We all know what it's like to give up something – but hopefully none of us really know the kind of pain that Harry goes through in this book when he's got to give up his life to save the world. This is the trade-off that we all knew was coming all along… but now that it's here, it's a real bummer, to say the least! Sacrifice is the ultimate lynch pin here, upon which this whole saga swings: Lily's sacrifice of herself for Harry, followed by Harry's sacrifice for, um, everyone else. It's all tied up in the question of love – which, as we see in this book, really does hurt sometimes.
Questions About Sacrifice
- What are the various kinds of sacrifices we see throughout this book?
- How much do you think Dumbledore's notion of "for the greater good" has to do with sacrifice? Is the exchange that's necessary – Harry for the rest of the world – fair?
- What comment do you think Rowling is ultimately making about the significance of the act of sacrifice?