Courage Under Fire: Regarding the Order of the Phoenix
I remember reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix for the first time back in high school, incredulous that the Ministry of Magic would try to keep something as devastating as the return of Voldemort so vehemently under wraps. Given the state of affairs these days, from the suppression of the truth to malicious leadership, it actually seems pretty par for the course if a bit restrained. That's a whole other thing; let's dig into the text and the film.
Order of the Phoenix explores consequence, more specifically the consequences left from The Goblet of Fire's earth-shattering climax. Harry is suffering from PTSD after watching Cedric Diggory killed before his eyes. His father's old allies are scrambling to reorganize and they're doing it working against the wishes of the Ministry who install a puppet headmistress at Hogwarts, Dolores Umbridge, one of the most effectively reviled literary antagonists in modern fiction. And the Death Eaters are still on the loose with their own nefarious agenda breaking their old comrades-in-arms out of Azkaban.
Harry was always something of a leader, a rallying figure among his classmates but Order of the Phoenix has him actively step up and take charge. A lot of that comes from a place of frustration and necessity; working opposite of the Ministry and largely dismissed by the titular secret organization formed in Sirius Black's old estate, Harry forms and trains his own secret student group Dumbledore's Army rather than stay on the sidelines. But, if there's any big underlying theme for Harry it's that his final confrontation with Tom Marvolo Riddle will have to be alone and that it's maybe not the most healthy thing in the world to be a father figure to Harry Potter.
As much as I appreciate the novel as a whole, Order of the Phoenix is probably my least favorite of all the books in the series. It's the longest book in the entire series and it doesn't have to be, not really. As the plot unfolds, it's revealed that Harry shares a psychic link to Voldemort which results in perhaps the most distractingly melodramatic emotional moments in the series as well. Harry's temper had really first been introduced in The Prisoner of Azkaban, subtly growing until it explodes to the surface with the fifth installment. The Boy Who Lived has his father's temper compounded by an unhappy upbringing and recent trauma and we see the consequences of that here though sometimes it's handled a bit awkwardly. I think I recall reading somewhere that this one didn't get enough time in editorial to meet publisher deadlines and it shows.
Having said all that, the film adaptation is my favorite in the entire franchise. David Yates knows what relatively extraneous elements from the text to excise and it actually runs pretty tight with a workmanlike efficiency. It's surprisingly comical but Yates knows when to hit his big emotional beats too. And that climax in the Ministry headquarters is the most swashbuckling fun in the entire franchise.
Order of the Phoenix is about banding together and making a stand when literally everyone else has written you off; dismissed you. Harry endured the shock of his life at the end of The Goblet of Fire and it's impact has rippled across the magical world ever since. But he's too stubborn and hard-headed to stay down for the count. The Goblet of Fire is about unexpected defeat in the face of celebration. The Order of the Phoenix is about wiping the blood off your face, taking a deep breath, and jumping right back into the fight.
Order of the Phoenix explores consequence, more specifically the consequences left from The Goblet of Fire's earth-shattering climax. Harry is suffering from PTSD after watching Cedric Diggory killed before his eyes. His father's old allies are scrambling to reorganize and they're doing it working against the wishes of the Ministry who install a puppet headmistress at Hogwarts, Dolores Umbridge, one of the most effectively reviled literary antagonists in modern fiction. And the Death Eaters are still on the loose with their own nefarious agenda breaking their old comrades-in-arms out of Azkaban.
Harry was always something of a leader, a rallying figure among his classmates but Order of the Phoenix has him actively step up and take charge. A lot of that comes from a place of frustration and necessity; working opposite of the Ministry and largely dismissed by the titular secret organization formed in Sirius Black's old estate, Harry forms and trains his own secret student group Dumbledore's Army rather than stay on the sidelines. But, if there's any big underlying theme for Harry it's that his final confrontation with Tom Marvolo Riddle will have to be alone and that it's maybe not the most healthy thing in the world to be a father figure to Harry Potter.
As much as I appreciate the novel as a whole, Order of the Phoenix is probably my least favorite of all the books in the series. It's the longest book in the entire series and it doesn't have to be, not really. As the plot unfolds, it's revealed that Harry shares a psychic link to Voldemort which results in perhaps the most distractingly melodramatic emotional moments in the series as well. Harry's temper had really first been introduced in The Prisoner of Azkaban, subtly growing until it explodes to the surface with the fifth installment. The Boy Who Lived has his father's temper compounded by an unhappy upbringing and recent trauma and we see the consequences of that here though sometimes it's handled a bit awkwardly. I think I recall reading somewhere that this one didn't get enough time in editorial to meet publisher deadlines and it shows.
Having said all that, the film adaptation is my favorite in the entire franchise. David Yates knows what relatively extraneous elements from the text to excise and it actually runs pretty tight with a workmanlike efficiency. It's surprisingly comical but Yates knows when to hit his big emotional beats too. And that climax in the Ministry headquarters is the most swashbuckling fun in the entire franchise.
Order of the Phoenix is about banding together and making a stand when literally everyone else has written you off; dismissed you. Harry endured the shock of his life at the end of The Goblet of Fire and it's impact has rippled across the magical world ever since. But he's too stubborn and hard-headed to stay down for the count. The Goblet of Fire is about unexpected defeat in the face of celebration. The Order of the Phoenix is about wiping the blood off your face, taking a deep breath, and jumping right back into the fight.
