Naming Harry Potter

Sadly, we must conclude our discussion of Harry Potter. Although there is still so much to say about the series, I have elected to write about a topic that has interested me since I first encountered the text -- the use of names in Harry Potter. As I hope to prove in this post, the role of character's names in this novel is extremely important (if not vital) to the overall of the novel and the ones that follow. 

The author seems to select the names of her characters in a ways that suggest layers of meaning -- from the connotation of the names to the literal translation of them. Either way, the author, J.K. Rowling, selects names that reflect the disposition of the characters -- sometimes flagrantly. A prime example of this is Dudley Dursley. The name alone inspires an image of one who is unintelligent and graceless -- a "dud". Indeed, Dudley is painted this way in the novel. Alternatively, the name Severus Snape may be a twist or interpretation of the words "sever and snake" and seems to help the reader gain insight into this character's disposition before they know anything about him. Peeves, the annoying poltergeist, also does exactly what his name suggests he would do -- peeve.

Ron, Harry's first and best friend, bears the last name of Weasley -- seemingly a flagrant derivative of "weasel". Draco Malfoy observers of him at the beginning of the novel: "No need to ask who you are. My father told me all the Weasleys have red hair, freckles, and more children than they can afford" (81). This "weasel" image created from this first description seems to help Harry develop his opinion of Ron and is maintained throughout the series, especially when meeting Arthur Weasley in the Chamber of Secrets.

Perhaps less blatantly than the names discussed so far, however, are the names Draco, Bellatrix, and Sirius. All of them come for stars or constellations. Draco, who plays an important role in this novel, is Latin, meaning "dragon", but is also a name of a constellation. He is described as having white hair, a pointed nose, and being extremely pale. Voldemort, the ultimate foe in the serious, is from French, meaning "escape from death", which is exactly what Voldemort does. Harry Potter, on the other hand, bears one of the few names in the text that seems normal. Mr. and Mrs. Dursley describe it as a "nasty, common name" (11). In a crowd of strange and picture-painting names, Harry Potter stands out as an unfixed character, capable of defying meaning and connotation.

In some cases, name meanings are very straight forward in this novel. At other times, they bear connotations that stick to the character like glue. Regardless of what the author intended by using these names, the effect remains: strong indirect characterization through names. In fact, I argue that these names restrict characters and even function to define them according to the author's desire, and do not help the reader make logic-based deductions about characters.

The effect, then, that the names of characters have on the story is vital. Is the reader intended to make assumptions about characters because of what they sound like they should be like? Harry certainly seems to take this approach as he journeys into Hogwarts, and the author seems to be inflicting bias on the readers as they similarly journey into the magical world of Harry Potter.