Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

It’s the beginning of Harry’s fourth year at Hogwarts, and with the introduction of the Triwizard Tournament it is arguably the most thrilling one yet. In a rare display of unity, the entire school will be coming together to look forward to an exciting year at Hogwarts. Although Harry Potter generally has a knack for finding himself in serious trouble, this is an unusual case where the danger finds him. For this school year, Dumbledore has decided to revive an age-old Hogwarts tradition of the thrilling – yet extremely perilous – Triwizard Tournament. In an even more delightful turn of events, wizarding students from two different schools are invited to part take in the competition, all to decide the greatest champion who will win the Triwizard Cup for their school.

It is to be expected that the return of this competition to Hogwarts would bring such excitement to the school students. The arrival of new guests – some of which are even famous – is enough of a change of pace to get students talking. But the idea of a Hogwarts champion securing the victory over other schools in a major competition? The very thought of this for most Hogwarts students is exhilarating. And the chance to be the very champion to do so is an opportunity too enticing for any Hogwarts student to want to pass up.

In all of the excitement surrounding the Triwizard Tournament and the Triwizard Cup, there is an even greater frenzy among students trying to get their names into the Goblet of Fire. It is a cup that determines the champions worthy to participate in the competition, and each student is desperate to enter. Underlying the excitement over the tournament, there is an important message made about human motivation. What is the central message that Rowling conveys about human motivation through this competition? Are humans motivated by a selfish personal desire to achieve glory? Or are we motivated by a feeling of responsibility to secure honor for those counting on us? 

I believe that in a way, Rowling sends a message of both honor and glory through this competition. The essence of human motivation is validation, whether it is from ourselves or from others. We strive to prove to ourselves, and to others that we are capable and have the drive to achieve accomplishment. How is that shown through the Triwizard Tournament? 

Well, the first example are twins Fred and George Weasley. Furious at Dumbledore’s decree that an Aging Line will prevent underage wizards from participating, they attempt to create an Aging Potion that will get them past the line long enough to place their names in the goblet (Goblet of Fire 259-260). Needless to say, their attempt fails when the protection around the goblet ages them into old men. Fred and George’s serious efforts to enter themselves into the competition raises the question, why? What could their motivation have been? They were lured by both the prize money, and the inherent danger of the competition. While Fred and George were attracted to the danger, the significant motivator for them was the prize money which would allow them to fund their dream to open a joke shop. In wanting to give themselves an opportunity to succeed in this competition they reveal two things: one, as full-time troublemakers they want to seek self-validation in overcoming such a risky competition. And two, they want to seek validation, especially from their parents, in using that money to realize their dreams in starting their own business.

The second example is none other than the Hufflepuff House. At the pronouncement that Cedric Diggory would be one of the Hogwarts champions, the entire House was beyond ecstatic. They immediately took to supporting Cedric in any way they could, including wearing nametags in support of him as the winner. However, it is no secret that those who enter the competition do so at the risk of their own lives. Dumbledore himself made that quite clear in his explanation of the event, where he revealed that the competition had been put on hold because “the death toll mounted so high” (Goblet of Fire 187). And it was made even more obvious once the competitors began facing the challenges in the competition, including fire-breathing dragons, underwater hostages, and a trap riddled maze. When it is so obvious that this competition is quite literally deathly to those who participate, why are the champions and their supporters, most especially Hufflepuff, so eager to risk it? 

It is because they finally have the chance to prove themselves. Hufflepuff is a house that is relatively unnoticed, and not usually the ones to receive much – if any – attention. In a competition this huge, they finally have the chance to succeed at something that will show others that they are just as capable and worthy of attention as any of the other houses. 

There is a lot to be gained from examining the meaning behind the Triwizard competition. When facing any competition, the biggest opponent is yourself. The mindset that you have when facing a competition can push you forward or hold you back. The champions of the Triwizard Tournament and had to face themselves when competing to win the competition. They risked so much because the possibility of glory for themselves, or honor to their schools, was all on the line. And when presented with two oh so tempting outcomes, more often than not we decide to risk it all.