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The Frailty of Will

Too Much Power, Not Enough Responsibility

By Alice ♡Published 5 years ago 3 min read
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Written October 26, 2017

Nobody is perfect, and most people are actually far from it. Human beings by nature are flawed. We hurt people we care about, we destroy the world we live in, and we always have an excuse for why our bad behavior should be pardoned. It’s not to say people are completely terrible, but it is to say that we are greatly flawed. Despite the fact that we all know this, many people are hesitant to admit their flaws. One way we see them without admitting to them is through fiction novels. In most cases, fiction is just a hidden form of truth. Authors write the stories that are hard to tell, and people relate to them, because they find some common ground without realizing. As Eleanor Roosevelt said, “The reason that fiction is more interesting than any other form of literature, to those who really like to study people, is that in fiction the author can really tell the truth without humiliating himself.” This applies not only to writers, but to readers as well. No one wants to admit they’re terrible, but they absolutely love to read about it.

At the end of the Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling’s main character, Harry, receives the Elder Wand, the most powerful wand ever made. Rather than use the wand or hide it away, however, Harry decides to destroy it. Many would say the decision was foolish. Why would he throw away such a powerful force, and waste an opportunity for immense good? When remembering that fiction reflects reality, however, Harry’s choice makes a lot of sense. Consider if Harry had kept the wand. What’s to say it wouldn’t fall into the wrong hands eventually? With so many people in the wizarding world wanting power, at least one of them is bound to use it for evil. Another consideration would be Harry himself. Who’s to say Harry wouldn’t use the power for malicious intent if provoked? If fiction mimics reality, it’s highly possible, especially with Harry being young and impressionable. People love to be optimists and say that “good always prevails” or “villains never win.” People love to fantasize life to be like fairy tales where good is good, evil is evil, and heroes save the day. The reality, however, is that sometimes “evil” does win. Good people don’t stay good, and bad people don’t stay bad. Heroes don’t always save the day. The black and white fairytale is never actually black and white.

We’ve all heard the quote “only the good die young.” Generally speaking, it’s referring to the idea that God takes the righteous and good people back to heaven first before they have a chance to turn to sin. This implies that over time, the vices of the world can tempt even the kindest of souls. Another variation of the saying, and one I personally prefer, would be a line from the popular film The Dark Knight, said by the character Harvey Dent. In the movie, Dent says, “You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become a villain.” The meaning of the quote is very clear, and the nature of Dent’s character in the film just highlights it. Harvey Dent was the face of justice in Gotham City, standing for everything good and giving hope to the people living in the hellish city. Despite his good qualities, and all efforts to bring peace, Dent was eventually changed into the villain of the movie, taking on the name Two-Face, one of Batman’s main villains in both film and comic book.

Sometimes reality is unpleasant, but it doesn’t change the fact that it’s true. Things are what they are, and while humans may not be inherently evil, they are easily swayed. It is my firm belief that had Harry kept the wand in the book, it would have resulted in negative events. Eventually, someone would cross him, and the temptation to use the power would overtake the want for good. And, if not he, someone else would have come along to steal the power from him, also driven by malice or greed. Whether in real life, on the page, or in film, people are much too vulnerable to be trusted with immense power.

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About the Creator

Alice ♡

"I am by nature, a dealer in words, and words are the most powerful drug known to humanity." - Rudyard Kipling

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