Tom Felton burst onto the silver screen at the age of 12 as Draco Malfoy inHarry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone.Along with his fellow costars, Felton would spend the next decade growing up alongside his fictional counterpart ineight feature films. Out of all the characters in the Wizarding World, Draco Malfoy may very well have the most complex story arc of all. Entering year one as a bullying foil to the hero, Harry Potter, Draco enters extremely dark places and deals with internal demons before the story meets its end. He ismore than just a typical villainakin to Voldemort, Draco is a tragic literary character adapted to the big screen. Joining the ranks of Oedipus, Romeo, and Hamlet. Why is Draco such a tragic character? His story is one of staying true to his family while also being a cautionary tale of a promised future at the expense of a lost childhood. Let’s examine.
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Family Ties
The Malfoy family is a legacy family within the Wizarding World, one of the last remaining pureblood wizarding families within the Harry Potter universe. They come from a long lineage of wealthy wizards and witches, wealth often used to further ant-muggle sentiments. Lucius Malfoy, father of Draco, pledged his allegiance to the dark Lord Voldemort as a Death Eater in both wizard wars. Lucius is not the only familial link Draco has to dark magic, as his mother, Narcissa, is the sister of Bellatrix Lastrange, another devoted follower of Voldemort. Needless to say, Draco was born into a family with a clearly set path for him to follow in the footsteps of his questionable ancestors.
Draco is the first Malfoy we meet in both the books and the film series, with Lucius and Narcissa to follow in later entries. Draco meets Harry, Ron, and Hermione at the beginning of their first school year at Hogwarts, a slight departure from the literary introduction of Malfoy. It is clear from the start that Draco has an arrogance to him, a sense of privilege that he believes places him far above his classmates. When we meet him, he already has the anti-muggle beliefs of his family somewhat instilled in him. This is something Harry, even at his young age, is able to pick up on and in turn sours his opinion of Draco creating a rivalry that would last the entirety of the franchise.
As the story proceeds, we are introduced to Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy. Lucius being the smug, arrogant, and firm father of Draco. While Narcissa is portrayed as the loving and supportive mother, even through the dark deeds of her family. Both parents played a large role in the development of Draco. This is especially true in his teenage years as he is tasked by Voldemort himself to take the life of Hogwarts Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. A deed ultimately done by Professor Severus Snape, who is indebted to protecting the wellbeing of Draco throughoutHarry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, a key moment inhis own redemption archthroughout the series.
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Breaking the Mold
Draco’s defining moment comes in the sixth entry into the franchise,Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, a severely underrated Potter filmaccording to Collider. In the film, Draco is tasked with killing Albus Dumbledore by Voldemort, a task his mother is terribly concerned by. This causes her to seek out the help of Snape, and it is the Professor who enters an Unbreakable Vow to aid Draco in his charge. Throughout the film we see Draco mentally and physically preparing for the moment when he must fulfill his duty. As Draco progresses through the film, we see a real sense of fear and doubt within him, something not seen in the character before. This is no longer the bratty classmate from six years earlier, it is now a young man being faced with a choice of what his life will be moving forward. When the moment comes for Draco to dispatch of the headmaster, we see before us a scared teenager, we see his full conscience on his sleeve. At that moment, unable to commit the unspeakable act, we see Draco break away as his own person, void of the cold-hearted hatred of his ancestors.
Draco spends his youth at Hogwarts filled with hatred and bigoted beliefs towards a large swath of his peers. He acts as though the stature of his family places him firmly above others at school. He is led on a path, by his own parents nonetheless, that only ends in tragedy. Little is known of his fathers fate following the end of the second wizard war, although actorJason Isaacs has his thoughts. Lucius nevertheless had a profound impact on his son, while Narcissa’s love may have been what ultimately saved Draco.
While in the end, Draco exercises his own free will to become the loving husband and father we see in theexceptional franchise conclusion,Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II.It is sadly at the cost of his youth and childhood devoted to a set of tragically flawed ideals.
