Why does harry destroy the elder wand

With Voldemort defeated, and Harry now the true master and possessor of the Elder Wand, he used it to repair his damaged original wand of holly and phoenix feather , which he said he was "happier with".

The portrait of Professor Dumbledore approved. During the duel she disarmed Harry, and later on, Hermione bound Delphini. In an alternate reality inadvertently created by Albus Potter and Scorpius Malfoy , in which Voldemort maintained his immortality when his final Horcrux was not killed, Voldemort successfully killed Harry Potter and dominated the wizarding world, meaning he has successfully attained mastery over the Elder Wand.

This alternate world was eventually undone by Scorpius. The Elder Wand was the most powerful wand in existence. Its owner could have used it to cast spells more powerful than any believed to be magically possible.

Both Ollivander and Voldemort believed that the wand's legendary powers is the only one capable of overpowering the bond between the latter and Harry, which created such an effect that Harry managed to overcome Voldemort's attempt to kill him.

Dumbledore duelling Voldemort with the Elder Wand. However, there does exist limitations in the Elder Wand's power, appearing to merely able to improve pre-existing spells to perform the seemingly impossible but not actually able to perform the impossible.

Dumbledore himself was incapable of curing the petrified victims of Salazar Slytherin's Basilisk or nullifying the curse on Marvolo Gaunt's ring entirely, and neither was he able to overcome the enchantments upon Voldemort's Drink of Despair with the wand amplifying his own magic.

In addition, while most of the times where the Elder Wand shifted allegiance was not in a fair fight but by cunning assassination, it does not entirely guarantee victory against others, as displayed by Dumbledore's ability to defeat Gellert Grindelwald despite him having mastered the Elder Wand, while Egbert the Egregious was known for having actually defeated Emeric the Evil in a duel to claim the wand.

This can be attributable, however, to the fact that in these circumstances, the proper counter-charms or counter-potions weren't known to the master of the Elder Wand at the time. Moreover, not all spells have a counter-spell, but instead, a counter-potion.

These scenarios are comparable to when Neville in his first few years studying at Hogwarts was cursed by Draco Malfoy many times, such as being bounded by the Leg-Locker Curse, which only Hermione in their year, was able to undo the effects of.

Neville himself was unable to undo the Leg-Locker Curse's effects on him, but Hermione was, highlighting the fact that knowledge of the curse, its effects, and counter-curses or counter-potions are important in removing the effects of curses and other dark magic.

Voldemort casting the Shield penetration spell with the Elder Wand, to breach Hogwarts protection. While it is stated that a wand will not give up its master so easily if it is attempted to be won, The Elder Wand seems to do this time and time again.

However, this might not be referring to its willingness to give up its master, but rather to the amount of effort it took to defeat the wielder of the Wand.

As the wand, like the eldest brother in the Tale, embodied the conceit that "Might is Right", greater power would, from its perspective, indicate superiority. Ron has noted that he would choose the wand of the three Hallows, but argued that he would do so while not proclaiming his ownership of it, reasoning that the wand was only dangerous to the first brother because he bragged about owning it rather than the wand being dangerous on its own.

When Lord Voldemort used the Elder Wand without mastering it he claimed that the wand only unleashed his regular albeit immensely powerful level of magic and not the unbeatable effects it was rumoured to possess. It's unknown if the wand would work this way for another who hasn't mastered it though, as Voldemort has used the wands of others in the past with no handicap, it's likely that this is his own power rather than that of the Elder Wand.

It did have one redeeming quality like all other wands, however: it refused to harm or kill its master nor those under sacrificial protection. In the Deathly Hallows symbol, the Elder Wand is shown as the vertical line that goes right through the middle of the circle and the triangle ; it represents the aspects of power and invincibility of the Hallows as a whole, the tent pole, as it were, of the entire edifice.

While "The Elder Wand" capitalised refers to one of the Deathly Hallows , other wands have been made from elder wood. Rowling has discussed how the Elder Wand behaves slightly different from other wands in its loyalty:.

The Elder Wand is one of the Deathly Hallows , represented here by the vertical line. Harry Potter Wiki Explore. Rowling Story. Explore Wikis Community Central. Register Don't have an account?

Elder Wand. View source. History Talk Do you like this video? Play Sound. It has certain identifying characteristics that those who are learned in wandlore recognise Whether it needs to pass by murder, I do not know.

