Alicia+Prince
Although the books about Harry Potter are technically a series for children, they explore many different grown-up themes. From dealing with loss to overcoming fear, the Harry Potter series is a thoughtful one. Whether you fancy yourself a Gryffindor or a Slytherin, a human or a house elf1), these eight lessons from Harry Potter will have you thinking about your approach2) to life.
雖然《哈利·波特》系列小說(shuō)嚴(yán)格來(lái)說(shuō)是一套童書,但它們也探討了有關(guān)成年人的許多不同的主題。從應(yīng)對(duì)失去到克服恐懼,《哈利·波特》系列是一套有思想深度的書。不管你想象自己是格蘭芬多的一員還是斯萊特林的一員,是人類還是家養(yǎng)小精靈,以下這八條從《哈利·波特》中得到的啟示都將讓你去思考你自己的人生觀。
We are only human.
"Dumbledore says people find it far easier to forgive others for being wrong than being right."
—Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
Much of the conflict in the Harry Potter series centers around greed and ego. The only way to overcome these problems is to see ourselves as fallible3), and accept that sometimes we are wrong. The Harry Potter series consistently reminds us to look at our own faults before tearing down4) others.
You can move on5) from loss.
"The things we lose have a way of coming back to us in the end—if not always in the way we expect."
—Luna Lovegood, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
我們只是凡人。
“鄧布利多說(shuō),人們發(fā)現(xiàn)原諒別人犯錯(cuò)要比原諒別人做對(duì)容易得多?!?/p>
——赫敏·格蘭杰,《哈利·波特與混血王子》
《哈利·波特》系列中的許多沖突都是圍繞貪婪和自負(fù)展開的??朔@些問題的唯一方法就是認(rèn)為我們自己是會(huì)犯錯(cuò)誤的,并接受自己有時(shí)也不對(duì)的事實(shí)?!豆げㄌ亍废盗幸恢碧嵝盐覀儯H低他人先審視我們自己的不足。
你可以從失去中獲得成長(zhǎng)。
“我們失去的東西終究會(huì)以某種方式回到我們身邊,即使并不總是以我們所期待的那種方式?!?/p>
——盧娜·洛夫古德,《哈利·波特與鳳凰社》
Another theme in the Harry Potter series is unexpected loss. Growing from tragedy and moving on is something we all have to learn to do. Ultimately, we recover from loss by growing in unexpected ways, which happens a number of times across the series.
Love is irreplaceable.
"Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living, and, above all those who live without love."
—Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Love is the closest thing to magic that we have, so in the Harry Potter universe, it's only fitting that love has special powers too. A recurring6) theme we could all imitate more, Harry Potter teaches us that love is the best solution.
You can overcome fear.
"Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself."
—Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
The Harry Potter series attacks head-on7) our desire as humans to protect ourselves from the world. While pretending something doesn't exist is comforting, ignorance of what challenges us only causes more problems. The Harry Potter series regularly reminds readers that fear of a problem is much worse than the actual problem.
Courage is complex.
"It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to8) our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends."
—Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Where most adventure tales involve standing up to powerful villains9), the Harry Potter series doesn't avoid the challenges of standing up to your friends. At the end of the first book, when nerdy10) Neville challenges the cool kids to try and save their lives11), he requires just as much courage as those of us standing up to evil. It is important to remember that all kinds of courage are required to be a good person in life.
Respect makes a difference.
"If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors12), not his equals."
—Sirius Black, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
The Harry Potter series is full of inequality between those of different species and backgrounds. Despite the attention that surrounds Harry, however, he refuses to treat anyone like less than a friend. The lesson that everyone deserves respect is a powerful one.
Hope can never be extinguished13).
"Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light."
—Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Throughout the course of the series, Harry Potter faces some truly troubling challenges. Despite the evil and darkness he fights, Harry is never willing to give up or grow tired. This is a powerful reminder that each of us has the power to make the world a little brighter, regardless of our circumstances.
Age is just a number.
"Age is foolish and forgetful when it underestimates youth."
—Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Another incredible lesson from the Harry Potter series is that age is no barrier to what you can accomplish. Despite their youth, Harry, Ron and Hermione conquer some of the most dangerous forces in their world. On the other hand, however, aging wizards like Dumbledore still remain powerful and capable. Emphasizing once again that choices define who you are, the Harry Potter series shows people of all ages limited only by their motivation and imagination.
