So, Does Harry Potter Live?

Giving away the secret at the end of the last book in Rowling's series—whether downloaded or bought legally—betrays both author and audience

by Bruce Weinstein, PhD

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Harry Potter dies.

Harry Potter lives. Lord Voldemort dies.

Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort die.

Both hero and villain live.

Which one is it?

Whatever the case may be, a number of people are going to try to tell you and your kids the ending of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (HPDH) before you find out on your own.

Shame on the spoilers!

Why Spoiling Is Just Plain Wrong

It's not inconsiderate to reveal secrets. It's unethical. That's right. Spoiling the ending of the Harry Potter book (and other creative works) isn't rude. It's wrong. And by wrong, I mean immoral.

Here's why. First, the fans of Harry Potter have invested a lot of time, money, and passion in the first six volumes in the series. They have read and reread hundreds of pages over ten years, and they are entitled to discover Harry's fate on their own.

Second, author J.K. Rowling has a right to have her intellectual property respected. This right is fundamentally an ethical one, whether or not it is codified by law. That is, even if you aren't breaking the law by spilling the beans, you still shouldn't do so. Rowling has worked diligently over the years to tell the tale the way she wants to tell it, according to the schedule she has set, and it is unfair to disrespect her wishes. The fact that she is one of the most commercially successful authors of all time doesn't mean that she gives up her right to be treated with respect; our duty to honor the integrity of her creation would apply even if her publisher hadn't sold a quarter of a billion books (so far).

Third, society has a compact with artists. They entertain us, and we support and protect their right to do so. If either party reneges, the deal is off. For example, if we hire a magician to come to our child's birthday party and he makes inappropriate comments to the kids, we'll fire him with good reason. On the other hand, if the magician does his best to make the occasion a joyful and spirited one, but the kids act up and make it difficult or impossible for him to perform, the performer may reasonably tell us, …Sorry, but I can't do this,… and end the act early.

Spoilers, Hackers, and Yakkers

A spoiler intentionally or negligently subverts the compact between artist and audience by throwing up an obstacle to the artist and giving him or her a reason to cease their creative activities. After all, why would a writer want to spend years spinning a tale as elaborate as Harry Potter if some blowhard is going to come along and ruin the surprise?

According to The Wall Street Journal, one hacker claims to have obtained the manuscript of HPDH by breaking into a computer of the book's British publisher, Bloomsbury Publishing, and this wrong-doer has identified the two characters who will die by the novel's end. On July 18, The New York Times reported that several Web sites have published photos of every page of what appears to be a copy of the actual book. These are extreme examples of spoiling the finale of the Potter saga.