Its history is bloody, but that may be simply due to the fact that it is such a desirable object, and arouses such passions in wizards. Immensely powerful, dangerous in the wrong hands, and an object of incredible fascination to all of us who study the power of wands. Main article: Emeric the Evil. Main article: Egbert the Egregious. The historical context for the use of the term allegiance in wandlore is discernibly medieval.

The wand is "conquered' the previous owner "disarmed' all indicate a violent and hierarchical context in which the parameters for wandlore have been set. Rowling focuses on the word allegiance to describe the Elder Wand's transference of mastery over it from Dumbledore to Draco and finally to Harry. This appears to imply an independent existence if not the ability to make independent choices.

Although allegiance in the modern sense can refer to a citizen swearing fidelity to the flag or Constitution, in feudal society it meant "the obligations of a vassal to his liege lord' 6 which is an accurate description of the relationship between wand and wizard: one is called "master" the other is a subject, vassal, or servant.

Ollivander also tells the trio "Of course, the manner of taking matters. Much also depends upon the wand itself. In general, however, where a wand has been won, its allegiance will change.

This information is later applied by Harry to understand Hermione's difficulties with Bellatrix's wand. Allegiance-related wandlore only becomes significant at the closure of Half-Blood Prince with the sudden termination of the trio's childhood along with Dumbledore's life and protection.

It is only from that point, when the trio leave Hogwarts and wholly enter the very distinct medieval-like world of wizard combat, that they are exposed to the full, often brutal, ramifications of wandlore. The Elder Wand is capable of sensing over considerable distances the conquest of its previous master, from Dumbledore's tomb in Scotland to Malfoy Manor in Wiltshire, roughly miles. So, the Elder Wand's receptivity is therefore not restricted by distance and it appears to react instantaneously.

It can also apparently sense the passage of time. Compare these two descriptions of the wand entering into new ownership. The first is when Voldemort takes the Elder Wand from Dumbledore's tomb: "The spider-like hand swooped and pulled the wand from Dumbledore's grasp, and as he took it, a shower of sparks flew from its tip, sparkling over the corpse of its last owner, ready to serve a new master at last.

In the first instance the wand had not been used since Dumbledore's funeral in mid-June of the previous year, roughly nine months. In the second instance the Elder Wand's allegiance had been transferred from Draco to Harry in March but possession was only finally transferred to its true master in May upon Harry's defeat of Voldemort.

Concomitant with this, the wand needs to have some form of memory, or it would not be able to learn or retain information of its previous encounters, nor would it have any sense of time, assuming the Elder Wand sensed its having been neglected for example. The most graphic example of wand memory is Harry's wand recognising Voldemort during their initial battle in "The Seven Potters" chapter of Deathly Hallows.

I had to lay down all my parameters. The most important thing to decide when you're creating a fantasy world is what the characters CAN 'T do. The Collins English Dictionary defines one of affinity's meanings as: Chemistry: a. Rowling's description of Harry's initial encounter at Ollivander's is interesting: "Harry took the wand. But affinity works both ways, the wizard or witch can feel an absence of affinity from the wand as well as a lack of affinity towards it, should they feel ambiguous about their wand for any reason.

Voldemort senses he is not the true master of the Elder Wand: "No, I have performed my usual magic. It has not revealed the wonders it has promised. I feel no difference between this wand and the one I procured from Ollivander all those years ago. Voldemort believed Snape having the Elder Wand's true allegiance apparently explained its lack of affinity and underpowered performance during his possession.

Harry confirms Voldemort's feelings were right: "Does the wand in your [Voldemort's] hand know its last master [Draco] was Disarmed? Examples of the witch or wizard feeling a lack of affinity towards a wand, as well as sensing a possible absence of affinity from the wand, include Hermione's response to possessing Bellatrix's wand, and Harry's response to his blackthorn wand, which had been seized from a "Snatcher" by Ron and given to Harry to replace his broken holly and phoenix feather wand:.

Hermione looked frightened that the wand might sting or bite her as she picked it up. I really hate it. This is the wand that killed Sirius! Also, Hermione had conveniently forgotten her advice to Harry after he made similar complaints about his Snatcher wand that was almost certainly used to abuse others: "You just need to practise, it's all a matter of confidence, Harry. Harry's sense of loss is a reminder of another meaning of affinity: a conscious emotional attachment, of which there appears to be no evidence from the wands themselves.

