You're a Wizard, Harry
Harry Potter has always believed that he is an ordinary boy. On the night of his birthday, he finds out that is not the case. Hagrid busts into the shack that Harry and the Dursley’s had taken Harry to. He personally hands Harry his Hogwarts acceptance letter and informs him that he is no ordinary boy; he is a wizard.
This exact coming of age realization may be unique to Harry Potter, but a child finding out things they didn't know about their past isn't uncommon. Just like Harry discovers he is a wizard, a child may discover that he/she was supposed to be a twin or that he/she is adopted.
This exact coming of age realization may be unique to Harry Potter, but a child finding out things they didn't know about their past isn't uncommon. Just like Harry discovers he is a wizard, a child may discover that he/she was supposed to be a twin or that he/she is adopted.
This is the first step in Harry’s coming of age journey. He discovers everything that he thought he knew about his past is wrong, and that he is actually famous in the wizard world. With this very first revelation, Harry begins to grow into a great wizard. This one event is so important because it is the catalyst for all the events in Harry’s life. If this one crucial thing hadn't happened to Harry, he never would have learned about his past. Also, he certainly never would have gone to Hogwarts and had all of the experiences that shape him into the man he becomes.
Coming to Hogwarts
All kids have to start school at some point, whether they are muggles or wizards. That first day of kindergarten is both exciting and terrifying. The same thing goes for the first time all those 11 year olds step foot into Hogwarts.
Beginning school and finding friends is a major step in the coming of age journey. Harry boards the Hogwarts express and meets two people, Ron and Hermione, who become his best friends. He goes through all of the emotions that a child would face on their way to a brand new school. He is nervous, yet excited, and he knows that entering Hogwarts is going to change his life forever.
Beginning school and finding friends is a major step in the coming of age journey. Harry boards the Hogwarts express and meets two people, Ron and Hermione, who become his best friends. He goes through all of the emotions that a child would face on their way to a brand new school. He is nervous, yet excited, and he knows that entering Hogwarts is going to change his life forever.
Another important event that happens to the young witches and wizards entering Hogwarts is being sorted into their respective houses. Harry, Ron, and Hermione are all placed in Gryffindor house. This becomes a very important part of their identity as they grow up, and it is just another step in their journey to become adults.
As Harry adjusts to life at Hogwarts, he joins the Quiddich team, finds a mentor in Albus Dumbledore, and learns more about the wizard world. All these events are important in Harry's life and play a significant role in his coming of age journey.
As Harry adjusts to life at Hogwarts, he joins the Quiddich team, finds a mentor in Albus Dumbledore, and learns more about the wizard world. All these events are important in Harry's life and play a significant role in his coming of age journey.
Goodbye, Cedric
One of the most important moments in Harry Potter’s coming of age journey is when he is unexpectedly chosen to compete in the Triwizard Tounament even though he is too young. He competes alongside another Hogwarts competitor, Cedric Diggory. Cedric and he have their differences, but by learning to help each other, both boys accomplish another step on their coming of age journeys.
By finding the maturity necessary to not only compete in this very difficult tournament, but to also respect his opponents, Harry proves that he is growing up and becoming a strong adult. The one scene that impacts Harry’s life in a dramatic way is when Cedric is killed by Voldemort.
By finding the maturity necessary to not only compete in this very difficult tournament, but to also respect his opponents, Harry proves that he is growing up and becoming a strong adult. The one scene that impacts Harry’s life in a dramatic way is when Cedric is killed by Voldemort.
Harry is forever changed by this event, and it forces him to come of age faster than any young wizard should have to. In Michiko Kakutani's article "Books of the Times; For Famous Young Wizard, a Darker Turn," he explains how Harry is troubled by "not only the pressures of trying to save the world... but also by ordinary adolescent frustrations". After Cedric's death in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Kakutani describes that "though Harry is still the brave, decent boy we've met in the earlier novels, he's a much angrier character in these pages" (Kakutani).
Everybody has to face death in their lives. For Harry, it was the death of Cedric, for others, it may be the death of a family pet or even a grandparent. This is a hard thing to have to face, but ultimately, it is important for the coming of age process.
Everybody has to face death in their lives. For Harry, it was the death of Cedric, for others, it may be the death of a family pet or even a grandparent. This is a hard thing to have to face, but ultimately, it is important for the coming of age process.
Leaving Hogwarts
When the three main characters decide not to return to Hogwarts, this is a very important step in their coming of age journeys. Before leaving the school, Hogwarts had been a substantial part their lives. There comes a point in every person's life when he or she has to face the real world. This idea that there is more to life than school is one of the most important coming of age realizations.
In the Harry Potter series, the characters face this realization in a different way. The three main characters make the choice to focus on destroying Voldemort rather than returning to Hogwarts for another year in the same way that a college graduate joins the work force, or a kid who graduates high school decides that college isn't for them.
In the Harry Potter series, the characters face this realization in a different way. The three main characters make the choice to focus on destroying Voldemort rather than returning to Hogwarts for another year in the same way that a college graduate joins the work force, or a kid who graduates high school decides that college isn't for them.
For Harry, Ron, and Hermione, the next stage in their lives is defeating the evil wizard, Voldemort. They all decide that it is more important for them to face evil than it is to stay in the relative safety of Hogwarts. When they make this decision, they show how they have matured. They all realize that things don’t come easy in life and that they need to work hard to achieve the lives they want for themselves. This understanding is a factor in their decision to leave school behind and it helps them to come of age.