I feel like people misinterpret the deathly hallows epilogue “all was well” because it’s so fluffy and uplifting, to mean that nothing bad ever happens anymore, they’re all completely happy and there are no after effects from the war
the thing is that I don’t think that’s what it’s supposed to mean. if you look at all the other harry potter books, they all end happily, even though harry winds up going back to his abusive caretakers every time, and not that much has actually changed per his circumstances from there beginning of the book, when he’s always miserable. what’s changed is his outlook - over the course of the book, he’s learned to cope, he’s learned coping mechanisms and found support systems in other people, people who genuinely care for him.
and the dh epilogue is the epitome of this. harry and everyone else are still affected by the war. Harry’s PTSD has not magically disappeared. what’s changed is that over the course of nineteen years, he’s learned to cope with what’s happened to him, in a healthy way. he’s learned to deal with his PTSD, he’s gained an excellent support system in Ginny and his family and his friends and entire extended family.
the thing is that this is such a powerful message to people with mental illnesses. the fact that harry has PTSD and that all is well despite everything that he’s experienced - it gives so much hope. I personally have multiple mental illnesses. they are not going away. the thing is that over time, I’ve learned to cope with that fact, to accept it and know that all will be well despite it. I’ve gained support systems and coping tactics over the course of the past few years. I’ve learned to live with it, just like harry, to the point that all is well despite everything.
the fact is, all was well doesn’t mean that harry and co are never sad, that bad things never happen to them. it means that they’ll be fine despite everything that’s happened to them, and everything that will continue happen to them over the rest of their lives.
7 years ago with 444 notes