Harry offers the real answer to the dilemma of how to create an affinity with a wand and win its allegiance: "Remembering what Ollivander had told them of the secret workings of wands, Harry thought he knew what Hermione's problem was: she had not won the walnut wand's allegiance by taking it personally from Bellatrix.

So, although the wand's attraction to the wizard is described in terms of choice this may not allude to any form of independent consciousness:. The wand chooses the wizard.

An initial attraction, and then a mutual quest for experience, the wand learning from the wizard, the wizard from the wand. The wand's choice, or perhaps affinity, and what Ollivander terms an ability to "learn' may in fact be based mainly on alchemy but, of course, we must add magic, the ability to connect with supernatural forces, which would remain the incalculable element in any wand's relationship with its owner.

Rowling's choice of words to describe Harry's reunion with his repaired wand may also be telling: "He picked up the holly and phoenix wand, and felt a sudden warmth in his fingers, as though wand and hand were rejoicing at their reunion.

The Elder Wand appears to have no sense of conscience; it is just as prepared to serve Grindelwald as Dumbledore, Voldemort, or Harry Potter. Ollivander also tells us the Elder Wand is "immensely powerful. Wands, then, are not capable of making totally independent or moral choices. Or, as Rowling puts it: "I know it's unfashionable to use this word, morality, and I never set out to preach, but I think the books do explore the misuse of power.

Rowling has also described the books as "moral. There is one example where a wand "acted of its own accord" 30 but when Harry describes it to members of the Order of the Phoenix Hermione dismisses it as "impossible" and nobody else believes him. But Dumbledore's observation is passed to Harry at King's Cross.

How far can it be relied upon? Is Harry just hallucinating, for example? Can we rely on Dumbledore's explanations? At least we know that much of Rowling's "exposition" is done through Dumbledore as she explained in one interview:.

Rowling: Oh yes, very much so. Dumbledore often speaks for me. Dumbledore's exposition in King's Cross, not only of wandlore, but of the essential issues at the heart of the whole series, is either both genuine and accurate, or illusionary. If Harry is hallucinating then we can dismiss parts, or all, of Dumbledore's account.

However, the case for its accuracy has to be substantiated. So, to begin with, where is Harry? This is Rowling's answer given in the post Deathly Hallows Bloomsbury webchat:. Elisabeth: In the chapter of Kings Cross, are they behind the veil or in some world between the real world and the veil?

Rowling: You can make up your own mind on this, but I think that Harry entered a kind of limbo between life and death. I was fit only to possess the meanest of them, the least extraordinary.

I was fit to own the Elder Wand, and not to boast of it, and not to kill with it. I was permitted to tame and to use it, because I took it, not for gain, but to save others from it. And like Dumbledore, Harry tried to protect himself and others from too much power.

So, in order to do this, he must destroy the source of the power, the Elder Wand. Which, in conclusion, is why he destroyed the Elder Wand. Harry puts back the elder wand on Dumbledore's Tomb ,as mentioned by DavRob As far as the movie goes, You're right. Harry breaks the elder wand. As the accepted answer above the wand is so powerful and dangerous. Besides, there is no more future significance about the wand. The Dark Lord is gone. Sign up to join this community.

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Learn more. Why did Harry Potter break the Elder Wand? Ask Question. Asked 10 years, 3 months ago. Active 4 years, 4 months ago. Viewed 52k times. Why did he do that? Improve this question. Kyralessa 3, 1 1 gold badge 22 22 silver badges 21 21 bronze badges. DavRob60 DavRob60 Chad Harry did not break the wand in the book. He just put it back in Dumbledore's tomb. In addition, he believed that if he were to die a natural death, the power of the Elder Wand would die with him.

Ultimately, I believe that Harry did the right thing in disposing of the wand because in doing so, he essentially destroyed its power.

Now, it has not been fully proven whether or not the Elder Wand really holds this immense power; however, it does have a bloody past, which holds its own malicious power. In fact, Ollivander further suggests that any wand can change its allegiance when merely won over with a spell such as the Disarming Charm. Even so, this notion of murder for the wand will surely continue, only causing havoc and pain for any future owner.