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The Philosopher’s Stone is a magical object from European mythology that JK Rowling borrowed for her Harry Potter series. In the books, it was created by Nicolas Flamel and can turn objects into gold and grant immortality. The stone is protected by Dumbledore and several obstacles at Hogwarts to prevent Voldemort from obtaining it. Eventually, the stone is destroyed to prevent Voldemort from getting it, and Flamel and his wife prepare for their deaths.
The idea of a philosopher’s stone is common in European mythology. JK Rowling borrowed the idea of an alchemically created stone with magical properties for her popular Harry Potter series. In the Harry Potter books, there is only one Philosopher’s Stone, created by Nicolas Flamel in the 1400s. Flamel’s stone is capable of turning objects into gold and producing an elixir of life that grants the drinker immortality.
The magical object first appeared in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, which was released in the United States under the title Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Scholastic, the American publisher of the Harry Potter books, believed American readers would not be so attracted to a book about the “Philosopher’s Stone.” This choice has been criticized, along with the Americanization of the Harry Potter books released in the United States: small changes were made to the language used by the characters out of fear that Americans would not understand it.
The Philosopher’s Stone is a crucial element of the book. Nicolas Flamel is a friend of Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The two have been working together on alchemy projects, presumably working with the Philosopher’s Stone itself to explore its properties. Flamel also turns to Dumbledore to keep the stone safe, and in the first part of the book, it is moved from Gringotts Vault 713 to Hogwarts, where it is assumed to be safer.
Cooperating with several instructors at the school, Dumbledore places a number of obstacles in the path of the Philosopher’s Stone to protect it. The series of enchanted wards are designed to prevent Voldemort from obtaining the Philosopher’s Stone, as Dumbledore is concerned Voldemort will be resurrected. Eventually, Voldemort is able to penetrate all but the last wards: Dumbledore cleverly hides the stone within the Mirror of Erised so that only those who want to find the Philosopher’s Stone but not use it can obtain it.
In a lesson on goals and motivations, Harry gets it because he looks in a mirror with no intention of using it, and also successfully resists an attempt by Voldemort to take the Philosopher’s Stone by force. After this climactic scene, the Philosopher’s Stone is destroyed to prevent Voldemort from obtaining it, and Nicolas Flamel and his wife prepare for their deaths. Harry is initially concerned about the pair, but Dumbledore points out that Flamel has been alive for over six hundred years, and is likely ready to pursue death’s “next great adventure.”
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