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Harry Potter and the Cursed Child |
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[alert-success] Sixth Semester – Fantasy Literature [/alert-success]
Introduction: A New Beginning
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child continues the story of the Harry Potter universe. It is not written as a novel, but as a theatre script, which means the story is told through dialogue and stage directions instead of detailed narration. It was created by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany, and first performed in 2016 in London.
This play takes place nineteen years after the final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The characters we knew as children—Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Draco—are now adults with children of their own. The story mainly follows Albus Severus Potter, Harry’s son, and Scorpius Malfoy, Draco’s son, as they try to make their own path in a world still shaped by the past.
Theme: Struggling with Identity
One of the major themes of the novel is personal identity. Albus Severus Potter grows up under the shadow of his father, Harry Potter. Everyone expects him to be brave, popular, and talented like Harry, but Albus feels completely different.
Albus: “I didn’t choose to be his son.”
Albus feels trapped by his family name. He wants to be seen for who he truly is—not just as "Harry Potter’s son." He is sorted into Slytherin, not Gryffindor, and is not a great student or Quidditch player. The story emphasizes that identity should not be inherited. People must be allowed to discover and define themselves in their own time, in their own way.
Difficult Parent-Child Relationships
The play focuses deeply on the emotional distance between Harry and Albus. Although they love each other, they struggle to understand each other. Harry, who grew up without parents, is unsure how to raise a child. Albus, meanwhile, feels that his father doesn’t respect or understand him.
Harry (angrily): “Sometimes I think I should never have been a father.”
Albus (hurt): “Sometimes I wish you weren’t my dad.”
These are heartbreaking lines that show just how broken their relationship becomes. It reflects a very real issue: parents and children not always know how to communicate, especially when they are very different from one another. Being a good parent requires more than love, it requires patience, listening, and honesty. Harry must learn to stop expecting Albus to be someone else and start accepting him for who he is.
Friendship as a Safe Space
Albus’s one strong connection is with Scorpius Malfoy. Despite being the son of a former enemy, Scorpius is one of the kindest characters in the play. He is shy, clever, and often teased because people think he is the son of Voldemort, which is just a rumor. Albus and Scorpius find strength in each other. Their friendship is genuine, supportive, and at times even more emotionally rich than their relationships with their families.
Scorpius: “You make me stronger, Albus.”
Their friendship is a major positive force in the play. It helps both boys grow and survive the dangers they face. The play reminds us that friendship can be more powerful than bloodlines. A true friend sees and accepts who you really are and that kind of support can help people heal.
Changing the Past Can Be Dangerous
The main plot involves Albus and Scorpius using a Time-Turner to go back in time and try to save Cedric Diggory from dying in the Triwizard Tournament. They think they are doing a good deed, but each time they change the past, the present becomes worse.
One version of the future becomes a dark world where Voldemort rules, another where Harry dies, and in one, Cedric becomes a Death Eater due to the shame of being humiliated.
Scorpius: “We broke time. We did something terrible.”
This plot twist teaches a clear lesson: you cannot fix the past without creating new problems. Life must be lived moving forward. Time travel in this story is used as a symbol of regret. People often wish they could change what went wrong in the past, but this play shows that doing so is not only impossible but dangerous. It’s better to learn from the past and make better choices now.
Evil’s Legacy and the Rise of Delphi
A new character, Delphi, first appears as a helpful, mysterious young woman. But later identified as Delphi Diggory, who is the daughter of Lord Voldemort and Bellatrix Lestrange. She wants to go back in time and help Voldemort win.
Delphi: “I am the daughter of the Dark Lord.”
This shocking twist adds danger and conflict to the story. Delphi’s character is complex: she is lonely, powerful, and obsessed with completing Voldemort’s mission.
''Darkness can return if we forget the past." Delphi represents the idea that evil doesn’t disappear just because the villain dies. Hatred, pain, and violence can live on through others if they are not understood and prevented.
The familiar characters we have grown with:
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Harry is now Head of Magical Law Enforcement but still struggles with emotional issues.
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Hermione is wise and powerful as the Minister for Magic.
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Ron is warm and supportive, bringing humor and heart.
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Draco is surprisingly soft-spoken and deeply cares about his son, Scorpius.
Even as adults, these characters continue to learn, grow, and change. This gives the story depth and reminds us that life is a journey, not a destination.
Draco: “People say parenting is the hardest job. They’re right.”
Style and Structure: A Script, Not a Novel
One thing that makes this story different is its format. It is written as a script, so readers do not get deep descriptions or long explanations. Instead, the story moves through dialogue and stage directions, which means it reads more like a movie or play.
Conclusion:
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child may not be a classic novel, but it is a meaningful addition to the world of Harry Potter. It explores emotional truths: how hard it is to be a parent, how painful it is to feel like a disappointment, and how powerful friendship can be. Its themes of identity, forgiveness, regret, and love make it a valuable story, especially for younger readers growing up and facing their own choices.
“The world changes, and we change with it.”
The play teaches us that love, truth, and understanding are stronger than fear and fame—a message that continues the spirit of the original books.
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