Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – J.K. Rowling

Without time to recover from the shock of Voldemort’s return, Harry Potter feels trapped in a world of uncertainty and lies. Nobody from the Order of the Phoenix, a resistance group, will answer questions about how they plan to thwart Voldemort’s efforts, and the Ministry of Magic reports lies and slander in the daily newspaper, portraying Harry as a lunatic. On top of the stigma Harry is forced to deal with, he must also face his most difficult year yet at school. Professor Umbridge, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, brings her own agenda and challenges to school, sparking chaos and covert rebellion. As Harry struggles to find ground to stand on, everything in his world keeps shifting, creating more uncertainties and obstacles for him to work through. The only thing that seems to stay the same is the dark hallway Harry constantly returns to in his dreams.

General consensus describes “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” as the darkest novel of the series, and rightly so. Rowling aptly captures all the angst and isolation of adolescence and combines it with the struggles and grief of personal tragedy to create the melancholy, bitter world of Harry’s fifth year at school. The injustice of his friend’s behavior carries more weight than the political slander Harry faces from the government. Rowling’s emphasis on personal relationships lays the foundation for significant plot points in the sixth and seventh novels. In fact, Rowling reveals the most important point at the climax of the fifth novel. The ability to care for others, feel compassion, pain, and empathy, is both the greatest strength and most painful weakness of human connection. Rowling shows this in the way the characters construct supportive alliances in the face of frustration, develop patience and appreciation through poignant interactions, and reach out to others in times of need. Unfortunately, Harry is caught in the throes of adolescence, and rather than recognizing this strength, he registers the pain that necessarily accompanies relationships.

Rereading the fifth novel through my social worker lens was a very interesting experience. I read a lot more into the social justice side of the wizarding world, specifically in how discrimination determines alliances and what relationships are needed for individual and collective efficacy. I was also very intrigued by the emphasis on family. Spoiler alert – Harry’s blood connection to his aunt protects him from Voldemort. While this reinforces a traditional family model, an argument could also be made for Harry’s unconventional family, including the Weasleys, Dumbledore, Hagrid, his friends, and the Order of the Phoenix, who care for and protect Harry beyond his blood relations. Overall, Rowling proffers an optimistic interpretation of the world in which the ties that bind are stronger than the forces that divide. Read and consider, then let me know when you’re ready to discuss because I always love to discuss Harry Potter.