Some thoughts on the new Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (some spoilers may be present):
I've started to read the new Harry Potter book, and one thing that is strking to me is the effect of closed-mindedness. This is a strong motif in the book -- a pervading inability of people to see another point-of-view. And it happens throughout the good/evil, human/non-human, conservative/liberal spectrum. A few Examples:
Hermione cannot accept that "myths" might be real (like the Hallows). Even when presented with evidence, she is closed-minded and simply asserts that it can't be so. Since it can't be so, her mind goes in other, misleading directions.
On the opposite spectrum, Luna and her dad Xeno Lovegood, the consummate believers in all conspiracy theories, believe that Xeno has purchased a rare Crumple-horned snorkack horn. But when Hermione presents evidence that it is actually a very dangerous exploding Erumpent horn, Xeno refuses to believe. Even when the horn explodes, Luna is still close-minded and still insists that it was a Crumple-horned Snorkack horn. What is there to do but to shake your head and let it drop?
Umbridge, when prosecuting mudbloods, is presented with a mudblood with a wand. In Umbridge's mind, the mudblood must have stolen the wand, because in her world, mudbloods can't be wizards. It doesn't matter that she's presented with evidence that the mudblood bought the wand, that there is the well-known saying that "wands choose their owners" and that the mudblood went to Hogwarts. No, Umbridge's closed-mindedness does not permit the other point-of-view to even be considered.
The goblin Griphook is closed-minded to the idea that some wizards are good and trustworthy, and some wizards are bad and untrustworthy. For Griphook, all wizards are the same, and they cannot be trusted. They are all out to betray him or his race. By being closed-minded, he hampers the entire quest.
Dumbledore is closed-minded about trusting others, especially Harry. And it's because he can't trust Harry that he ultimately has to die, and makes Harry's quest more difficult, and causes others to lose their lives. Dumbledore simply couldn't accept an alternative point-of-view that Harry could be trusted.
And, of course, the ultimate in closed-mindedness, Voldemort is closed-minded about many, many things -- the fact that Potter might know something he doesn't, that love and self-sacrifice are powerful things, etc. By being closed-minded and denying these realities, he forces his own downfall.
Some of these characters, like Hermione, eventually overcome their closed-mindedness, but many do not, and it is interesting to ponder why people remain closed-minded even when presented with significant evidence that there is another point-of-view.
(One can't hardly read this book without thinking of the closed-mindedness present in the current Bush Administration).
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