The Harry Potter books are among the world's most popular children's literature. The story revolves around Harry Potter, a boy send off to Hogwarts, a boarding school for young wizards. When each new student arrives at Hogwarts they try on a magic hat to determine which house they will join: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw. Slytherin is associated with warped wizards. When Harry puts on the Slytherin hat he hears its voice telling him that if he goes into Slytherin he will become a powerful wizard. He is disturbed by the quest for raw power and chooses not to join that house. In contrast, another boy, Tom Riddle is seduced by the promise of power and becomes Harry's arch enemy throughout the books.
JK Rowlings, author of the Harry Potter stories says that this episode expresses an important fact: that it is our choices rather than our abilities show us what we truly are.
Source: Interview with JK Rowlings published on Sydney Morning Herald website
26/10/01
Applications: choices, decisions, character, temptation, self image, self
esteem.