REACTION PAPER

Lee Andrej Berdijo G12 HUMSS Alonzo

HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE

Some of the Harry Potter Books are just collecting dust on my mom's old cabinet, while I
was wiping it with a damp cloth my father told me that it was one of the best-selling books of all
time (an estimated over $1 billion dollars! Not bad for a book right?) and that the book itself has
a fascinating story. I am not much of a book reader but knowing it from my both parents quite
pushed me to read it as well. This children's book's genre is mystery and fantasy combined with
political stories and a hint of British humor. The book has this dark, eerie, cold ambiance
matching with Christmas hints topped with a spooky historical background of the witches and
wizards, dungeons, goblins and trolls, and nightcrawlers, that even a warlock will surely get
goosebumps. Some might find me odd but that captured my attention while reading the book. It
is like Christopher Columbus and Tim Burton co-writing a book. So for me it is pretty much like
reading a Halloween and a Christmas book all at once.

“The boy who lived”

The plot is about an 11-year-old boy named Harry Potter who lives with his Uncle
Vernon and Aunt Petunia and his spoiled cousin Dudley at cupboard under the stairs #4 Privet
Drive Little Whinging, Surrey. One day young Harry received a letter from an owl and later
delivered by Rubeus Hagrid, the keeper of keys and grounds at Hogwarts the school of
witchcraft and wizardry in the wizarding world and invited him to join the upcoming class. On
that same night when Hagrid handed over the letter, Harry found out that his parents were not
killed in a car crash but murdered by one of the darkest wizards, Lord Voldemort. When he
arrived at Hogwarts Harry met some friends such as Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley.
Some nights Harry experiences some visions or should I say nightmares rather, insights on how
his father and mother got killed and how they protected Harry from the murderer. From these
episodes Harry at times feels a sudden headache coming from his scar on his forehead. But not
every day is a lonely day for Harry. He and his friends often go on adventures, meeting strangers,
and going from one place to another. They made me feel like Hogwarts is full of mystery that is
just waiting to be revealed. Their curiosity and hunger for adventure as a child made them
unravel the secrets within the walls of Hogwarts. Fluffy for example a 3-headed dog that will be
kept asleep with a good music, The mirror of Erised which is a magical mirror that shows the
deepest and most desperate desire of the viewer's heart, Firenze a centaur who saved him from
the cloaked creature who drank the blood of a unicorn, Harry being chosen as the new seeker of
the sports named Quidditch the favored sport in the magical world. But the most important of
them all is when the 3 of them discovered the sorcerer's stone, which is the key for achieving the
elixir of life which is immortality. They also discovered the people who're trying to get it and get
hold of it for a dark purpose.

“It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand
up to our friends.”
— Albus Dumbledore

Like many other protagonists, Harry showed us what it is like to be the one in control
with your life no matter how chaotic, depressing, lonely, and problematic it is. Even the odds are
against him considering how young he is, he never not even once had a thought of quitting no
matter how difficult the task is. Harry showed us patience and loyalty at most times when in
front of a very difficult task, showed empathy when one of his friends is down and in need,
showed a great deal of respect even with his enemies, and above all courage. However, just like
Frodo Baggins of the shire from the Lord of the rings. He would not be able to surpass all the
odds without the help of his friend Samwise Gamgee. Harry had help most of the time from his 2
bestest friends. Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger. Ronald Weasley belonged to the
Weasley family who are very loyal from Harry and the Order of the Phoenix (Dumbledore's
Secret Society of defeating Voldemort's team — But that is a different story i don't want to spoil
it!). The Weasley's are known as a historically pure-blood wizarding family. However, unlike
many other pure-blood families, they had pro-muggle views. They are also known for their lack
of money. Ronald Weasley is a kindhearted person which sometimes is a bit tacky, and quirky,
but the beauty about him is that he is always there to back Harry up in times of trouble.
Hermione Granger on the other hand is different. She is born with her parents being muggles
(non-magical folks), her most distinct feature is her prodigious intellect and cleverness. She is
also a book-worm kinda gal who often describes carrying loads of books, she is a bit
temperamental specially when she is around Ronald Weasley. Nevertheless, Hermione truly is
one of Harry's lucky charms in the wizarding world and pretty much the typical strong woman in
our modern day who is not afraid to take a risk! The infamous headmaster of Hogwarts Albus
Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore is the typical terror principal in a certain school but loving
and kind to his students. He is wise yet open for suggestions and not afraid to ask for help, gentle
but knows how to be strong in opposition, and my favorite of them all he is very knowledgeable.
Little bit of trivia, it is suggested that the author's primary school headmaster at St. Michael's
named Alfred Dunn is the inspiration from the fictional character Albus Dumbledore. Rubeus
Hagrid on the other hand is the typical father-like figure amongst the 3 protagonists, he typically
spent most of his time inside his hut, he also has an odd taste of pet like Aragog, a giant spider.
Buckbeak, a hippogriff. Fang a huge boar hound (Neapolitan Mastiff) which is known for having
a scary look but easily frightened dog too. Fluffy the 3-headed dog, and lastly Norbert, (that is
for you to find out).
 “As much money and life as you could want! The two things most human beings would
choose above all — the trouble is, humans do have a knack of choosing precisely those things
that are worst for them.”
— Albus Dumbledore

