ethical dilemmas leaves much to be desired. For example, in the first book, when Harry learns that his touch can harm Quirrel, he holds o I want to give this critical essay a better rating, I really do, but for the life of me, I can't.

For example, in the first book, when Harry learns that his touch can harm Quirrel, he holds on to him vehemently to protect himself and the Philosopher's stone, and foil the plans of Voldemort. However, he faints before Quirrel actually dies. This is a dodge, aimed to prevent Harry from confronting that someone is dead because of him. Harry, despite being an orphan, frequently acts callously towards the Creevy brothers, Myrtle, and Neville, among others.

This would not be a bad thing by itself, but Harry is usually portrayed as an empathetic figure, so it comes a bit off. Ron's underdevelopment as a character most important, in my opinion. Surprisingly, author does not spend much time on it.

This, in turn, diminishes the characters of both Snape and Malfoy - since both of these are quite complex characters, and could have given an additional depth to the Harry Potter universe. The way Dumbledore's past was revealed was problematic, and the rapidity with which Harry accepts this revelation even more so. Most of book seven really, but most importantly, the resolution. Misses All the misses can be attributed to a single fact - the author is an uncompromising proponent of the monomythic structure of the hero's journey.

He firmly believes that a hero must grow, both in power and wisdom, throughout the narrative. In his opinion, Harry Potter fails as a hero because he doesn't become another Dumbledore-esque wizard, capable of challenging Voldemort through the might of his arms or magic, in this case. His other complaint is that Harry lacks the courage to take hard decisions - he goes out of his way to placate Mrs. Weasley, he refuses to use lethal curses, he cares about his friends and acquaintances getting hurt in a friggin' war for crying out loud, etc. These points are, for the most part, moot because Harry is not meant to be Dumbledore.

While it is true that Harry's arc could have been handled better, the point here is that he values life, he refuses to kill, he is resilient. This is the key difference between him and Voldemort.

The author rants a lot about how Harry is not a hero, but his reasoning is flawed, and most of his arguments are non-sequiturs. For a series so phenomenal, Harry Potter is shockingly not faultless. Destiny Unfulfilled is a fan's analysis and an open request for J. Rowling to rewrite the series, all the while taking into consideration a more realistic attempt at character development.

First off, I enjoyed the sardonically conversational and cleverly convincing writing style. The author was able to strip the books bare of all the beautifully descriptive words, dig out its fallacies, constructively criticise them, and clear For a series so phenomenal, Harry Potter is shockingly not faultless. The author was able to strip the books bare of all the beautifully descriptive words, dig out its fallacies, constructively criticise them, and clearly point to more logical and entertaining substitutes.

Destiny Unfulfilled: A Critique of the Harry Potter Series

In the first few chapters, he presented solid points that render any counterargument invalid - save of course the fact that these are STILL children that ought to be given a freaking break 'cause they've been through so much! But then you realise that's exactly the point.

Indeed, the point I agreed with the most is the fact a fact which annoyed me a great deal whilst reading the series that the only time Rowling honestly deals with an emotional repercussion is that of the loss of a loved one, more or less. I understand this is fantasy fiction, but what's so loved about it is its alternate approach to reality, yet sticking true to it. Throughout the series, it feels as though the only connection setting the alternate reality and ours apart is the magical aspect, except when it comes to realistic tragedies.

Take for instance how Harry's abuse was belittled and the resulting psychological impact was not directly and carefully addressed. Adam's critique here is of the opinion that Rowling should've emphasised more on the realistic suffering. Although his criticism was thoughtful, it did often digress into senseless rants. Dec 27, Karin rated it really liked it. The author thinks that the HP books are a fantastic idea, but that Rowling's characters esp.

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