Choice & Chance

One of the most important themes that Rowling discusses in the book is the concept of choice and free will. From the start of the book, Rowling describes many uncanny similarities between Harry and Voldemort: their twin wands, their connection to snakes, even their some aspects of their appearance. In some respects, Harry seems fated to follow in the footsteps of Voldemort, a destiny which is demonstrated in the Sorting Hat's initial intention to sort Harry into Slytherin House. Yet, Harry refuses to take a passive role when it comes to his own future, particularly when it means following the path marked by the dark wizard who killed his parents. Thus, instead of accepting the Sorting Hat's decision, Harry refuses to be placed in Slytherin House and is placed in Gryffindor House instead.

As Professor Dumbledore later explains to Harry, it is the choices made by an individual that determine what kind of person they are and why kind of person they will become. Nothing is cut in stone when it comes to an individual's future, but, as Harry demonstrates, each individual has the opportunity to change the direction of their life through significant, as well as insignificant, choices.

The author has described "choices" as a recurrent theme in the books. "Its our choices," she had Dumbledore say, "that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." It would be naive to claim that an individual's life is completely an act of voluntary choice. Abilities, intellect, looks, environment and the like are all well beyond personal choice, and often present difficulties— sometimes catastrophic. Harry didn't choose to be made an orphan; that, along with being shackled to the fragment of Voldemort's soul, was inflicted upon him. He didn't choose to live with his "bigoted" and abusive aunt and uncle; or, for that matter, even to have wizard abilities. In fact, pretty much all of the "driving force" behind his early life's agenda was set for him by the choices of others. He was often punished for, essentially, "being."

Harry had to deal, early, with the choices made by his own father. The authordescribed James as a "spoiled," only child who was "talented, reasonably goodlooking, and loved... in short, everything Snape didn't have." He wasn't kind tothe outcast Snape, and such actions "have consequences... and we know what they were," she told us. Sirius had a similar issue with Kreacher, and produced nearly identical consequences.

For whatever reason, however, Harry's choices were not along the same lines as his fathers, even though they could have been! He could have alienated Moaning Myrtle very easily; but then he wouldn't have received her help in the bath or lake. He could have joined in the teasing of Luna Lovegood; but hewouldn't have had: her help in the ministry, information about the "veil" or thestrals, found a horcrux, or, let’s face it, escaped from the Dementors. Borrowing Arthur Weasley's statement to Harry: "It was a lucky day for the Potter family" when Harry let Luna make him her friend.