With Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince releasing in theaters today, I turned to my sister and colleague, Lizzie Post, a manners-mad, Potter-loving Muggle to blog about the etiquette connections and inspiration to be found in J.K. Rowling's beloved Harry Potter series.
By Lizzie Post
The economy, and a frigid
winter followed by a frigid spring left me feeling like the dementors of Azcaban had settled into
I don’t just read these
books again and again because the story is delicious or because it’s woven with
such subtlety and purpose. I don’t read them because they were a phenomenon. I
read them because the characters give me hope; they influence me. They make me
want to be a better person. They stand up for what is right and good. Even when
they falter, they learn and move forward. Could an etiquette expert ask for a
better example of chivalry, honor, respect (except when speaking to Snape –
excuse me, Professor Snape), valiance
and unselfishness? Hermione, Ron, Neville, Harry, Lupin, Luna, Dumbledore, The
Weasley family, McGonagle… oh, the list could go on and on! They are such
wonderful examples of standing up for what is right, respecting tradition, and being
welcoming and encouraging of others that I cannot even put into words how sad I
am to have finished the last page.
I know that one day I will again return to Rowling’s wizarding community, and I shall have another few months where I live in a world of consideration, respect and honesty that so emulates the work of Emily Post: Treat others well, have respect for self, and always remember to laugh.
With Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince releasing today, I’ll share my thoughts on individual characters and scenes and their link to etiquette over the coming weeks. I invite you to share your thoughts on chivalrous behavior in literature and film. What characters bring out the good in you? What scenes make you want to be a better person when you step out for the day?
And now, if
you’ll excuse me, I have to see a man about a wand. Mine only seems able to
make ink stick to paper.



