ABSTRACT
J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter novels, like many children’s books, include a good deal of moral and ethical, even philosophical thematic. One such topic especially labels the first novel, Sorcerer’s Stone, but also comes forth in the whole series: desire. This novel ends the first stage of Harry’s personal growth and development with a discussion between him and Dumbledore, which specifically sums up the novel’s teaching about desire,
[Dumbledore tells Harry] You know, the Stone was really not such a wonderful thing. As much money and life as you could want! The two things most human beings would choose above all-the trouble is, humans do have a knack of choosing precisely those things which are worst for them.
