Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone Ending Explained
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The ending of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone has much more significance to the rest of the series than audiences may assume. As the first movie in the franchise, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone has the benefit of knowing the series roadmap, as J.K. Rowling had already published the fourth book, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, by the time it was released. The first movie could also be considered a stand-alone work. Harry Potter, played by Daniel Radcliffe, and his friends enter the widening world of wizardry and magic, he discovers what happened to his parents, and he confronts and seemingly defeats Voldemort for good.
There’s no mention of Death Eaters, Deathly Hallows, or Horcruxes in Harry Potter’s first movie, and yet the groundwork for the series is laid down in just two and a half hours. Many of the characters’ motivations are shown in the first Harry Potter adaptation, and the plot’s forward momentum commences in the movie as eight installments worth of magic and adventure-filled storytelling begin. While the franchise’s details are not completely revealed here, the central storyline can be seen in a deeper analysis of the ending of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone as Dumbledore (Richard Harris), Harry, Voldemort, and their linked relationship are all present on the screen.
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The Invisibility Cloak And The Mirror Of Erised
The midpoint of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is also the midpoint of the school year at Hogwarts. At Christmastime, Harry Potter receives a cloak of invisibility that he uses to journey to the chambers containing the Philosopher’s Stone. This ability to shield Harry from adults and other figures of superiority is a frequent theme in the movies, and it’s not until Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows that it’s revealed that the cloak is one of the original Deathly Hallows. Harry Potter uses the invisibility cloak in order to bring the story of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone to the final scene before the third act begins.
Harry sneaks through Hogwarts to find the Mirror of Erised. What he and Dumbledore see in the mirror are not simply moments for character development, they foreshadow events following Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Dumbledore claims to see himself holding a pair of socks, but later audiences learn Dumbledore may be looking at his family tree. Harry sees his parents, in as real a situation as he can remember up until a moment in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows where he sees an apparition of his parents, again while he hides under the invisibility cloak, on his way to confront Voldemort in the forest.
Ron And Hermione’s Support
Harry Potter would not be the same character without the support and love of his two best friends, Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson). Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone introduces these two characters early on as precocious, argumentative, but ultimately loyal and brave children. The strength of the trio’s union that forms the bedrock of the series is begun in earnest in this first movie. Hermione and Ron’s support and courage mean Harry Potter doesn’t need to cast a spell in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Their friendship that grows throughout the series begins here, particularly during the trials before Harry Potter confronts Voldemort.
Harry Potter’s Heroism
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone gives viewers the first insight into a powerful piece of magical lore that is not concretely explained until later in the series. When Professor Quirrell (Ian Hart), possessed and aiding an incorporeal Voldemort, goes to attack Harry, the boy’s very touch incinerates the evil wizard. Harry grabs Quirrell’s face and turns him and Voldemort to ash. At the age of 11, with the monstrous figure of a two-headed dark sorcerer approaching him, Harry quickly deduces how to defeat his foe and has the courage and confidence to utilize his knowledge.
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Dumbledore’s Secret Knowledge
Albus Dumbledore seems to be a much less critical character in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone compared to how he is characterized in future films (particularly when Dumbledore was recast with Michael Gambon). The end of the movie has Harry Potter and Dumbledore chatting in a way that would become a standard for the series. Harry questions the events of the movie, and Dumbledore offers just enough answers to help him understand and protect him.
Dumbledore explains to Harry what happened to the Philosopher’s Stone. He says the stone only appears to those who want it but won’t use it, giving a tiny insight into the incredible magical powers Dumbledore possesses. Dumbledore’s explanation to Harry of why Voldemort could not touch him is much more important than it may appear on the first watch of the Harry Potter movies. Dumbledore says the love of Harry’s mother stopped Voldemort. This sets up a protection spell that saves Harry many times throughout the series and is one of the reasons why he vanquishes Voldemort at the end of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
The Real Meaning Of Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone’s Ending
Every year at Hogwarts for Harry Potter and his friends involves some sort of danger and adventure that the young wizards are pulled into as Voldemort grows in power. No matter how the year unfolds, it always ends the same way: the students of Hogwarts have grown, the evil has been defeated, for now, and it is time to board the Hogwarts Express and return home. At the end of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Harry boards the train but admits that he’s not going home because Hogwarts is where he belongs. The castle is as much a character as any person in the series.
Harry’s attachment sets up the fear in the next movie. In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Hogwarts itself becomes a dangerous location for the students with the Basilisk patrolling the halls. The way the safety of Harry’s real home is flipped is set up by his wish to stay at the end of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Hogwarts is a fixture of every movie in the series going forth, and nearly all the major events of the franchise, including the series crescendo at the deadly Battle of Hogwarts, take place somewhere in its halls. It’s an important set-up that Harry immediately finds his first home at Hogwarts.
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