by Lily Garner

Created on: July 27, 2009

Death in the "Harry Potter" is unavoidable. Set in times when evil is rising, and has risen in the past, readers are forced to witness much loved characters die at the hands of Lord Voldemort and his followers; "Death eaters". In some ways, this makes "Harry Potter" an incredibly powerful series; despite being a children's series, it is harshly realistic, to the point where it is almost heartbreaking. Death is a key part of the series; it shapes the characters and highlights to the reader just how difficult the wizarding world can be.

To look at death in the series, you don't need to look any further than the protagonist. Harry has had death in his life from his first birthday, when his parents are killed by Voldemort. From the age of one, Harry has to grow up with death foreshadowing his past. Seemingly, death is something that follows Harry throughout the series. In the fourth book, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire", Harry sees Cedric Diggery, a rival in his quest to win the Triwizard Tournament, but someone who was also starting to become a friend, murdered, again at the hands of Lord Voldemort.

The phsychological impact of this death is highlighted in the fifth installment through the magical creatures, Thestrals. These can only be seen by wizards who have witnessed dying, and when it is made clear that Harry is one of the few who can see them, the audience realises just how much witnessing the death of Cedric Diggory has influenced him. No longer can he continue with the child like innocence that led him to believe that the coaches leading to Hogwarts are led by themselves; he sees the ugly creatures that actually drive them. His innocence and protection from reality is lost; he now sees things how they really are.

The deaths in "The Goblet of Fire" are also used by JK Rowling to signal just how drastic times in the Wizarding World have become. In the first chapter, the reader sees the death of an innocent "muggle" and later on witnesses the death of Cedric Diggory. This is the first time in the series we see someone actually be killed. While we have heard of deaths, we are told in the first novel of the deaths of Lily and James Potter, this is the first time the reader actually witnesses it himself. This marks a turning point in the series; it is no longer confined to the safe haven of Hogwarts where evil is defeated and good always wins. Times are changing; these deaths are perhaps a warning that the wizarding world we immerse ourselves in are

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