65 pages • 2 hours read
J. K. RowlingHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2005A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Symbols & Motifs
Horcruxes
The Horcruxes are an important symbol and plot point. Within the context of the book, they refer to the collection of objects within which Voldemort has encased parts of his soul. The choice of these objects is significant, indicating important aspects of Voldemort’s character and motivations. Slytherin’s locket, Hufflepuff’s cup, and a potential object belonging to either Ravenclaw or Gryffindor point to Voldemort’s strong attachment to Hogwarts, the place where he first felt like he belonged as a wizard. The diary points to Voldemort’s pride in his lineage, as it proved that Voldemort was Slytherin’s heir and was used to reopen the Chamber of Secrets. Nagini, Voldemort’s pet snake, further underlines the Slytherin connection and Voldemort’s ability to speak Parseltongue, a relatively rare trait even among wizards. The Horcruxes symbolize evil and the extent to which Voldemort will go to pursue his goals. In pursuit of immortality, Voldemort is willing to commit cold-blooded murder many times over, the act required to split one’s soul and encase it within a Horcrux. The fact that splitting one’s soul is considered a violation of nature is highlighted, further underlining Voldemort’s twisted and evil nature.
Memories
Memories are a recurring motif in the book, as Harry’s lessons with Dumbledore involve revisiting and examining memories about Voldemort. The motif of memories relates to the theme of Interplay between Character and Circumstance. It explores the role that one’s upbringing and circumstances play in shaping one’s attitudes. Voldemort, Harry, and Draco are all examples of this, each subject to different kinds of conditioning that form their outlook on life. However, these same memories also underline how, despite one’s environment, certain aspects of one’s character are inherent and natural. For instance, Voldemort is displayed as always having been a cold, cruel, solitary child desirous of fame and power. As a plot point, the memories work as seemingly disparate pieces of a larger puzzle that the reader slowly pieces together along with Harry throughout the story.
The Half-Blood Prince
The Half-Blood Prince is an important figure in the book, calling to several different ideas. The book's title is derived from this figure, and although the connection between Snape and the Prince is only discovered at the end, the Prince remains an important figure throughout the story in multiple ways.
The self-chosen title highlights two important ideas: blood purity and social power. Blood status is the context within which the idea of evil is explored in the book. Voldemort is presented as a supremacist who wants pure-blood wizards to take over the world, oppressing and erasing the non-magical community. The term “Half-Blood” also links Harry, Snape, and Voldemort, all of whom are half-blooded wizards.
The term “Prince” explores the idea of social power and hierarchy, which are closely linked to blood status in the book. This is seen best in Voldemort, who despises his Muggle father, eventually sheds his given name, and adopts the moniker of “Lord Voldemort.” Besides distancing himself from his Muggle heritage, it also establishes Voldemort’s desire for power and belief in a social hierarchy. Like “Prince,” “Lord” is an aristocratic title. Voldemort views himself as a “Lord” who will eventually rule the wizarding world. In sharp contrast to Snape and Voldemort, who both adopt grand-sounding titles, Harry continues to reject a similar title conferred on him by everyone else: the “Chosen One.”
Related Titles
By J. K. Rowling
