A Picture Says a Thousand Words (comments on Harry Potter)

The problem that I have struggled with through the Harry Potter series has been only a small annoyance. For the most part, I have loved the series. Like many fans, I anxiously awaited the upcoming books and had discussions on end with others about where we predicted the story to be going. The process of analyzing the plot for hints toward future endeavors propelled me into a new dimension of enjoyment with the series. You see, I had become so invested in the characters that I felt that I somewhat knew them. If an action were to take place that I felt caused dissonance between the character I knew and what was happening in the book, I would try to find ways that Rolling could explain why things were the way they were and have it all make sense again.

Another very pleasurable thing about the stories were the multiple layers of conflict that appeared in each book. Not only could I follow the story of Harry and Voldemort but I could project hopes onto Neville, wonder when Ron and Hermione were finally going share their feelings for each other, ponder which side Snape was really on, cheer on Luna as she becomes accepted by others, and many other things.

My problem comes in, not with Rowlings writing, but with the illustrations to the US versions of the book. Unlike many readers, I can not bring myself to read chapter titles before I read a book. I sometimes will even stop reading the synopsis given on the back just because I feel saddened that some of the excitement is given away to me too easily. Many of the Harry Potter books contain images that overtly, in my eyes, tell the reader what is going to happen in crucial parts of the book. The best example of this would be found in The Prisoner of Azkaban. The cover includes Harry and Hermione riding on Buckbeak. When Buckbeak is introduced only Harry rides on the animal. Then the hippogriff is taken away until the very end of the book. This indicates that the animal will make a final appearance with Harry and Hermione saving the day. On the title page, Sirius Black is looking forlorn with Scabbers at the window. Scabbers’ identity or prerogatives are not questioned until the end of the book as well. This indicates to the reader that Sirius and Crookshanks may not be the only shady characters within the story. It also shows that Sirius and the rat have some sort of connection.

I understand that these books are targeted at children and that these pictures ease tension that might be built up. They aid in doing a literary analysis of the plot while in the process of reading the book by providing contextual hints. The pictures are also helpful, with a quick glance, to remind readers what has happened in previous books that they have read (much like reading the back cover’s synopsis). In other words, it works for some people, but not for me. I will purposely take the jacket covers off the books while I am in the process of reading them as well as skip over the title pages so that I can’t make premature assumptions of the book. This helps me to take in and enjoy to the fullest the written words of Rowling, instead of jumping to conclusions before I get through the first chapter.

-Lynn