《哈利·波特》系列的另一個(gè)主題是意外的失去。從悲慘的經(jīng)歷中成長(zhǎng)并繼續(xù)前行是我們所有人都必須學(xué)會(huì)去做的一件事。最終,我們會(huì)以意外的方式獲得成長(zhǎng),并借此從失去中恢復(fù)過來(lái),這樣的事在整個(gè)《哈利·波特》系列中發(fā)生過很多次。
愛是不可替代的。
“不要憐憫死者,哈利。憐憫活著的人,特別是那些活著卻沒有愛的人?!?/p>
——阿不思·鄧布利多,《哈利·波特與死亡圣器》
愛是我們所擁有的最接近魔法的東西,所以在《哈利·波特》的世界中,讓愛也擁有特殊的能力便再合適不過了?!豆げㄌ亍纷屛覀兠靼琢藧凼墙鉀Q問題的最好辦法,這個(gè)主題在書中反復(fù)出現(xiàn),是我們每一個(gè)人都可以更多去仿效的。
你能夠克服恐懼。
“恐懼一個(gè)名稱會(huì)讓你對(duì)這個(gè)事物本身更恐懼?!?/p>
——阿不思·鄧布利多,《哈利·波特與密室》
《哈利·波特》系列直接抨擊了我們?nèi)祟愊胍Wo(hù)自己不受這個(gè)世界傷害的愿望。雖然假裝某件事不存在會(huì)讓我們感到安慰,但無(wú)視挑戰(zhàn)只會(huì)造成更多的問題?!豆げㄌ亍废盗锌偸窃谔嵝阎x者,對(duì)“問題”的恐懼要比對(duì)問題本身的恐懼糟糕得多。
勇氣沒那么簡(jiǎn)單。
“直面我們的敵人需要極大的勇氣,但直面我們的朋友也需要同樣多的勇氣?!?/p>
——阿不思·鄧布利多,《哈利·波特與魔法石》
大多數(shù)冒險(xiǎn)故事都包含反抗大反派的情節(jié),《哈利·波特》系列則沒有回避反抗朋友這種形式的挑戰(zhàn)。在第一部書的結(jié)尾,當(dāng)書呆子氣的納威盤問那些酷小孩好試著救他們的命時(shí),他需要和我們當(dāng)中那些直面邪惡的人所需要的一樣多的勇氣。記住這一點(diǎn)很重要:我們需要各種各樣的勇氣,才能在生活中做個(gè)好人。
尊重他人很重要。
“如果你想了解一個(gè)人的為人,好好留意他是如何對(duì)待不如他的人的,而非他是如何對(duì)待與自己一樣的人的。”
——小天狼星·布萊克,《哈利·波特與火焰杯》
不同物種和背景間的那種不平等在《哈利·波特》系列中比比皆是。雖然哈利受到了種種關(guān)注,但他卻像對(duì)待朋友一般地對(duì)待每一個(gè)人,不愿意厚此薄彼。每個(gè)人都值得被尊重,這是一條非常有用的啟示。
希望永遠(yuǎn)都不會(huì)破滅。
“即使是在最黑暗的時(shí)刻,幸福也有跡可循,只要你記得把燈打開?!?/p>
——阿不思·鄧布利多,《哈利·波特與阿茲卡班的囚徒》
在《哈利·波特》系列故事的發(fā)展中,哈利·波特面臨過一些真正令人煩惱的挑戰(zhàn)。盡管他要對(duì)抗邪惡和黑暗勢(shì)力,哈利卻從不愿放棄,也從未變得倦怠。這有力地提醒了我們,不管處境如何,我們每一個(gè)人都有能力去讓這個(gè)世界變得更加光明一點(diǎn)。
年齡不過是一個(gè)數(shù)字。
“倘若低估青春,那年齡真是又蠢又健忘?!?/p>
——阿不思·鄧布利多,《哈利·波特與混血王子》
從《哈利·波特》系列中得到的另一個(gè)很棒的啟示是,年齡并不會(huì)阻礙你能取得什么樣的成就。雖然哈利、羅恩和赫敏都很年輕,他們卻擊敗了他們所處世界中的一些最危險(xiǎn)的力量。而另一方面,鄧布利多這樣年邁的巫師卻依然強(qiáng)大而又能干。《哈利·波特》系列再次強(qiáng)調(diào)了你是一個(gè)怎樣的人是由你做出的選擇來(lái)定義的,表明了不管年齡大小,人只會(huì)被自己的能動(dòng)性和想象力所限制。
1. house elf: 家養(yǎng)小精靈,是《哈利·波特》系列中一個(gè)卑微的種族。它們一般身高僅有60~90cm,四肢細(xì)長(zhǎng),頭部和眼睛特別大,有著蝙蝠似的尖耳朵,必須世世代代為巫師主人服務(wù)。它們承擔(dān)一切家務(wù),受主人的束縛,不能隨便違抗其命令,如果違抗則必須對(duì)自己進(jìn)行懲罰。
2. approach [??pr??t?] n. (待人接物或思考問題的)方式,方法,態(tài)度
3. fallible [?f?l?bl] adj. 會(huì)犯錯(cuò)誤的
4. tear down: 詆毀;貶低
5. move on: 繼續(xù)前進(jìn);(在生活中)成長(zhǎng),長(zhǎng)進(jìn)
6. recurring [r??k??r??] adj. 反復(fù)出現(xiàn)的
7. head-on [?hed ??n] adv. 正面地;直接地
8. stand up to: 對(duì)抗;勇敢反對(duì);不甘忍受某人的欺負(fù)(或不公平對(duì)待)
9. villain [?v?l?n] n. 反面人物;壞人
10. nerdy [?n??di] adj. 書呆子氣的;無(wú)趣乏味的
11. 在《哈利·波特與魔法石》的第16章“穿越活板門”中,哈利、羅恩和赫敏懷疑斯內(nèi)普要偷走魔法石,擔(dān)心如果他得手的話伏地魔就會(huì)回來(lái),霍格沃茨學(xué)??赡芫蛯⒈灰臑槠降兀谑潜銢Q定一起去拿魔法石。正在這時(shí),他們碰到了納威。為了避免他們?nèi)吮蛔プ∩踔潦潜婚_除,納威不顧一切地阻攔和反對(duì)他們。challenge [?t??l?nd?] vt. 盤問;查問
12. inferior [?n?f??ri?(r)] n. (地位、等級(jí)等)低于他人者;不如別人的人
13. extinguish [?k?st??ɡw??] vt. 使破滅