Author J.K. Rowling recently took a firm position regarding the current conflict in Israel and Palestinian territories by having her signature on an open letter along with over 100 other British cultural figures.
The letter, which was also used as a means of creating an activist network called Culture for Coexistence, argued for communication between the regions that are presently under attack as opposed to imposing sanctions against Israeli events and institutions.
Rowling had drawn more attention to her political position to fans by making use of one of her well-loved ‘Harry Potter’ characters, as many have already done to point out counterarguments online.
Her stance is centered on a scene in which Snape asks for Dumbledore to meet him at a hilltop in the sixth book, ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.’ It then became a question as to why this wise yet frail wizard willingly took such risk, when Snape could easily kill him. As Rowling explained, Dumbledore should be deemed “an academic.”
"He believes that certain channels of communication should always remain open. It was true in the ‘Potter’ books and it is true in life that talking will not change willfully closed minds," Rowling explained. "However, the course of my fictional war was forever changed when Snape chose to abandon the course on which he was set, and Dumbledore helped him do it."
Shedding more light on the issue, the British novelist stated that she feels the Palestinian people "have suffered untold injustice and brutality," and would prefer to "see the Israeli government held to account for that."
The mother-of-three is also happy to know that fans make use of her fictional world as they see fit, such as in coming up with their own political arguments anchored in the moral predicaments of her literary work.
According to Rowling, cultural boycotts should be seen as "divisive, discriminatory and counter-productive."
"I can only say that a full discussion of morality within the series is impossible without examining Dumbledore’s actions, because he is the moral heart of the books," the 50-year-old author added. "He did not consider all weapons equal and he was prepared, always, to go to the hilltop."
Meanwhile, the year 2016 is set to be a big year for Rowling and the rest of the ‘Harry Potter’ fandom. The first movie in a new trilogy of films, known as spinoff prequels to the ‘Harry Potter’ saga, has already been scheduled for a premiere in November 2016.
Starring Eddie Redmayne as the lead character Newt Scamander, ‘Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them’ will be set roughly seven decades before the existing Potter stories.
Moreover, the world of Potter is headed to the stage too as Rowling’s eighth story, ‘Harry Potter And The Cursed Child,’ is set to open in London in 2016. Although plot details are being kept under wraps, the award-winning author revealed that the play will tell "an untold part of Harry's story".