I was able to finish Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in 2021, and I simply watched
the entire Harry Potter series and that did not stop me from obtaining the message, content, and
underlying issues in Harry's life. True message of the story in my point of view is telling us how
to enjoy life despite all the odds that we are facing on a daily basis. No matter how tragic we
started we are the own protagonist of our own life story-and that is what truly defines us. As
Harry came across numerous life-threatening situations, he always, not at all times though,
sought help from his friends, clearly no man is an island as the proverb said. Always be true to
your word and be a good friend. Harry did not jump into conclusion but rather investigate first.
However, my favorite amongst the other good traits of Harry is humility. The last 10 years he
spent from the Dursley did not change him to become a bad person, he did not aim to punch
Malfoy in the face despite bullying Longbottom (one of his classmates) nor attacked Severus
Snape (potion-making professor) even though they already got a bad hunch towards him. He did
not stop on aiming for his own betterment even if he is famous, wealthy, or popular in the
wizarding world. Learning how to differentiate right and wrong is also a very important part of
one's development. In the latter part of the book wherein Harry acquired the Sorcerer's Stone,
Harry has all that he needs to revive his parents, but he did not follow his heart's desire; for it is
dangerous to have an excessive desire that might lead him to lose perspective in life. Same
reason why Dumbledore asks Harry to never look at the Mirror of Erised again.

“It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you
might as well not have lived at all, in which case you fail by default.”
— J.K. Rowling

J.K. Rowling (the author) was born 31st of July 1965 in Yate, Gloucestershire. Her birth
name is Joanne Rowling. Her parents met on a train from King's Cross station which she later
used in the Harry Potter Books as a gateway into the wizarding world. When she was a child,
She often wrote fantasy stories that she would read to her sister who is just 2 years younger. As a
teenager, Rowling said that she had a difficult and very unhappy time, she had a hard relationship
with her father and her mother was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. During her time in sixth
form, Rowling's best friend Sean had a car which ended up being the inspiration for the flying
version in the Harry Movie (chamber of secrets). During the time when Rowling was writing her
first Harry Potter book Sorcerer's Stone, it is said that she and her daughter were only staying
with her sister due to unstable income at the time, and she was also living off of welfare. She also
struggled with her marriage. Which I think defined all the emotions in her books, the hardship of
Harry Potter and his friends clearly are a mere reflection of the author's life. Funny, but I said
that Harry Potter is a children's book made as a bedtime story, but the deeper as it goes the
literary work of these books are mind-blowing. Gross-income aside, the author's story has
established the quality of her literary work. The excitement I have when reading it and cannot
wait for me to feel the fresh scent of turning the next page is exhilarating. My Dad taught me a
lot of things particularly Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, The Godfather (I am just kidding, my dad
says it is much more in a masculine than feminine). I am pretty sure that the Harry Potter Books
truly is one of the best fictional books of all time.