Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the fourth novel in J. K. Rowling's smash hit series, has a task as challenging as the Triwizard Tournament it describes. Up to this point, the books have had a strong episodic flavor. They do show some growth of character, but on the whole each tale tastes of Nancy Drew; mystery, adventure, ultimate success, friendships remain the same, enemies become more hateful, humorous characters stay comical. But in Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter, his friends, and his enemies really begin to develop and mature. The elusive Professor Snape is more perplexing than ever. Most telling of all, Professor Dumbledore no longer seems the perfect wizard he once did - he too makes mistakes which can prove fatal. This is the pubescent novel of the series. And like any other modern young teenager, it has quite a few struggles which it work through with moderate success.
To begin with, the novel definitely drags in spots. Twice the size of its predecessors, Goblet of Fire takes a little too much time to say what it wants to. The plot is definitely more complex, but some things - like Hermione's SPEW - tend to break down the dramatic unity of the story. Like many adolescents I know, Goblet struggles to communicate succinctly the ideas which are beginning to form inside itself.
And Goblet does begin to develop some really important ideas. Harry begins to face the major issue in his friendship with Ron Weasley: Harry's fame. Also, unlike the previous three, it really makes Harry face some of the realities of adult life. A good friend and excellent student at Hogwarts is murdered in front of Harry's own eyes, a traumatic event which drives the plot of the Order of the Phoenix. Lord Voldemort returns in the flesh and nearly kills Harry himself. And though the full weight of these adult cares has not yet fallen upon Harry, Rowling begins to place a more serious and mature burden upon her young hero.
There are, however, definitely some belabored plot threads. For instance, the numerous love triangles waste plot space and feel distinctly out of place. I know many people think my response to such "crushes" - or whatever you want to call them - is hard and unsympathetic. I crave their pardon for thinking it slightly nauseating that a 14 year-old boy can't focus because a girl has entered the room.
On the whole, I thought Rowling did a decent job of leading Harry Potter through adolescence. In the process, she created a book which went through the very same struggles its titular character did. Somewhat awkward, not quite mature but struggling to be so, a bit rambling but good-natured - these are the types of things which best describe Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
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