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Like plenty of other avid readers, I am a huge fan of the Harry Potter series and was excited to get a chance to read the final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Like other Harry Potter fans out there, I have read all of the other books of the series and have read nearly all of them multiple times. J.K. Rowling has outdone herself with this series. In the final book she explores how life’s many pressures can influence our decisions.

The decisions we make throughout life are effected by different aspect that we face on a daily basis. These can include our fears, our dreams, and the pressure put on us from those around us. In the Deathly Hallows, Harry sets out to destroy Voldemort once and for all with the fate of his own life and the rest of the Wizarding World resting on his shoulders. If this isn’t pressure than I don’t know what is. I crumble under the pressure of deciding what I should eat for lunch. Being faced with the burden of so many innocent lives I would definitley be a wreck.

When faced with pressure, those like myself who are not good at dealing with it tend to become almost paralysed. Our minds freeze up, our hearts beat fast, and our actions are very tense. However, Harry faces none of those symptoms. He remains cool and calm and thinks all of his actions through wisely. He is like those few people that, when faced with such a sense of urgency, use it to propel themselves forward. He uses his burden to achieve his goal. He knows he cannot back out and works so much harder to destroy Voldemort.

Pressure can take other froms as well. Fear is one of those forms and is probably the most overwhelming of them all. At the end of the book, we find Harry beginning to give into fear. Harry must walk thorugh the Forbidden Forest to his death. He must face Lord Voldemort and stand quietly while he is murdered by the Dark Lord. Harry is faced with two opposing pressures. The pressure of the lives of the rest of the Wizarding World and the fear of his own death. Once again, being faced with this decision I would be a wreck. Harry however nows that he must carry on and does so. He never loses sight of his goal even when faced with death.

I love the Harry Potter series, especially this book. J.K. Rowling is a genius and uses her books to explore the topics of love, death, and magic. The conclusion to this series is extraordinary and entertaining. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows should be read by everybody.