The essay:
Twi-Nerds
and Potterheads have had a long-standing rivalry over which series is better.
And, although I must shamefully confess to having a wee bit of Twi-Nerdom in my
heart--c’mon, who doesn’t adore a tragic/romantic love story?--Harry will
always win, hands down, every time. Let me explain.
First, to all
Harry Potter fans, there is no doubt that Hogwarts is real. The statement,
“Hogwarts is my home” rings true in each of our beating hearts as we wait every
summer for our Hogwarts letter to arrive, and even though the owl post misses
us each time, we never give up hope. (That Errol is a hopeless mess. I know
he’s just lost my letter somewhere!) JK Rowling has developed the wizarding
world so well, so richly, you are swept away completely. You know the streets
and shops of Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley like the back of your hand. You not
only know all the house crests and creeds, but have been sorted and sport your
house colors every opportunity you get. Rowling has given us an entire
wizarding realm, filled to the brim with diverse languages, spells, charms, and
creatures, all steeped in rich magical history and lore. In stark contrast,
Stephanie Meyer’s vampire world in Forks, WA is as boring as the actual city,
bland and with a complete lack of diversity. Her back-story development is
slipshod and poor with so little history that it’s left flat, tired, and
unimaginative. Twilight is less concerned with giving us an engaging world we
can live in than it is with shoving a tedious romance down our throats.
Harry Potter’s
characters are entirely more endearing and entertaining. First, our hearts
break for Harry, orphaned as a baby when Voldemort ruthlessly murders Harry’s
parents. Then he’s raised, unwanted and unloved by his muggle aunt and uncle,
relentlessly bullied by his rotten cousin, Dudley. He finally finds refuge,
respect, and a true home when Hagrid brings him to Hogwarts. He makes fast
friends with Ron and Hermione, and even faster enemies with Draco Malfoy and Professor
Snape. He is lovingly welcomed into the Weasley family as one of their own, Ron
as much a brother to him, Molly the much wanted mother, and Arthur a guiding
father figure. Hermione is his best friend, moral compass, and endless source
of wisdom. This golden trio carry us through all the typical struggles of
growing up, making the story so honest and relatable. We find heroes, loyalty,
true friendship, and romance. We mourn the heartbreaking loss of characters we
know and love like family. And ultimately cheer the triumph of good over evil.
What do we get from Twilight’s characters? A twisted, tortured love triangle
that is cheesy rather than heart felt. A fangless vampire that sparkles in the
sunlight rather than burns, and doesn’t even drink human blood. And a pack of
Native Indians that “pop” into werewolves when angered, like the Hulk, not when
exposed to a full moon. That is the extent of Meyer’s “creativity”.
The story of Harry
speaks to people of all ages. From young kids to grown adults, the series
connects with fans on such a deep level. There’s something for everyone:
adventure, fantasy, thrills, mystery, drama, comedy, and romance. We look
forward to sharing the series with the next generation, and reliving it again
through their hearts and eyes. On the other hand, the emotional, romantic plot
of Twilight is directed more at teenage girls, rather than trying to reach
across generations. Where you feel like you’ve grown up with Harry, Ron, and
Hermione, you don’t get that connection with Bella, Edward, and Jacob. The
Twilight storyline is rushed and just doesn’t connect as well with wider
audiences. Rowling has made Harry’s life, although quite fantastic and unusual,
still very tangible and relatable as he grows from a young boy into a heroic
man that we all deeply love and root for—our Chosen One.
Overall, Harry
Potter’s story and characters have been better developed, and feel much more
real to fans. Disney hasn’t recreated a Twilight theme park, but daily fans
flock madly to live out their magical dreams in the Wizarding World at
Universal. That alone speaks volumes. We all want to touch a piece of that
wonderful world of magic created by JK Rowling. No one wants to go to
forgettable Forks. And, there you have it—Harry wins. Always.
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