Ethical And Moral Decisions In Harry Potter And The Book Thief

Memories and Grieving Impacting Ethical and Moral Decisions

In J.K Rowling’s novel Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and Mark Zusak’s novel The Book Thief, memories act as an important basis for the actions and choices of characters. Memories of influential people in character’s lives often act as a basis point for his or her ethical or moral beliefs. Thus, when acting or making choices, memories of loved ones and the grief associated with loss are significant in character’s choices. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and The Book Thief, both offer examples of main characters whose ethical and moral decisions are at some point determined by the memories and beliefs of their loved ones. In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Harry’s actions in the wizard revolution are solely determined by the memories and beliefs of his lost loves ones, specifically Albus Dumbledore. Subsequently, in The Book Thief, Liesel Meminger’s actions in the beginning are influenced by her loved ones such as her deceased brother. In the later part of the novel, Liesel

Being a ten-year-old girl, the reader assumes that Liesel has not acted unethically or without morals. It is assumed that her mother has taught her right from wrong. However, immediately following the burial of her brother, Liesel actions without morals the reader assume she has. “When the dragging was done, the mother and the girl stood and breathed. There was something black and rectangular lodged in the snow. Only the girl saw it. She bent down and picked it up and held it firmly in her fingers. The book had silver writing on it” (Zusak, 24). The reader begins to question why Liesel steals this book as it is clear that she does not have a specific reason for obtaining it. Later in the novel, the reader discovers something about Liesel that contradicts the decision to steal a