The Magnum Opus of Rowling

If you ask me to choose one single book, one single volume, as the "Magnum Opus" of J. K. Rowling, I will definitely choose Order of Phoenix. Before it, Harry was too young to to anything magneficent enought, too naive to allow Rowling to discuss on some meaningful themes. After it, Harry has too much task to accomplish, too much responsibility, hence Rowling have to concentrate on such plots instead of discussing on other themes.

In fact, each books is, simply speaking, more difficult to write than the previous ones, that need more skill and brain. The skill in writing Order of Phoenix is, I dare say, the limit of Rowling's power.

In Order of Phoenix, Rowling presented us some character, some figures that will be as immortal as Hamlet, Heathcliff and Elizabeth Bennet.

Umbridge is definitely the most unpopular villain in all these books. Voldemort iss but a "common thief", dreaming of dominating the world and turn Mudbloods and Muggles into slave, hence he's just some typical archvillain and won't make you extremely angry. Comparing with him, Umbridge is not that utterly evil, but, time and time again, she can give you urges to shatter her into millions of pieces. The problem is, she isn't simply "bad", and in fact, she's possibly intensely oppose to Voldemort. She's just executing the order of the Ministry with ultimate loyalty. Rowling showed us, with a little exaggerating, that what tragedy will occur when one put loyalty to an extreme. Besides, "toadlike" is definitely an adjective that will be recorded in the history of British Literature. What's more, "I must not tell lies" is such a classic tragic scene. Rowling has treated it with great skill.

Comparing to Umbridge, Percy is similar but different. As Fred said, he's an "Ministry-loving, family-disowning, power-hungry moron". His letter to Ron, also treated with some exaggerating, was another classic piece of work.

Jame Potter, a character almost re-figured in this book, is another shock for the readers. What's more noticable is, Rowling explained such re-figuring with only one immortal line, "A lot of people are idiots at the age of fifteen. James grew out of it."

Luna, needless to say, is a "mirror-inverse" of Hermione. Rowling treated her with some comical technique, but she's after all a lovely girl.

The figures of Weasley twins has been further developed in this book. They has some resemblance of James and Sirius at their age, while the difference is they never thought of really "grow out of it", and they led a uncommon but still happy life. Their life plan and ideal are quite interesting.

Finally, "Dumbledore's Army" is definitely a most exhilarating part of the whole book. It reminds me of my lectures, which was nicknamed as "DA".